This article covers India's development cooperation with Panama, including training, grant projects and medical assistance, together with the energy alliances Panama has joined and the Indian community in Panama. It is based on the MEA brief of June 2026.

IT Centre of Excellence

According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India set up an IT Centre of Excellence in the City of Knowledge in August 2006 under India-SICA cooperation. After operating it successfully for about two years, India handed it over to the Panamanian authorities in July 2008. The brief places the Centre, and the ITEC slots described below, under education.

The IT Centre was upgraded in 2015 at the request of the Panamanian authorities. Four Indian APTECH experts trained 25 Panamanian trainers under a three-month programme, which ended on 17 February 2016.

ITEC training

The brief states that Panama has been allocated 25 slots under ITEC scholarships this year. It also states that, because the 25 ITEC slots were fully used last year, the number of slots has been increased to 30 from the current fiscal year.

Science and engineering

Two professors from India were invited to the annual Congress of Engineering, Science, and Technology held at the Technology University of Panama in October 2022. The brief notes that research in science, engineering, technology and mathematics is much needed in Panama.

Centres announced in 2018

During the visit of the Vice President of India to Panama in May 2018, two initiatives for strengthening technical and technological cooperation were announced:

  • the setting up of a Centre for Biodiversity & Drug Discovery, for US$ 10 million
  • the setting up of a Centre for Technology & Innovation, for US$ 15 million

The brief lists these under the heading "Lines of Credit Projects".

Quick Impact Projects

On 5 February 2025, India and Panama signed the MoU on "Agreement Between Government of India and Government of the Republic of Panama regarding Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs)". Later, on 18 November, 5 MoUs for the implementation of India-Panama Quick Impact Projects were signed.

Medical assistance

In 2020, the Government of India donated a medical aid package for Covid-related assistance to Panama. It consisted of 1,10,000 HCQL tablets and other medicines and medical supplies, and the consignment was delivered to the Ministry of Health of Panama from June-July 2020.

Energy alliances

On 7 March 2024, the previous Ambassador of Panama to India, Yasiel Burillo, handed over Panama's Instrument of Ratification to the ISA in New Delhi. Panama also signed the foundation document for the Global Biofuel Alliance in April 2024.

The Indian community in Panama

Panama's Indian community originates from Punjab, Gujarat and Sindh (now a part of Pakistan). According to the brief, around 15,000 PIOs and NRIs, mostly Gujaratis and Sindhis, live in Panama.

There are several places of Indian worship in Panama: Hindu Temples, a Gurudwara and a Mosque in Panama City, and another Hindu Temple in Colon. The Sindhi community is mostly engaged in wholesale and retail trade, and the Gujarati community in the micro-credit business.

The brief describes the community as financially well settled and states that it has contributed to Panamanian society. In January 2021, the National Assembly passed a law creating a National Council for Indian ethnicity to advise the Government, and the Committee was constituted in August 2023.

The brief also suggests that the large Indian community could be engaged to enhance trade and investment. It proposes that a delegation from Panama, including prominent persons of Indian origin, could be invited to India to see facilities in health, textiles, machinery or IT.