The State of the Nation 2018 Report explains that during 2017 and the first months of 2018 the progress of Costa Rica's economy has been adverse and, in the short term, the prospects for economic opportunities, solvency and stability are negative.
Most of the drivers of Costa Rica's economy have declined in recent months, resulting in Costa Rica going through a period of multiple economic and political risks.
In Guatemala, the National Competitiveness Policy has come into force, which aims to promote development through 11 economic clusters.
The Ministry of Economy reported that the National Competitiveness Policy, which is part of the 2018-2032 period, will focus on "... the 11 clusters chosen from a list of 25 that had been previously identified, those being: forestry, fruits and vegetables, processed foods, beverages, textile clothing and footwear, metalworking, light manufacturing, tourism and health services, TIC's software & Contact Centers, transport and logistics, construction."
The activities of Electricity and Water Distribution and Financial Intermediation were those that accounted for most of the growth in gross domestic product in 2016.
From a report by the Central Bank:
Quarterly Gross Domestic Product (PIBT) at constant prices, in the seasonally adjusted series, increased by 1.8% compared to the previous quarter; reflecting an acceleration in the production of goods and services in relation to all of the previous quarters of that year.
Funides projections for conditions in 2016 are similar to those of 2015 and it estimates that the economy will grow by between 4.5 and 4.7%.
From the executive summary of the "First Economic Situation Report for 2016 " by Funides:
Growth projections for the world economy in 2016 have decreased from 3.4 to 3.2 percent according to the latest projections by the International Monetary Fund.
Report of Costa Rica´s performance, through the selection, measurement and evaluation of a set of variables that include social, economic, environmental and political aspects of development.
Overview of the State of the Nation Report 2015:
In the past five years, the State of the Nation has warned about the severity of the problems that threaten the sustainability of human development, the political system's inability to find answers and the need to correct the country's course. Therefore, in 2011 it was stated that behind the political and economic stability a wearing down of Costa Rica's historical progress could be detected. In 2012 the absence of solid progress was noted and in 2013, the existence of myths about the "country we are," which led to do the same actions being repeated with different results expected. Last year, the Twentieth Report stated that it was the end of an era and the political system was being called on to lead the transition with minimal confrontation and costs for the weaker groups.
Legal certainty, delays in the approval procedures and government debts are some of the concerns employers passed on to the Varela administration.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (CCIAP):
Issues related to national and corporate events, which include economic growth and legal certainty, were some of the points raised during the meeting between entrepreneurs of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama headed by its President José Luis Ford, and the president of the Republic of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez.
For this year the Central Bank of Honduras has projected economic growth of between 3% and 3.5% and inflation of between 4.5% and 6.5%.
From a statement issued by Banco Central de Honduras:
The Board of the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH) has approved the Monetary Programme (FP) for 2015-2016, which contains policy measures to be adopted based on projections of key macroeconomic variables under the national and international current economic context.
Construction, mining and financial sectors drove growth in the Gross Domestic Product in the first six months of the year.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Panama:
Growth projection for the closure of the 2014 is held in 7%, leading the region.
Panama's economy grew by 6.2%, in the first six months of 2014, to be located the Gross
Increased borrowing costs, a disincentive to foreign investment and distrust of economic performance, are part of the expected scenario if public debt growth is not controlled.
Prensalibre.com reports that "... The draft budget for 2015 presented by the Ministry of Finance, amounting to $9.250 million (Q71 thousand 840.8 million), contemplates taking on new debt of about $2 billion (Q15 billion), of which $1.6 billion (Q12 thousand 334 million) came from bonds and loans. "
The Guatemalan government has formally introduced a comprehensive development plan which sets out long-term goals to accelerate economic growth.
Administration officials said the plan was created with the participation of multiple sectors represented in the National Council of Urban and Rural Development (CONADUR).
The 2032 K'atun National Development Plan contains five axes around which the actions to be implemented rotate, such as: Welfare for the people, Wealth for All, Natural resources for today and tomorrow, as well as the hub of Urban and Rural Guatemala and the state as guarantor of rights and driver of development.