In order to expedite intraregional trade it is necessary for customs offices dealing with cargo freight, to be open all hours, just as immigration customs offices are.
A study commissioned by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (Fecamco) concluded that there are 87 barriers to trade in the region, one of the major ones being operations of the systems at customs offices at borders, followed by bureaucratic requirements and lack of adequate infrastructure.
The Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America has met in Managua, to discuss proposals and initiatives to overcome barriers of various kinds to trade on the isthmus.
"The president of the Chamber of Commerce of Nicaragua (CACONIC), Mario Gonzalez, said that employers are looking for strategies to strongly influence their respective governments with the aim of stopping them from blocking regional trade, including the closure of the borders, for political reasons or non-tariff related barriers," reported La Prensa in its online edition.
Regional trade grew 6% in the first 6 months of the year compared to the same period of 2009.
According to information from the Central American Economic Integration Department (SIECA), between January and June of this year, trade reached $ 2,844 million, $ 165 million higher than the same period of 2009.
"In the first half of 2009, sales among Central American countries reached U.S. $ 2,679.5 million" Prensalibre.com stated in their article.
Improvements to infrastructure, consolidation of regional integration and increasing its competiveness are a few of the challenges faced by Central America.
The world economic crisis was felt by the region with a 29% drop in exports and 13% less imports, according to data from Central American central banks.
Journalist Leonel Díaz Zeceña analyzes the issues in his article for Prensa Libre and reports comments from businesses and analysts.
Heavy rains have led to deteriorations in road infrastructure, the closure of customs offices and a reduction in tourism.
The closure of the Entre Ríos customs at the border with Honduras due to the collapse of the bridge over the Motagua river meant that Izabel in Guatemala was cut off from the Honduran industrial capital, San Pedro Sula. This in turn made it impossible for land freight to reach Guatemala from Honduras' Caribbean ports.
Honduras' president-elect, Porfirio Lobo, will meet next Friday with 30 businessmen from Central America.
The event will take place at Hotel Camino Real, in Guatemala City, and will feature the participation of companies who are members of Fecamco (Chamber of Commerce of the Central American Isthmus).
Jorge Daboud, Fecamco president, told Prensalibre.com "...that some of the topics they will discuss include investment, integration, security, economy, strengthening institutions and the Association Agreement with the European Union".