Panama approves new e-commerce bill

·PANAMA. A decree that regulates e-commerce has been approved by the Ministry of Commerce.

The new legislation will allow companies to carry out commercial services using the Internet. In the past that activity was not regulated in Panama.

The decree defines and regulates electronic documents, electronic signatures, technological documents and storage services while adopting other measures that will allow the development of electronic commerce.

The Minister of Commerce, Gisela Alvarez de Porras said that the legislation aims to promote the use of information technology and the development of electronic commerce as tools that will encourage the competitiveness and effectiveness of Panamanian productive sectors.

Porras said that new technology will allow the public sector to replace the use of paperwork with electronic seals and signatures, which in turn will help the government provide more efficient service to the public.