This is the fifth edition of Panama Now which has become a standard reference work, a top seller at bookstores and news stands throughout the Republic and sought-after by investors, scholars and travellers; not to mention Panamanians who want to keep at hand concise information about all aspects of the Republic’s affairs or send a copy to associates, friends or family abroad. The book is also published in a Spanish language edition called "Panamá Hoy".
The chapters in the book are the work of Panamanian journalists, foreign correspondents and experts in various fields. Talented photographers, national and foreign, have contributed their work for the outstanding sections of pictures and many companies and institutions have submitted "profiles" which add another dimension in showing the strength of Panama’s economy and social structure. It all adds up to an attractive book which reflects the exciting times in which we live.
This edition is special because it commemorates the centenary of the Republic. It spanned a time in which the world has seen the greatest technological and cultural advances in history and Panama has been in the vanguard. The year the country gained its independence from Colombia (1903), the Wright Brothers invented the airplane, an invention which, approximately 10 years later, was already delivering mail between Panama City and Colón. The construction of one of the greatest engineering projects of the 20th century —the Panama Canal— helped eradicate deadly diseases from the Isthmus years before many North American cities had improved their own sanitation standards.
Back in a time when inter-cultural communications were still limited to the privileged few, and decades before the United Nations was created, Panama was experiencing one of the greatest sociological experiments of all times: North Americans, Europeans, Hispanics, Jews, West Indians, Asians and East Indians —all of whom arrived to dig the Canal— learned to work and live with each other. Not only did the experiment work, but created a colorful population of all shades of skin color and religious beliefs. Today, Panamanians are proud of living in the most cosmopolitan, safe, and prosperous country in the region.
