Panama invests $105 m in semiconductors, taps VinFast for free‑zone hub

President José Raúl Mulino announced that Panama will allocate $105 million to implement a National Semiconductor and Microelectronics Strategy, a pillar of the country's Advanced Technologies agenda. The funding supports the Advanced Semiconductor Technology Center at the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, scholarships for students abroad, and aims to integrate Panama into the global semiconductor supply chain.

In a related effort to boost its logistics sector, Panama invited Vietnamese electric‑vehicle maker VinFast to use the Colon Free Zone as a regional distribution centre for cars and parts destined for Latin America and the Caribbean. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos A. Hoyos highlighted Panama's network of ports, free‑zone regime, and multimodal infrastructure during a meeting in Hanoi, positioning the country as a hub for sustainable mobility and trade.

The dual initiatives underscore Panama's strategy to attract high‑tech investment and strengthen its role as a logistics gateway for the region.