Facts about the Colon Free Zone
The Colon Free Zone, with over 2,500 companies operating within its 450 hectares, is not only the world's biggest free zone after Hong Kong, but the best geographically located, and therefore the one with the best, most efficient and fastest distribution facilities. It is served by five major ports - all within a few kilometers.
The path of commerce is also smoothed by the fact that the US dollar is legal tender.
The Free Zone handles more than US$16 billion in imports and reexports each year.
It employs more than 28,000 people with the best-trained bilingual work force in Central America.
The Zone hosts 250,000 buyers, business people and tourists each year.
Major imports are from Asia, Europe and North America.
Major markets include South America, Central America and North America.
Deposits made in the Banking Center of Panama from the Colon Free Zone last year were US$578 million.
Credit from the Banking Center represented approximately US$1,024 million.
Strict measures to thwart money laundering and brand name piracy are in place. A special copyright office was created in August 1997.