PANAMA

On August 31, the National Customs Authority (ANA in Spanish) had a meeting with members of the General Directorate of Electronic Commerce of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI in Spanish) with the purpose of coordinating actions to promote a registry of electronic commercial activities that are conducted in Panama. Both parties explained that they are working on a project to centralize this information. This data could be used to promote regulatory reforms in the medium term.  

MICI officials reported that they are working on an inter-institutional project that will centralize data and thus generate non-existent statistical reports on e-commerce operating in the country. The initiative includes the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF in Spanish) and the Colon Free Zone.

Customs’ participation in the project will consist of providing information through the Customs Management System (SIGA in Spanish). According to the ANA, this will enable the preparation of statistical data on the e-commerce sector, which will help establish strategies and improve the regulatory framework for these services.