In the first quarter of 2020, just before the crisis generated by covid-19 began, there were 72,972 formal businesses registered in Costa Rica. In the second quarter the figure fell 6% and by September there was a slight recovery.
Data from the Costa Rican Social Security Fund indicate that between the first and second quarters of the year the number of registered companies fell from 72,972 to 68,946.
Due to the economic crisis, it is expected that during 2021 the number of business alliances and company sales will increase, especially in the most damaged sectors, such as tourism, hotels, restaurants, entertainment, education and real estate.
The restrictions imposed by the governments of the region due to the covid-19 outbreak, has generated economic losses in most of the productive sectors, including reported business closures and increases in unemployment levels.
The TGI Friday's chain decided to close its store located in the Oxygen Human Playground shopping center, in the province of Heredia, for a 90-day period.
"As you know, the food and beverage sector has been highly impacted, which is why we have taken the measure to suspend operations at our Friday's Oxygen store," explained a statement issued on March 21 by the company.
The closure of shopping centers, bars and discotheques, and the suspension of public transport, are some of the measures that began to take effect in the country on March 17, with the aim of containing the spread of covid-19.
The provisions are mandatory and will be in force from March 17 at 00:00 hours until March 31 this year at 24:00 hours, details the presidential agreement published in the Diario de Centroamerica.
Suspension of work for government and company workers, closure of businesses and shopping centers, as well as a ban on the operation of public transport, are some of the measures decreed in the country in view of the threat of the spread of covid-19.
Air, land and sea borders are closed throughout the country, and all sporting, cultural and social activities are cancelled, reported the Honduran presidency.
The German company, Amoena, reported that it will close its operations in the country, arguing that its main textile suppliers moved their operations to Asia and need to get closer to that market.
The company is a producer of bras, bathing suits and other products for women who have suffered from breast cancer and underwent mastectomies.
The Mexican airline Volaris will be suspending its services as of July 1, and the luxury resort hotel Mukul, in Guacalito, has announced the indefinite closure of its operations.
The crisis that has been going on in the country for the last month continues to harm the tourism business sector.The airline Volaris reported that it will temporarily suspend services to Managua from next week, and the luxury hotel Mukul Auberge Resorts Collection, in the South Pacific, announced on Friday that it will close its operations indefinitely.
The General Directorate of Civil Aviation has once again suspended, this time indefinitely, the operating permit for the company Nature Air.
Following the accident that occured in Guanacaste in December 2017, in January the General Directorate of Civil Aviation decided to temporarily suspend flights, arguing that due to problems in the company's administrative structure, they could not guarantee the safety of their operations.Although 15 days later they lifted the suspension and gave authorization for it to resume operations, the company failed to do so.
One of the best parameters of the strength of an economy is the amount of businesses it creates. In Panama, 47% fewer companies were created in 2017 than in 2016.
Not only were fewer companies were created in 2017, but more companies were closed than in 2016.
Although growth of the economy in general still remains above 5% -still far from the vigorous 10% of a few years ago- other macro data, such as the increase in unemployment and the growth of independent or informal work, shows that, starting in 2018, Panama has entered a phase of economic slowdown.Businessmen in the commerce sector are even talking about "recession", both in retail and in wholesale sales.
Mondelēz International is closing its operations causing businesses in the productive sector to reaffirm their concern over the country's loss of competitiveness.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Chamber of the Food Industry:
CACIA receives with concern news of Mondelez plant closure
May, 2016. The Costa Rican Chamber of the Food Industry (CACIA) reacted with concern to the news of the company Mondelez's closure of industrial operations in Costa Rica, where it manufactured traditional products which weighed heavily in Costa Rican exports.
Burger King Costa Rica has announced the closure of 29 restaurants operating in the country, after a decision was taken by shareholders and the franchisor BKC US.
Since February the franchise has closed four of its stores in the metropolitan area, citing a lack of financial viability. See: "More Fast Food Closures in Costa Rica".
Florexpo indicates excessive paperwork as the main reason behind the decision to close its operations in Costa Rica and move to Guatemala, making 400 employees redundant.
"In Guatemala an import permit seed is processed in two weeks and is effective for one year, while in our country, unfortunately, the process takes four months and the validity of the permit is for a month, this made it impossible to program negotiations and increased business costs by 300%. "
In order to improve their competitiveness in the manufacturer of uniforms and baseballs Rawlings Costa Rica will move its uniform line to El Salvador, laying off 200 workers.
The company which has operations in Turrialba announced that the main reason behind the transfer of operations is to do with competition.The manager Alejandro Cotter told Crhoy.com that "...
Representatives from the international franchise Burger King in the country have announced the closure of four outlets, due to "bad business results".
The outlets which will cease operations are located in the Paseo Metropoli shopping center, Plaza Real Cariari, Santo Domingo and Heredia . These closures are due to the fact that these branches "... are not financially viable, they are located in areas which are not very strategic and have produced bad business results. "
The company founded on Costa Rican capital, Jack's Foods, has announced that within five years it will transfer 50% of its production activities to Nicaragua, El Salvador and the United States.
From a statement issued by Alimentos Jack's:
Alimentos Jack's, a company founded on 100% Costa Rican capital, has decided to continue its expansion outside of Costa Rica and is planning to transfer 50% of its operations within five years, to the United States, El Salvador and Nicaragua.