Panama's strategic location at the hub of the Americas makes Panama the ideal crossroads for all distribution to Central and South America and most Caribbean Islands. Key assets include 2 oceans and 4 major ports - immediate access to the Port of Cristobal, Manzanillo International Terminal and Colon Container Terminal (Evergreen). Overland transportation to the Pacific Port of Balboa, located 56 miles to the southeast of the Colon Free Zone. The Panama Canal - This major shipping route provides a unique opportunity for international companies established in the Colon Free Zone to tap into a huge capacity of ocean traffic which competitively enhances the available options on frequency and rates to a scope not afforded at any other location in this hemisphere. The Colon Free Zone - Colon Import and Export is located within the 390 hectare compound of the Colon Free Zone. Today more than 1,700 businesses operate in the largest tax free trading area in the Americas and represent a commercial movement in excess of six billion dollars in exports alone. Getting Started in the Colon Free Zone - Read this excerpt of a report compiled by KPMG about how to get started in the Colon Free Zone.