Global Business Council Welcomes Panama’s Association Leaders

On Monday, August 19, the REALTOR® Association of Sarasota and Manatee (RASM) Global Business Council welcomed leaders from ACOBIR, the Panamanian Association of Real Estate Brokers and Developers, for an inbound trade mission. Last year at the National Association of REALTORS® Convention and Expo, representatives from the RASM and ACOBIR met to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The signing of this agreement sets forth the understanding of both associations related to connecting and establishing a mutually beneficial relationship for its members. As part of this relationship between, the RASM GBC invited Luis Pimentel, ACOBIR President, and Xenia Kwai Ben, Executive Director of ACOBIR, to visit the Sarasota and Manatee area. They started their day with a tour of Port Manatee, the closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the Panama Canal, and one of the 144 maritime routes that travel through the Canal.

Following the tour, Pimentel and Kwai Ben returned to RASM to meet with more than 20 members of the GBC. Pimentel presented information on Pamana’s economy, residential and commercial real estate, infrastructure, and investment opportunities. GBC members learned that Panama real estate has become an attractive source of investments as well as a solid market for secondary homes for global citizens. Panama boasts a variety of world-class attractions, tropical rainforests, Caribbean-type beaches, Spanish colonial historical sites, and vibrant cities. With so many English-speaking residents, a U.S. dollar currency and attractive interest rates, it’s no wonder Panama has become a widely popular retirement location! The inbound trade mission concluded with a networking reception where GBC members took the opportunity to connect further with Pimentel and Kwai Ben.