There are no iirroort regulations or restrictions on slirimp other 

 than import duties. The duties on dried or salted shrirap are 3 cents per 

 gross lrilogra:n (2.2 pounds). There are no duties on canned, cured, or 

 piclded shrimp. 



G07£m-!IIiaiT ASSISTAiraE 



The Panamanian slirirp fishery has been developed by private 

 initiative, but has been aided considerably by government policy. The 

 fishery started i-rith United States capital, but in 19B3 a group of influential 

 Panamanians bought out nost of the conpanies then operating. This organiza- 

 tion probably controls 60 to 70 percent of the capital that is invested in 

 the Panamanian slirimp fisheries. 



In order to encourage industry the Panamanian Government, in 19^0, 

 enacted Decree-Law No. 12. Some of the provisions of this lau are as folloiJS: 



1. Industries established, or to be established, in Panama, may 

 obtain a contract with the Government for a period of up to 2$ years. 



2. Companies with these contracts are exempt from all import 

 duties on machinery, equipment, apparatus, replacement and spare parts, 

 fuel, oil, supplies and other commodities for use or consumption by the 

 company. 



3. Companies are exempt from, L»nport duties on any raw material, 

 h* Foreign technicians are exeiiipt from Panamanian secvirity laws, 



5. Companies are exeript from a3_l ta:':es, contributions, duties 

 and levies on installations, operation, production, distribution, sales 

 and consu3iii)tion except income, social security, staiqD, notarial and regis- 

 tration fees for public services. The rate of those fees in effect at the 

 time of signing the contract vrLll continue for the duration of the contract. 



6. Companies are exempt from all export duties. 



7. In case tlis necessity for it is established a protective 

 tariff will be enacted. 



The compiinies receiving such conti-acts must — 



1, Invest a stated amount :m the business, 



2, produce for n?vtional consitiption. 



lh3 



