Panama GDP grows 5.4pc in 2017

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Panama grew 4.9 per cent in the fourth quarter (Q4), compared to the same period of 2016, the government has said.

The Central American country’s annual growth rate stood at 5.4 per cent in 2017, picked up from the 5.0 per cent annual rate seen in 2016, reports Reuters.

The most dynamic sectors of the fully dollarised free market economic country were trade, transport/communications and construction.

Operations at the country’s famous canal grew 16.1 per cent, the government said.

The Panama government has forecast the economy will grow 5.6 per cent in 2018.