Panama and Honduras were the only two Central American countries to report increases in foreign direct investment in 2018 over the previous year, with year-on-year changes of 36% and 3%, respectively.
The growth of investments directed to Panama, which concentrated 51% of the sub-regional total, explained the increase that was reached in 2018 in Central America (9.4%), since except Panama and Honduras, the Central American countries received less Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) than in 2017, explains the report "Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2019", produced by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
Despite the location and the fiscal benefits that in some cases the countries of the region offer, the lack of education of the population will be the main barrier to continue attracting large investments.
The lack of guarantee of finding the competent and sustainable human capital necessary for the proper operation of companies is an issue that negatively influences the attraction of important investments in Central America.
Businessmen in Nicaragua expect to reduce by at least 50% the investments they had previously planned for 2018, waiting for the problems affecting the country to be solved.
The research by the Consejo Superior de la Empresa Privada (Cosep) and the Fundación Nicaragüense para el Desarrollo Económico y Social (Funides), takes place in the context of more than 160 days of political and social crisis, which has severely affected the performance of the country's economy.
In the first half of the year private fixed investment increased by almost 6% compared to the same period in 2016, driven mainly by the good performance of the construction sector.
From the Central Bank's "Quarterly GDP Report II"
Private fixed investment grew by 2.8% (5.6% in the first half of the year), as a result of increases in construction (9.3%) and other investments (3.25) and a decrease in machinery and equipment (-2.2%).Fixed investment increased by 2.2% (4.6% in the first half of the year), as a result of a positive performance in machinery and equipment (15.3%) and decreases in other investments (-8.1%) and those under construction (-1.0%).
In 2016 44% of foreign direct investment in the region was concentrated in Panama, and a fourth consecutive year of increases was recorded, with 16%, while Costa Rica received 27% and increased by only 1.1%.
From chapter I of the report "Flows of FDI in Latin America and the Caribbean", by the ECLAC:
FDI into Central America grew by 3.7% in 2016 and totaled 11,833 million dollars.The increase in investments to the two main recipients of the subregion -Panama, which recieved 44%, and Costa Rica, 27%- compensated for the drop in FDI to the other Central American countries.
Infrastructure such as roads, ports and airports and utilities can now receive private investment.
The law was prepared by the Executive in conjunction with the private sector, represented by the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP).
Elnuevodiario.com.ni reports that "...The deputy in the Sandinista party Jose Figueroa, a member of the Commission of Economy and Budget, said that this law will allow private investors to be able to receive compensation for their investments, which can be kind of tax incentive."
A value of more than $5 billion has been given to the investment projects that the Ortega administration intends to carry out through public, private and investment partnership deals.
Among the projects proposed by the Nicaraguan government and open to funding proposals are:
The bill submitted by the Executive aims to increase legal certainty and transparency of processes through improved tender mechanisms.
The Executive presented a bill for public and private investment classified as urgent, only days after the US Congress passed a law whichputs conditions on loans from international institutionsto the government of Daniel Ortega.
Knowing how to laugh at yourself is a virtue that every entrepreneur in Costa Rica should have, even though it might all end in tears.
This is what Alfonso Carro does in his article on Crhoy.com: laugh at himself, at the same time bringing to light the helplessness felt in light of the deteriorating conditions for investment in an economy such as Costa Rica, which was once number one in Central America.
Determinants of investment, committed figures, and key economic sectors in the region in which Colombian companies have ventured into in recent years.
From the summary of the document by Cepal: "Colombian Investment in Central America":
The main objective of paper on Colombian investment in Central America is to analyze the business strategies that have led to increased Colombian foreign direct investment (FDI) in Central American countries.
Polaris Energy has announced an investment of $43 million in drilling new wells to increase generation capacity from 50 to 72 MW.
The company Polaris Geothermal Energy is aiming to increase its production capacity in Nicaragua and go from 50-72 MW of power. The information was confirmed by the CEO of the company, Alex Orono, during an appearance before the board of the Chamber of Industries of Nicaragua (Cadin), confirmed Elnuevodiario.com.ni.
This year multinational plans to invest that amount in remodeling, maintenance, new units, electronic commerce, and logistics and distribution.
From a statement issued by Walmart of Mexico and Central America:
Mexico City, 10 March 2016.- In 2016 Walmart de Mexico and Central America will invest an estimated $14.700 million pesos ($866 million), 17% higher than the total amount invested last year.
The construction of the 13,000 square meters building in the department of León started in November 2015 and will be ready in October 2016.
The Paseo Real Mall in Leon, 93 kilometers from Managua, is being built on an area of 19 blocks at the site of the former Gurdián on Avenida Debayle. The project required an investment of $16 million and its opening is scheduled for October 15, announced Lytton Cano, general manager of Inversiones Plaza León S.A. to El Nuevo Diario.
The Costa Rican company increased its sales by 2% compared to 2014, thanks to the dynamism of flavored alcoholic beverages in the US, foods in Guatemala, and beers, wines and spirits in Costa Rica.
Flavored alcoholic beverages, especially in America, and increased profitability in beer, wine and distilled drinks in Costa Rica and food in Guatemala, boosted Costa Rica Florida Ice & Farm's operating income in 2015, reaching $179 million, 13% more than in the previous fiscal year.
Poverty has declined, foreign investment has quintupled in a decade, the economy has grown more than the average in Central America and Nicaraguan businessmen are applauding it.
Carlos Pellas, one of the most successful Central American businessmen with investments in sectors relating to financial insurance, agribusiness, information technology, energy, vehicle distribution, and production and beer and spirits, did not make a statement in a merely personal capacity but rather one relating to the economy of his country, Nicaragua, when he said that "people think that things are going well, there is a lot of investment, construction has grown, it is a dynamic sector, you can tell that from one look".