Live and Invest Overseas, Panama 2009

Speaking at the Live and Invest in Panama Conference

I was invited to speak at the Live and Invest Overseas Conference a while back in Panama City. The Conference was very well organized by Kathleen Peddicord and Lief Simon; attendees flew in mainly from North America for from several days to several weeks to explore Panama.

My subject this conference (I had spoken a number of times for previous International Living Conferences) was “Opening a Business in Panama – Our Experience”. We also set up an information table about Taboga Island and our B&B Inn Cerrito Tropical.

Conference Table for B&B Inn Cerrito Tropical

People often ask me, if not for financial gain, why do I speak publicly at these types of Expat / Investment conferences?
My answer is quite simply, I love the challenge of speaking to a large group, and the opportunity to speak about Taboga Island.

Expat

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HIGHLIGHT: Drive Time Panama with Paul May

There are some big changes going on at Ultra Stereo FM 98.9 right now as Bob Stiff has left the radio station. He left Drive Time about 6 weeks ago, and Friday the 13th finished with “Coffee With Bob and Friends”. Mel will continue with the morning program “Coffee with Mel” while Paul May has taken on Drive Time, developing the show into something a little more structured. He has divided the three days into three different themes.

Tuesday – Current affairs (Co-hosted by Joe Varella)
This show is about what’s been happening in Panama and around the world since the last Drive Time show the Thursday before. When possible Paul will have a guest journalist come in from one of the newspapers or blogs to give us an update on the latest happenings. From here they continue the conversation on the “hot topics of the week” with audience interaction. In the last segment of the show they endeavor to summarize the discussion and always end on some kind of positive outcome/solution.

Wednesday – Our Changing World (Co-hosted by Michael Brown)
Our Changing World encompasses information and discussion on a wide variety of topics from people to the environment, attitudes, lifestyles, governments, families, etc. When possible Paul will have a guest come in for either an interview or a presentation about something in which they have a good working knowledge of and is of interest and interesting to our listeners, based on the Our Changing World theme. This interview/presentation is followed by audience interaction with questions, comments and discussion.

Thursday – The Success Factory (Co-hosted by Donna Wilkins)
The Success Factory theme brings content that revolves around success in life. Everything from a positive mental attitude, setting and achieving goals, motivation, self awareness, balance, personality, and a 100’s of other topics you can see on Paul´s web page. Paul takes a light hearted look at different aspects associated with improving quality of life. His guest interviewee/presenter is usually someone who has a success story to tell or perhaps and expert in some relevant field, as long as they have a positive motivating and uplifting story to share. This interview/presentation is followed by audience interaction with questions, comments and discussion.

Program schedule:
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5pm to 6:30pm

Contact Drive Time:
Email: office@clubdu.com
www.fmultrastereo.com
Call the show: 263-5365

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Panama Gourmet Pizza – Best thin crust pizza in town! Now with pasta too.

Gourmet Pizza has been known in Panama over the past couple of years as an easy-going trendy, neighborhood pizza joint with consistently good, thin crust pizza, with fresh and unique toppings such as feta cheese or asparagus. Recently they have expanded their menu and added pastas. On offer are five types of pasta with your choice of four different sauces so that you can mix and match to your taste: Alfredo, Matrichana, Carbonera, and Bolognese; pasta ranges from $6.26. I tested the Matrichana with Tortellini last night and it was very tasty, brimming with vegetables and bacon to give it well rounded smoky flavor.

We often enjoy the savory antipasta appetizer $6, classic Greek salad with loads of feta cheese and black olives served with piping hot pita bread, 5.00.

Among our favorite pizzas are the Primavera (vegetarian with fresh asparagus) which is topped with fresh al dente vegetables; Greek feta cheese and black olives combine to create a uniquely flavored pizza, Hawaiian sweet pineapple and thinly sliced ham plus traditional Pepperoni and Cheese are old standbys, rich melt in your mouth Four Cheese pizza, all available plus many more choices in 3 sizes; priced from $5.75 (10”) to $19.00 (16”). For those watching their calorie counts they offer light pizza, and for those who are not, dessert pizzas such as honey and cinnamon or chocolaty nutella.

They also have a full bar with a simple wine list and if you don´t want to hang out they have take out and home delivery too.

When it is full the noise levels can be high but we love the pizza so much we can tune it out.
Located on Avenida Balboa next to Arrocha Pharmacy on the edge of Paitilla, and across from MultiCentro Mall. Within walking distance from the Plaza Paitilla Hotel, Decapolis Hotel, Sheraton Four Points hotels.
Tel:215-1000, www.goumetpizzapanama.com, Open 11 am till 12am.

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Your Mail Direct from Miami! PAKYA Panama.

Remember when you were a child and waiting for a package to arrive? And just when they told you it would arrive, it did? In Panama that doesn´t happen. You had better be prepared for a long wait.

With the Panama Postal Service (what is that word service doing in there?) some things never show up, and some take months to arrive. I once had a small Christmas box sent from Canada at an exorbitant cost and it arrived finally over 6 months later. Things are usually better if you use a mail service in Panama. I finally started and now use PakYa Panama.

I recently signed up for the services of Pakya Panama and have been very pleased. Although I have not ordered much from the US, nor anything large, everything arrived quickly and efficiently. When I walk into the office I am greeted by Melodye, an American and she helps with whatever questions I may have. They respond to my emails too.

There is no monthly charge, they charge by the pound ($2) and add customs charges.

When you start to use their service, you must let them know what is coming and get precise details from them on where and how to send the package or mail.

Ask for Melodye.

Here are their details:
PakYa Panama
Located close to MacDonalds on Transismica. Go straight through on Via Brasil up the hill across Transismica, it is the second gate (grey) on the right, office is at the back of the parking lot.
Edificio Islas Baleares #2,
Calle El Paical, Panama City
Tel: 236-1728, 6614-3632
Pakya Panama
web: http://www.pakyapanama.com
email: pty600@yahoo.com, info@pakyapanama.com

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PANAMA: New Immigration Law Regulations

A number of readers are interested in moving to Panama. Here is a brief summary of the new regulations in a nutshell. These regulations apply only to new applicants, applicants with applications in process or approved will be grandfathered:

Pensionado Visa (Retirement Visa): The applicant must show income of $1000 per month, up from $500 per month. You can be any age and is now permanent, no renewals needed. Applicants can apply for citizenship after 5 years.

Small Investors Visa: Eliminated. They have been discussing this for quite some time and will now eliminate the $40,000 Investors Visa.

Investors Visa: An investors visa will require an investment of $350,000 in a home or CD at national bank or combination (as I understand). That has been increased from $200,000.

Reforestation Visa The minimum investment will change from $40,000 to $80,000.

Work Permits: Work visas must be approved before the foreign employee can start. Any foreigners caught working without permits will be fined and deported. The visas are not permanent and must be renewed. Foreign workers must pay into social security and demonstrate an income of $1000 a month paid in Panama.

Thanks to Sam Taliaferro for alerting us to the new changes and providing the basic information for the post. For more information on this Sam Taliaferro has promised full details soon on his Prima Panama Blog, a complete translation into English. Please check his blog, http://www.primapanama.com or call your attorney.

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