LATAM FDI: Expertise in Foreign Direct Investment Marketing in Latin America

Panama is famous for its canal, but the country's economic story runs much deeper. In this episode, LATAM FDI sits down with Horacio Estribi — a former public servant and national and international consultant with a master's from Harvard's Kennedy School and 35 years across government, banking, and academia — to unpack how foreign direct investment has shaped Panama and where it needs to go next.
Estribi walks through the sectors that built Panama's growth model: logistics, ports, real estate, banking, and tourism, plus the canal's Panamax expansion. He explains the SEM multinational headquarters regime that drew nearly 200 regional HQs — Mars, Dell, Nestlé, BMW, Procter & Gamble, Samsung — and why connectivity, a dollarized economy, and a flexible immigration system matter as much as tax incentives. Success stories like the Colón Free Zone and Panama Pacific round out the picture.
But the heart of the conversation is candid: Panama is still growing, just more slowly, and Estribi argues it's time to evolve — toward knowledge, innovation, the digital economy, and even semiconductor supply chains. He points to lessons from Costa Rica, the need to train bilingual talent in AI and problem-solving, and the shift from fiscal perks to one-stop-shop efficiency and less bureaucracy.
A clear-eyed look at what's worked, what's changing, and how investors can plug in.

Ebell de Castro discusses foreign investment opportunities in the Dominican Republic.
Abel brings over 20 years of free zone experience, starting at the National Free Zones Council before managing two private free zone parks. His current role is with Punta Cana Free Trade Zone, an initiative of Grupo Punta Cana — one of the DR's largest economic groups.
The conversation covers four main areas. First, the DR's investment incentives — a 100% exemption from local taxes for 15 years, renewable based on job creation, foreign currency generation, and technology transfer. Second, logistics infrastructure — nine international airports, eleven ports, and connectivity to 85 destinations directly from Punta Cana alone, with competitive labor costs on par with Asian markets. Third, the evolution of free zone manufacturing — shifting from basic apparel assembly toward medical devices, high-value electronics, and now aerospace. Fourth, the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone itself — the region's first industrial park, located inside an international airport, anchored by an MRO facility operated by FL Techniques, targeting aviation, value-added logistics, and air-transported goods manufacturing.
Abel's long-term vision: an aerospace cluster capable of assembling aircraft in the Dominican Republic within 15 to 20 years.
Contact: edcastro@puntacanafreezone.com — www.puntacanafreezone.com

This episode of the Latam FDI Podcast features John Bozek, Chief Strategy and Research Officer at Invest Puerto Rico. The conversation explores the island’s strengths in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, aerospace, tourism, and logistics, as well as the opportunities created by reshoring trends and Act 60 tax incentives. Bozek also shares insights into workforce challenges, infrastructure needs, and Puerto Rico’s vision for long-term economic development and growth in foreign direct investment.

In this episode, Stephen interviews Juan Carlos Zapata, Executive Director of Fundesa, about Guatemala’s growing momentum as a destination for foreign direct investment. Zapata discusses the country’s strong macroeconomic stability, young workforce, and strategic location, which connects North and Central America.

In this episode, Juliana Gomez, CEO of Invest in Bogotá, discusses the city’s growing role as a leading destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Latin America.

Invest in Bogotá serves as the city’s official investment promotion agency, acting as a strategic advisor to multinational companies looking to establish or expand operations. In addition to attracting FDI, the organization promotes Bogotá as a hub for corporate tourism and international business events, reinforcing its position as a regional business platform.

Bogotá stands out due to its economic scale and strategic importance, generating approximately 30% of Colombia’s GDP and offering the country’s largest and most sophisticated talent pool. The city also benefits from strong connectivity, anchored by El Dorado International Airport, one of the busiest in South America for both cargo and passenger traffic.

Key sectors driving investment include IT services, knowledge-based industries, fintech, shared services (GBS), and entrepreneurship ecosystems. Bogotá has become a major hub for shared service operations, hosting over half of Colombia’s total GBS centers. The city is also prioritizing emerging areas such as AI, smart city development, infrastructure, logistics, and audiovisual content production, including gaming and digital media.

Looking ahead, Invest in Bogotá is managing a robust pipeline of over 600 investment opportunities, with the United States as a primary source of investment. The long-term vision is to position Bogotá as a high-value, service-driven economy, focused on innovation, startups, and technology-enabled industries such as fintech, healthtech, agritech, and govtech.

Gomez emphasizes that Bogotá offers companies the ability to scale operations efficiently in Latin America, supported by its deep talent pool, strong connectivity, and proven investment track record. Through close collaboration between public and private sectors, Invest in Bogotá provides free, hands-on support to help companies navigate and establish successful operations in the city.