As a result of the economic slowdown and the imbalance in public finances, Costa Rica faces a complex and high-risk future, in which the margins for action and maneuver will be increasingly limited.
The State of the Nation 2019 report explains that the economic slowdown and imbalance in public finances created a scenario of great complexity and risk, both economic and political, which aggravated the structural weaknesses or "blind spots" of the national development style.
The plan being designed by the Guatemalan government is in the revision phase, and has the aim of encouraging production of the sector and relations between producers and consumers.
Regarding the objectives of the new policy being prepared by the authorities, Pablo Girón, head of the unit of the National Council for Agricultural Development (Conadea) at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (Maga), explained to Prensalibre.com that "...'The idea is to make economic development strategies for fruit production, with a vision, mission and pointing northwards, in the direction of where we want to go towards the future'."
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."
In spite of the economic progress that has been achieved in Costa Rica, employment growth has stagnated, results in education are deficient, and anti-competitive regulations continue to hinder business development.
The latest OECD economic study on Costa Rica details the factors that support the significant socio-economic achievements of the last decades, as well as the pending challenges to ensure sustainable and more inclusive growth.
The plan proposed by the Morales administration to increase the country's competitiveness focuses on the development of forestry, agriculture, textiles, clothing and footwear, metalworking, light manufacturing, tourism and construction, among other things.
Authorities at the National Program for Competitiveness -Pronacom- presented guidelines for the National Competitiveness Policy 2018-2032. This set of strategies, which aims to establish guidelines on competitiveness at the national and regional level for the next 15 years, was developed jointly by the productive sector, public sector, academia and civil society.
In the view of the OECD, "the country depends to a large extent on a few sectors, such as construction, the financial sector and the Panama Canal, which will be insufficient to support greater socio-economic progress and greater inclusion."
The "Multidimensional Study of Panama," produced by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), concludes that the country needs more resources to finance investment in key social areas, including education and skills.
The OECD Committee on Agriculture has approved a policy for the sector, but warned of the need to raise productivity and reduce excessive agricultural institutions.
With the approval of the Agriculture Committee of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the agricultural sector becomes the third of 22 sectors to obtain the necessary approval to complete the process of incorporating the country into the bloc. The OECD has already endorsed public policies on trade and health.
According to Fitch Ratings the reelection of Daniel Ortega as president of Nicaragua means stability in the country's economic policies.
EDITORIAL
Stability and economic and political continuity is what Fitch Ratings envisages for Nicaragua after the outcome of the presidential elections last Sunday, in which President Daniel Ortega was declared the winner, with 70% of the vote, according to a report by the Supreme Electoral Council.
The vast majority of nicaraguans intend to vote for the re-election of the current President, Daniel Ortega, which would ensure the continuity of the current policies used to run the country.
EDITORIAL
Confirming what has been published by other pollsters,M & R Consultoresnotes that the results of its seventh national survey put the clear favorite to win the presidential election as Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo, who accordingtothis survey now have 66.3% of the vote. The nearest contender has only 8% of the vote, while the so-called hidden vote is 20.6%.
"We, at this moment in time, do not believe that these recommendations should be promoted because we are carrying out a series of readjustments that we believe are more relevant".
The Sanchez Ceren administration has ruled out addressing the recommendations made by a mission from the International Monetary Fund to correct the wrong direction of the Salvadoran economy.
"The Salvadoran economy continues to stagnate in a cycle of low growth and uncontrollable public debt, while economic and social policies focus on short-term relief, driving away employment opportunities."
From a statement by the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES):
The Salvadoran economy continues to stagnate in a cycle of low growth and uncontrollable public debt; while economic and social policies focus on short-term relief, driving employment opportunities away.
The confidence of the guild of merchants in the economic situation and future prospects has fallen to the lowest level in five years.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce in Costa Rica:
Companies in the commercial sector started the year with little optimism and demonstrated their distrust of the economic situation.
The Business Confidence Index Sector collated by the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica every three months stood at 86 points and for the first time since 2010, this measurement has fallen below 100 points in the first quarter.
The investment plan announced by the government is over $19 billion in road works, sanitation and electricity distribution and will support sectors such as logistics, transportation, tourism and agriculture.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Panama (MEF):
The Government Strategic Plan 2015-2019, contemplates a public investment program of around $19.5 billion.
The union of industrialists states that the government's five-year plan lacks any definition of concrete actions which would allow it to bring about anticipated results.
From a statement issued by the Salvadoran Association of Industrialists (ASI):
In the view of industrialists it is a document which contains some important evaluations and defines priorities for government issues, but it lacks a concrete action plan to provide solutions to the serious problems we Salvadorans are facing, especially with regard to violence, stagnation of the economy and lack of jobs.
The Economic Situation report by FUSADES notes that the growth of the Salvadoran economy in the last 5 years has averaged 0.8%.
From a statement issued by the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES):
During the last five years (2009-2013), the economy has deteriorated in terms of growth and macroeconomic stability. In the first quarter 2014 performance continued to weaken, showing a clear need for a national agreement which creates the conditions of stability and growth required to tap the potential of Salvadorans.