The Ministry of the Presidency is putting out to tender the design, construction and implementation of an integrated cold chain logistics system.
The purpose of the contract is to modernize the current system of collection and distribution of perishable food products in both production and consumption areas in the country.
The target date for submission of proposals is June 29, 2011.
The Agricultural Sector has experienced the loss of hundreds of acres of various crops, factories and company closures, and the reduction of thousands of jobs in Costa Rica.
The National Chamber of Agriculture and Agro (CNAA), Upanacional and the Independent Smallholders' Union of Perez Zeledon (UPIAV) expressed on May 12, Farmer's Day in Costa Rica, there is not much to celebrate.
The Ministry of the Presidency is inviting bids for the construction and equipping of a Public Market in Panama City.
The Ministry of the Presidency by using the tender system hopes to hire one firm to carry out the both the construction work and equip the market after reviewing the results of the final designs and plans undertaken by the Central Markets Supply Company, Inc. (MERCASA).
The construction of three new stores by the supermarket chain will create 338 direct posts and more than 5,000 indirect jobs.
The investment was announced by Walmart general manager, Alberto Ebrad, after a meeting with Honduran president, Porfirio Lobo. Ebrad indicated that this will be the company's main investment this year in Central America.
Not only will the project create jobs (500 predicted split across the two phases of construction), it will also enable small and medium-sized growers to increase the sales of their harvests since, for example, Wallmart exports more than $45 million worth of products to Canada and England.
A single offer was received for construction and equipping of a public market in David, Chiriqui.
The only bid was submitted by CCE Infrastructure, with a total of $ 13.46 million. The reference amount was $ 9 million.
"... the proposal will be reviewed by the evaluation commission, which will submit a technical and financial report within the next five days," adds Prensa.com.
The Cold Chain Department invited bids for building and equipping a Public Market in David, Chiriqui.
Tender rules are posted at the Panamacompra.gob.pa. web portal and the target date for submission of proposals is March 2nd, 2011.
This facility in David, which will have a market area of 20 thousand people and will benefit about 200 retailers in the zone, is part of the innovative project the government is pushing of building public markets.
Agricultural authorities, together with a consulting firm, developed a pilot program aimed at diversifying agricultural production.
The project is aimed at promoting farming of potatoes, onions and carrots, in order to meet domestic demand and dispense imports of such products.
The head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Jacobo Regalado, told La Tribuna, "Once these projects are consolidated, we will cover the rest of the products so that we reduce to zero those imports and to have initially export capabilities for products such as onions."
In order to improve production, yam plants and new varieties will be imported from Cuba.
With an investment of $ 2 million the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) will import 2.5 million yam plants with five new varieties, while also investing in the purchase of irrigation systems.
"With the seeds which are presently used the harvest produces on average about 250 quintals of yams, while with purified seeds it can achieve a yield of up to 500 quintals. The cost of the plants brought into the country ranges from 60 cents to 65 cents each, amount provided by MIDA, entity in charge of distribution to producers," writes Prensa.com.
The bidding for construction of the market will be held next January and the project must be completed by 2012.
The executive secretary of Cadena de Frío, Fernando Duque, said that the modern market will feature over 170 shops for the sale of agricultural products, as well as other commercial activities including pharmacies, coffee shops and bakeries, among others.
Banco Produzcamos accumulated a $ 45 million loan portfolio during its first 5 months of operation.
According to a report from the Superintendence of Banks, the banking institution, created to fund production activities, had $ 78 million in patrimony by late October.
"The manager and president of the Union of Agricultural Producers of Nicaragua, Manuel Alvarez, said that among the bank's projections is to close the year with a credit placement in excess of $46 million," reports Elnuevodiario.com.ni.
Recent rains have affected road infrastructure, housing and agriculture.
Damage on roads left 177 km totally destroyed and 788 km requiring works, with $ 252 million needed for repairs.
"To cover the costs in the housing sector, we will need $ 50 million ... and the agricultural sector will require a total investment of $ 30 million to cover the damage caused by tropical storm Tomas,” wrote Nacion.com.
In the month of December the first two Cold Chain markets will be put out to tender.
These first markets will be located in the provinces of Chiriqui and Panama. In Chiriqui it will be located in David and is expected to be ready by June 2012.
Fernando Duque, Secretary of Cadena de Frio, stated to Pa-digital.com.pa, "... it has not been determined the payment the 150 merchants will have to cancel for the sale points and the other 60 in the outer area, however, past payments in the old market will be used as reference."
The Swiss cooperation will be for the Rural Competitiveness Project, COMRURAL.
The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), and will increase the competitiveness of small and medium producers through partnerships.
"The owner of the SAG, said the Swiss cooperation has been good enough to generate a pre-investment fund that will facilitate and implement a series of activities which will strengthen this project over approximately 6 years and will invest about one billion Lempiras in that sector." reports Latribuna.com.