EDITORIAL

The announcement by the mayor of the city of Liberia on a morning variety program was quickly replicated by various media outlets for a few hours after being denied not only by the Disney Corporation and by the supposed developer of the project, but even by the aforementioned mayor, who was not able to confirm the information.

In Central America there are frequently announcements of projects -large, medium or small- by "entrepreneurs" or public servants which do not have, at first glance, the minimum necessary seriousness in terms of economic viability.

Projects for oceanic canals (dry or wet), plants generating power from waste products, hydroelectricity stations both large and small, or oil refineries, are released by the Central American press in general without further analysis, even when they do not have the support of companies with the experience and assets needed to undertake them.

Poverty and hopelessness make the region fertile ground for both locals and foreigners alike,who forge fantasies that have no viability, profiting in the process. Most of the time it only takes to get a government permit for a project that will obviously be canceled in the future to obtain - through a means of a lawsuit for "lost profits" from the State involved - awards of millions of dollars.

It would be good if before publishing preposterous announcements of projects promoted by nonexistent shell companies with invisible investors, business journalism in Central America made its job to investigate and confirm the minimum viability in economic, technical and financial terms.

More on this topic

Advertising: New Times, New Strategies

July 2020

Reduction in advertising and marketing budgets in companies and an increase in the preference for investment in television campaigns are part of the changes that are being reported in the context of the new commercial reality.

Radical changes in the ways people relate to each other, new consumer habits and the home confinement decreed by the pandemic have led to a transformation in the advertising sector.

$20 billion Investment in Puerto Cortés?

January 2014

The urgent need for economic development in the region frequently makes everyone draw the attention to proposals that have dubious viability.

EDITORIAL

The Mexican company which announced the huge investment also announced, on a website under construction, the development of the port of Nanchital in Mexico, citing current concession rights which have actually been revoked.

Traditional Advertising on the Wane

May 2011

In 2009 spending on traditional media advertising grew by 18.5%. In 2010 it increased by only 2.1%, confirming that consumers have started to abandon ship.

Only television and radio appear to be safe from the unstoppable advance of digital media on consumer preference. Print media is suffering most from this change in trends.

The Business Network of a 40 million People Market

June 2009

CentralAmericaData.COM, the leading Central American website on business, economics and finance, launches the Central American Business Network.

Simple and easy. Cost free. Just by registering, you will have access to superior tools to communicate with those who, like you, are defining the Central American economic region.