Panama
Panama was the 73rd largest economy in the world by nominal GDP in 2018. Its GDP per capita was $15,575 USD. Panama has enjoyed strong economic growth over the past 15 years because of strong private investment and the widening of the Panama Canal. It was ranked 91st in the World Bank's Human Capital Index and 56th in the Economic Complexity Index in 2017. It is a member of the regional trading group SICA. Services was the largest economic sector in 2018 (65 percent of GDP), followed by manufacturing (5.8 percent), and agriculture (2.2 percent). In 2017, the largest export sectors were services (72.1 percent), minerals (6.9 percent), and agriculture (5.5 percent). The largest individual exports were transportation services (34.7 percent), travel and tourism (24 percent), insurance and finance (8 percent), ICT services (5.5 percent), and refined petroleum (3.9 percent). Its largest export partners were Ecuador (17.2 percent), Japan (15.1 percent), Guatemala (10.6 percent), and the USA (8.1 percent). The largest goods imports were cargo ships and similar vessels (18.8 percent), refined petroleum (14.37 percent), and crude oil (7.27 percent). The Spanish settled Panama in the 16th century. For over 300 years it was a key strategic colony for the Spanish. Panama became independent from Spain in 1821 and joined the Republic of Gran Colombia with modern day Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. When Gran Colombia dissolved in 1831, it remained with Colombia. In 1903, it separated from Colombia after strong encouragement from the US. Between 1904 and 1914, the US Army Corps of Engineers built the Panama Canal. The US retained sole control over the canal and the Panama Canal Zone until 1979 and the Carter-Torrijos treaty. Joint control was then maintained until 1999, after which Panama took sole control. In 1989, the US invaded Panama to restore democratic government, reduce drug trafficking, and ensure the neutrality of the canal. Following the removal of the US economic embargo, private investment soared driving rapid economic growth. The successful 2006 referendum on widening the canal encouraged further international investment. Panama has also quickly grown to become the largest exporter of financial services in the Caribbean and Latin America. Reforms made between 2009 and 2014 transformed the banking sector and made it a regional banking hub. Between 2004 and 2019, Panama was among fastest growing economies in the world, with average annual real GDP growth of 6.8 percent. The growth in financial services also saw growth in money laundering and tax haven activities as underlined by the 2016 Panama Papers. The government strengthened AML/CFT and tax transparency measures in 2015 and has been increasing oversight efforts since 2016. In 2016, the widening and deepening of the canal locks were completed, allowing the passage of the New-Panamax class of container ships. This has increased Panama's revenue from the canal. In 2019, production began in the Cobre Panama copper mine, which will further boost the economy.