The figure comes from a study by EXPORTA, the Salvadoran Export Promotion Agency, focused on market opportunities presented by the construction sector in Central America for Salvadoran firms.

The findings, published in an article in La Prensa Gráfica, emphasized that "services in the construction industry are more developed in Panama, Guatemala and Costa Rica, mainly because of foreign or public investment in tourism and large infrastructure;" and in Panama, despite the slowdown, "the majority of the projects are still in progress."

In those 3 countries, industry is demanding "more specialized services like digital design or software architecture that does not clash with the environment and engineering with expertise in infrastructure."

Source: laprensagrafica.com

More on this topic

Electricity in Central America: 2009 Figures

November 2010

In 2009, 61% of all energy produced in the region came from renewable sources.

ECLAC published its report on electricity consumption and production in Central America, including final statistics for 2009.

-In total, the region produced 39,535.1 GWh, of which 30,384 GWh were sold on the regulated market to 7.9 million customers reporting revenues of $ 4,721 million.

Guatemalan Exports to Central America Up 82%

September 2010

In the first 9 months of the year, Guatemala's exports to the region totaled $1.3 billion, 81.7% more than in the same period of 2009.

El Salvador remains Guatemala's main trading partner with $567 million worth of trade, followed by Honduras with $412 million, Nicaragua with $196 million and Costa Rica with $192 million.

Real Estate in Central America

May 2009

A Special Report by Revista Summa, containing a comprehensive overview of the construction industry in the region.

The current financial picture has not stopped progress in the construction sector in Central America and the Dominican Republic:

Country Summaries:

GUATEMALA

Agrisal to invest US$70 million in Central American hotels

May 2008

The hotels division of the El Salvador-based conglomerate Grupo Agrisal spends to invest US$70 million in Central America over the next seven years, the division's chief executive Eduardo Quiñónez said.

Projects highlighted by Quiñónez include the construction of a hotel in San Salvador's Zona Rosa and a refurbishment and expansion to mark the 50th anniversary of the Hotel Radisson.