Panama Strengthens Its Position as a Leading Hub for International Associations

The road to creating the Panama Association Hub began four years ago. Panama carefully designed a strategy to develop an incentive plan that would allow the country to compete with other destinations in the region. Since 2021, Panama has focused on attracting international events, associations and incentives. “We became ICCA’s Association Partner in 2022, aligning ourselves with the Latin American and ICCA community,” explained Pinedo. The following year saw the launch of the Association Leaders Programme, an ambitious initiative designed to help local associations professionally organise events, something they had previously done more informally.

 

This programme’s core is to provide up-to-date and official information about the destination and how to bid for events. In addition, it offers a strengthening component for associations by providing workshops on topics such as sponsorship, governance, membership and hospitality. These workshops are tailored to the specific needs and interests of the associations to ensure they receive the most relevant and practical support.

 

In 2024, the Panama Association Hub was officially launched with the aim of making Panama the capital of associations in Latin America. Its portfolio of services includes helping associations establish their headquarters, legal incorporation, securing physical space, and creating legacy and educational programmes for the community. “It’s not just about bringing the association to Panama; the goal is for these associations to implement plans that benefit Panama and the entire region,” Pinedo stressed.

 

Research in partnership with ICCA identified the top sectors hosting events over the past decade, including medical/scientific, education, logistics, engineering, and trade. Based on this data, Panama has focused its strategy on attracting (regional and international) associations from these sectors. Pinedo works closely with international and local associations that are considering opening offices in Panama. At the same time, his colleague Tatiana Angulo, Association Sales Manager at Promtur, focuses on attracting international association congresses to Panama.

 

The recent opening of ICCA’s new office within the Panama Association Hub is an important step forward. It will strengthen collaboration with ICCA, allowing for more effective joint efforts and advancing initiatives. With the support of offices in Montevideo, Uruguay, and now Panama, the synergy between the two locations will continue to drive progress. Furthermore, hosting the ICCA Congress 2026 in Panama from 8-11 November will reinforce Panama’s position as a global destination.

 

Since the launch of the Hub, there has been growing interest from associations wishing to relocate their headquarters to Panama. These include organisations in pioneering fields like medical research and aerospace, showcasing the diverse and forward-thinking entities that the Panama Association Hub is attracting. These organisations have identified The City of Knowledge as their preferred headquarters, as it serves as a crucial location, offering a network of visionaries, scientists, companies, NGOs, and more. Located just minutes from downtown Panama City and overlooking the Panama Canal, The City of Knowledge brings together a dynamic community of entrepreneurs, scientists, thinkers, artists, and leaders from various sectors, including government, NGOs, and international organisations. This vibrant hub fosters collaboration to develop initiatives that drive social change and embody the potential for a different and better Panama.

 

City of Knowledge

 

Panama’s strategic efforts to attract associations and establish their headquarters in the country are showing great promise. The Panama Association Hub, with the solid support of ICCA and Promtur Panama, is set to become a cornerstone for international associations in Latin America. The recent opening of ICCA’s second office in Latin America within the Panama Association Hub further strengthens Panama’s position as a premier destination for international associations. These milestones are the cherry on top of three successful years of hosting FIEXPO before the show moves to a new host country, Costa Rica, in 2025.

 

This initiative drives economic growth and local business and fosters knowledge exchange, innovation, and international collaboration, positioning Panama as a top destination for business events in the region. If you are interested in opening a regional branch of your association in Panama, get in touch with Promtur.