Although in Costa Rica during December 2020 most businesses increased their sales by about 10%, the expectations of the sector's entrepreneurs for the first quarter of 2021 are still uncertain.
The year 2020 was marked by an economic crisis, which was generated by the outbreak of covid-19 at a global level. In this context, the Costa Rican commercial sector managed to oxygenate its finances with the end of the year celebrations.
In Costa Rica, businessmen in the sector do not clearly see what the economic direction of the country will be, since the levels of unemployment and informality in small and medium enterprises are still rising.
The proportion of unemployed people in the country closed 2019 upwards, as between the third and fourth quarters of 2019 the open unemployment rate rose from 11.4% to 12.4%, an increase that can be explained partly by the rise in women's unemployment.
In the last two years, the number of jobs generated by companies in this sector has fallen 7%, because of the slowdown in the country's economic activity.
According to information from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), between the second quarter of 2017 and the same period of 2019, the number of jobs in the commercial sector was reduced by 28,621, from 386,597 to 357,976.
In Costa Rica, it is estimated that illegal trade mobilizes around $1.230 million per year, which is equivalent to 7% of household consumption.
According to a study by the Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce's (CCCR) Illicit Trade Observatory, the products most affected by smuggling are cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, spare parts for vehicles, clothing, pharmaceuticals and medicines.
Businessmen from the commercial sector in Costa Rica expect for the Christmas season a sales behavior like that seen during the Black Friday Weekend.
According to the Chamber of Commerce, the moderate growth of the commercial sector is the result of the uncertainty and economic slowdown that the country is going through, in addition to the increases in interest rates and the exchange rate.
The fall in the automobile and construction materials sales was determinant in the increase of only 1.6%, which is forecast to close the year by companies in the commercial sector in Costa Rica.
Representatives of the Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce (CCCR) reported that expected growth for this year will be only 1.6%, significantly below the 3% average annual increases that have been reported in previous years.
During the first five weeks of a strike called by public unions in Costa Rica, 76% of businesses reported economic losses and 18% had to lay off staff.
The Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce carried out a study with the objective of measuring the losses of companies in the sector, derived from the strike carried out by the country's public unions, which began last September 6th.
Representatives of the Costa Rican Chamber of Trade and the Foreign Economic Relations Board in Turkey are seeking to open a space in order to generate business between the two countries.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica:
The Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica and the Turkish Embassy in the country will receive on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, a Turkish business delegation that arrived in the country on behalf of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK) and which includes members of the Business Council of Turkey - Central America and the Caribbean of that institution as well as important representatives from the Turkish business sector.
Employers believe that a new and more efficient system is required in order to generate confidence in foreign trade.
The Information Technology System for Customs Control (known as Tic@), received strong criticism from business chambers, whose executives say that after 10 years of operation this computing platform is obsolete.
The Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica (ICRC), the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica (CCCR) and the Digital Government program agree on this point. Alonso Elizondo, executive director of the CCCR, says that more customs efficiency is needed to lower costs in the transit of goods.
The Chamber of Commerce reported that for 2009 companies will generate an average of 5,600 jobs, or 4,400 less than in 2008.
According to nacion.com, the growth in employment for 2009 will not be enough to meet the demand for labor," commented Oscar Cabada, president of the Chamber of Commerce.
The businessman added that the companies will keep their current workers but will not increase their capacity for new jobs significantly.