Panama's Tocumen Airport has been one of the key linchpins in the rise of the Caribbean as a cargo hotspot. Earlier this year, IATA reported that aviation and aviation-related tourism contributes around $5.9bn to Panama's economy annually, an amount equal to 12.6 percent of the country’s GDP. This is much higher than the global average contribution of 3.4 percent, which the organization said reflects the positive impact of efficient connectivity to Panama's economy.
Imports to Panama include pharmaceuticals, machinery products, iron/steel rods and electronics. Panama operates two of the busiest ocean ports in Latin America, including the Colon Free Trade Zone, which is the world's second-largest free-trade zone.
