This authorization will facilitate the expeditious processing of electronic government services avoiding manual processes and achieving better coordination of management information between public agencies, said Abraham Carrasquilla, director of Public Registry.

This step should provide speed, efficiency and transparency of public administration, the official said, according to Laestrella.com.pa.

"This initiative is one of the President's Unforgivables and in its first stage it is estimated that 100,000 signatures will be available nationally for both the public and private sectors," said Carrasquilla.

Source: estrelladepanama.com

More on this topic

Panama: Registration Information Digitalized

April 2014

The Public Registry web platform allows the digital registration using electronic signatures to authorize transactions.

Panamaamerica.com.pa reports that "the new technological tool will streamline internal processes and allow paperwork and long lines to become a thing of the past through a system that offers security."

Panama: Electronic Signatures Announced for November

August 2013

Implementation of the system which will reduce reliance on paper processes is 85% complete, meaning that it could be released in November.

From a press release issued by the National Assembly of Panama:

Electronic signatures, an innovative tool which will streamline processes for approving transactions is 85% complete and could be launched during the month of November.

Delay in Electronic Signature in Panama

August 2012

The use of digital signatures scheduled to begin this year is several months late and will not be implemented until February 2014.

Several factors are responsible for the delay, among which is the delay in the tendering act which had to be performed twice, said Hernando Carrasquilla, director of Public Registry. The company awarded the tender was the Spanish consortium Indra Sistemas.

Electronic Signature in Panama by 2012

August 2010

The Public Records Office will have a budget of $4 million in 2011 to begin the project.

The director of the Public Records Office, Luis Barría, commented that the pilot scheme is part of a $47 million project called "País Sin Papel" ("Paper-free Country"), in which the Panamanian state is seeking to modernize its processes.