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.
Finally the geopolitical reality has been imposed and the Canal country has been formally integrated into the community of Central America nations.
It was "a great achievement" and one "longed for for many years by all Central American countries", this was Panama's accession to SIECA, an organ of the Central American Integration System (SICA), said Anabel Gonzalez, Costa Rican Foreign Trade Minister.
The Union of Central American Bi-National Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Mexican Investment has been formally established.
Ucabicimex is "formed by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Costa Rica - Mexico (Cicomex), the Salvadoran - Mexican Trade (Chamber Casalmex), the Guatemalan - Mexican Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CAMEX), the Honduras - Mexico Enterprise Chamber ( CEHM), the Mexico - Costa Rica Enterprise Chamber (Camexcr), the Mexico - El Salvador Enterprise Chamber (Camexsal), the Mexico - Nicaraguan Enterprise Chamber (Camenic) and the Mexico - Panama Chamber of Commerce (Camexpa) ", reported Nacion.com.
In the past 20 years intraregional trade grew at a rate of 12% per year, indicating an opportunity to deepen integration by finally fully adopting the customs union.
However, experts believe that Central America still faces challenges, specifically in customs matters.
"Exports to Central America have grown over the past 20 years at a rate of 50% more than exports to the rest of the world." "...at an average of 12% annually, and our exports to the world have grown at an average of 8% annually. This underlines the importance of intraregional trade dynamics in this space of Central American integration," said Hugo Beteta, CEO of the subregional site of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Mexico.
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.