RÍO BARCO IMPLICATIONS OF ENTREPRENEURIAL INVESTMENT IN PANAMA

Abstract

Foreign investors and immigrants bring external knowledge and new ideas to host countries, contributing to their growth and development. Such is the case for Panama; foreign direct investment from the Unites States alone reached $4.6bn USD in 2020 and continues to grow. This paper explores the benefits and challenges of entrepreneurial foreign direct investment as an American, specifically in the form of an ecotourism startup. Río Barco, a theoretical guided outdoor adventure tour agency, was developed as a framework for understanding the processes of registration, application, and startup in Panama City, Panama. Through the analysis of Río Barco, this paper aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of entrepreneurship in the foreign direct investment space. It navigates the legal, economic, and social startup processes, as well as the individual implications and challenges. Overall, this paper creates an entrepreneurial model that can serve as a guide for future projects.