PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – Panama’s economic growth next year is now estimated at about 2.5%, down “in light of new scenarios,” Economy and Finance Minister Hector Alexander said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a 2024 draft budget presentation, Alexander said the reduced figure did not include inflation.
Alexander did not give further detail on the reasoning behind the cut, but a ministry official told Reuters earlier this month that the country could slash its 2024 GDP forecast after the closure of a lucrative copper mine.
Official Hernan Arboleda said at the time the ministry was looking at 1% to 2% economic growth in 2024, down from a previous estimate of 5%.
Last week, the Panamanian government moved to “definitively” shut down Canadian miner First Quantum’s Cobre Panama mine in the country, which accounts for some 5% of its GDP, after a court ruling found its contract unconstitutional.
Panamanians had since October protested vehemently against the mine, arguing the contract was too generous.
(Reporting by Eli Moreno; Editing by Sarah Morland)