Costa Rica's GDP would only grow 2.6% by the end of 2018, mainly because of the effect of the three-month strike by public officials, the Nicaraguan crisis, rising global interest rates and uncertainty over tax reform.
From the International Monetary Fund statement:
December 12th, 2018. An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Ravi Balakrishnan visited San José from December 4 to 11 to discuss recent economic developments, the fiscal reform, and the overall macro and financial outlook. The mission held fruitful discussions with Central Bank Governor Rodrigo Cubero, Finance Minister Rocío Aguilar, members of the Legislative Assembly, other senior government officials, and representatives of the financial and private sectors. At the end of the visit, Mr. Balakrishnan issued the following statement:
The first mission on trade, technology and investment by the Argentinan Naval Industry will take place in San Salvador from 11 June.
The event is being organized by the Foreign Ministry of Argentina and the Buenos Aires Association of the Shipbuilding Industry (ABIN), the leading entity in the sector in Argentina.
The mission, which is made up of universities, professionals and businessmen from the Argentinean industrial naval and port and sector, aims to learn firsthand about the investment opportunities offered by El Salvador and from there, Central America, providing know-how and technology, alternative education and training, and to make available Argentinean capabilities in engineering, repairs and shipbuilding.
The main Canadian fresh fruit processor has found good opportunities for expanding its network of suppliers of pineapple with producers from Chiriqui and La Chorrera.
With advice and planning from CentralAmericaData.com’s Business Network, a trade mission composed of the chief executives from the company with plants in Vancouver, Toronto and Los Angeles, visited the principal pineapple producing establishments in Panama, with the aim of increasing its number of suppliers, which are now exclusively from Costa Rica.
In early February, a high profile trade mission from a major North American fresh fruit company will visit Panama to establish commercial contacts with pineapple growers from Capira and Chiriqui.
Sun Rich Fresh Foods, of Canadian origin, focuses on high quality fresh fruit products in different presentations. These products are experiencing great demand, so Sun Rich is looking for pineapple suppliers to back their expansion plans in Canada and the United States.
A group of 14 Telecommunications companies will visit Panama between 26 and 29 August.
The delegation will also take part in the second BizFit event, organized by the Panamanian Chamber of Information and Telecommunication technologies (CAPATEC).
BIZ FIT Panama 2010 will gather more than 50 exhibiting companies and also include an international fair displaying products and services from the companies in the country's Information and Communication Technology sector.
Finance Minister William Chong Wong affirmed they will be completely transparent when the International Monetary Fund reviews Honduras’ accounts.
The previous IMF visit to review national accounts, a compulsory process for all member states, was conducted in Honduras back in 2009, when Manuel Zelaya was still president. According to Proceso.hn, the mission “reviewed the numbers and found imbalances in public spending, mismanagement of state companies and noncompliance with the agreement signed with the Fund”.
A delegation of 23 IT businessmen will stay on the country until next Thursday.
They will hold meeting with their Panamanian counterparts at hotel Decapolis.
The mission was organized by the Argentinean Commerce Ministry, with coordination from the Panamanian Industry Chamber and the Panamanian Chamber of Technology, which also included a visit to Costa Rica.
An official delegation will discuss several development programs with their Nicaraguan counterparts.
The Agenda includes the Pacific Irrigation project, whose total investment could reach $2.145 million.
This project consists of "irrigating 65.000 hectares using water from the Nicaragua Lake in the first 5 years, to expand it to 625.000 hectares in 15 years.