Panama

Panama is a Central American country that forms the narrowest land bridge between North and South America. The capital is Panama City. The country has a population of about 4.4-million and operates a dollarised economy, using the US dollar as its official currency alongside the balboa. Panama's economy is dominated by services, particularly maritime transport, banking and logistics, driven by the Panama Canal, one of the world's most strategic shipping routes. The canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and handles about 6% of global maritime trade, generating substantial transit fees and positioning Panama as a critical hub for international commerce. The country also hosts a large financial services sector and the Colón Free Trade Zone, the second-largest free-trade zone in the world. Panama's government is a presidential representative democratic republic. The country is a member of the United Nations, the Organization of American States and the Central American Integration System. Panama gained independence from Colombia in 1903, and the United States completed construction of the canal in 1914; full Panamanian control of the canal was achieved in 1999 under the Torrijos–Carter Treaties.