Panama Pledges to Meet Fiscal Goal as Mine Closure Halves Growth.

Panama is working to reassure rating firms about its commitment to fiscal and growth targets as concerns rise about the country losing its investment-grade status. The Panamanian government aims to reduce the fiscal deficit to 2% of GDP this year and achieve 2.5% economic growth, according to Deputy Finance Minister Jorge Almengor. The closure of the Cobre Panama mine has impacted the economy, with investors demanding higher risk premiums for Panama's debt. The upcoming presidential election adds uncertainty, with analysts suggesting that credit rating agencies may downgrade Panama further. [Extracted from the article]