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Panama. Presented By: Kadell James Carl Krimminger Monica Washington. Panama. Panamanian Flag. Coat of Arms. Panama is often called the Funnel of World Commerce connecting North & South America. It’s where cultures come together & the America’s meet. Demographics.
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Panama Presented By: Kadell James Carl Krimminger Monica Washington
Panama Panamanian Flag Coat of Arms
Panama is often called the Funnel of World Commerce connecting North & South America It’s where cultures come together & the America’s meet
Demographics • Capital: Panama City • Official Language: Spanish • Government: Constitutional Democracy • In 2008, population est. @ 3,309,679. • Capital: Panama City Pop. 451,000 • Area: 29,157 sq mi • Water about 2.9% of the total area • GDP in 2008 $42.446 billion • Currency: Balboa and US dollars
Ethnic Groups • 58.1% Mestizo14% Black and Mulatto6.7% Amerindian8.6% White5.5% Asian7.1% other (2000) • Religions: • Roman Catholic 85% • Protestant 15%
About 38% of the land is part of the Rain Forest. The Panama Canal is 50 miles long, dividing the country into eastern & western regions. And the once American territory was 5 miles on each side of the canal. The whole country is a little smaller than South Carolina surface wise.
Occupations Panama Firemen marching in a parade Shop owner – most were Hindu descent Tugboat being repaired in dry dock
Power Distance Index • Panama: High PDI • inequalities of power and wealth have been allowed to grow within the society • U.S: Low PDI • society de-emphasizes the differences between citizen's power and wealth • Highest PDI of all Latin American countries
How PDI effects business… Source: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_66.htm
Individualism vs. Collectivism • Panama: Collective • Strong group relationship • Loyalty very important • U.S: Individualistic • Individuals and their immediate family
How individualism/collectivism effects business….. Source: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_66.htm
Masculinity vs. Femininity • Panama: Masculine/Feminine • Mixture of aggressiveness and sensitivity • U.S: Masculine • Aggressiveness and assertiveness
How Masculinity/Femininity effects business… (Panama) Source: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_66.htm
Uncertainty Avoidance • Panama: High UAI • Low tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity • Reasons • 94% Roman Catholic • Attitude: “There can only be one Truth and we have it” • U.S: Average UAI • More accepting of change & opinions
How Uncertainty Avoidance effects business… Source: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_66.htm
Final Business Tips…. • Men’s Dress: conservative suits • Women’s Dress: non-revealing dress or shirt and blouse • Business cards: Spanish & English • Dining: host at one end, guest of honor at other end • Begin conversations with “small talk” • Good conversation topics: family, sports, hobbies • Bad conversation topics: race problems, Canal Zone, politics
Why come Panama? • Open door policy on foreign investment • Economy based in U.S. dollar • Low inflation rate • No foreign exchange risk
Factors that Attract Business • Government policies and ideas • Colon Free Zone • Panama Canal • Tax Incentives and Labor Cost
Government • Democratically operated • Lends itself to capitalism • President Torroijos • Plans to expand Panama Canal and increase economic development • Trade Liberization Program • Decreased tariff ceiling
Colon Free Trade Zone • Re-Exports a wide variety of merchandise across Latin America and various areas • No tariffs and quotas in “free zone” • no sales tax • no production tax • exemption on income derived from abroad • no tax duty on imports to re-exports from the free zone to foreign countries
Panama Canal • Currently undergoing improvements to area that are estimated at about $1 billion • Opportunity for hotels and tourism • Business possibilities from canal expansion • Transportation systems • Ship owners, repairs, etc. • New residential construction
Tax Incentives and Labor • Minimum Wage $1.22 • $350 average monthly salary • Labor force of 961,403 • Investment Stability Law • Special Tax Incentives for Tourism • 100% tax exemption on income and property for 15 years
References Hofstede, Geert (2005). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. 2nd ed. Mitchell, Charles (2002). A Short Course in International Business Culture. 3rd ed. http://www.businesspanama.com http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/panama.htm http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_panama.shtml http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_united_states.shtml http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_66.htm