In a recent appearance on Panama’s national television, Jordi Vilanova – Chairman of Mercan Properties shared a very clear perspective on Panama’s current position within the global investment landscape.
More than just a regular interview, it was seen as an official message to the international investment community: Panama is entering a new growth cycle, driven by capital flows, infrastructure development, and stronger investment-friendly policies than ever before.
Panama is no longer just “the canal country”
During the television interview, Jordi Vilanova emphasized that Panama’s traditional image as a country associated solely with the Panama Canal no longer fully reflects today’s reality.
Today, Panama is transforming into:
- A logistics hub for Latin America
- A commercial gateway between two oceans
- A destination for international investment capital
- And, more importantly, a real estate market closely connected to global finance
According to him, this transformation is not driven by a single factor, but by the convergence of multiple strategic advantages: its geographic location, the use of the US dollar, an international banking system, and increasingly open investment policies.
An important message: Panama is “opening its doors to quality capital”
One of the key highlights of Jordi Vilanova’s television interview was Panama’s strategy of attracting “high-quality capital.”
He explained that Panama is no longer focused simply on increasing the number of investors. Instead, it is prioritizing:
- Long-term investors
- Stable capital flows
- Projects that generate real economic value
- Investment models linked to urban development, tourism, and services
This also explains why programs such as the Qualified Investor Program (QIP) continue to be strengthened and attract growing international interest.
Qualified Investor Program: Strong growth signals from the market
According to the latest report published by Mercan Properties (28 July 2026), Panama’s Qualified Investor Program has reached a new record, clearly demonstrating the country’s growing appeal amid the globalization of capital flows.
Key figures include:
- 268 Qualified Investor Certificates issued during the 2025–2026 period
- USD 113.6 million in foreign investment attracted
- An increase of 75 approved applications compared to the same period of the previous year
- An additional USD 23.4 million in new investment capital recorded within a single reporting cycle
- Application growth has continued to maintain a consistent upward trend year after year
According to Mercan, this growth is not only reflected in the number of applicants but also in the improving quality of investment capital, with a growing proportion of long-term investors and high-net-worth individuals.
This further reinforces Panama’s position as one of the emerging international capital and wealth allocation hubs in Latin America.
When real estate becomes part of a national strategy
During the interview, Jordi Vilanova also highlighted the shift in global investment thinking.
Where investors once focused primarily on obtaining residency rights, today they pay much greater attention to:
- The intrinsic value of the asset
- Income-generating potential
- Market stability
- International operating brands
This is why projects such as Panama City Central – Pullman by Accor have been developed under a professionally managed hotel and real estate model, rather than being simply residency-focused investment products.
The project is located on Via España, one of the most important avenues in Panama City, and is operated by Accor, one of the world’s leading hospitality groups.
The key takeaway from the television interview: Panama is redefining itself
The most important message throughout the interview was strategic in nature:
Panama is not simply attracting investment – it is redefining its role within the global economy.
From being a maritime transit nation, Panama is becoming:
- A regional financial centre
- A destination for international capital
- A real estate market supported by globally recognised brands
Conclusion
As Panama enters this new stage of development, the Qualified Investor Program offers international investors access to:
- Permanent residency in approximately 30 days
- An economy that operates with the US dollar
- A stable international financial system
- A real estate market with sustainable long-term growth
At Casa Seguro Capital, we accompany investors throughout the entire journey—from project selection, investment opportunity assessment, and Qualified Investor application support to building a long-term international wealth management strategy.
For many investors, Panama is no longer a short-term option.
It is becoming an integral part of their global wealth strategy.
