Starting 6 November the charter flights will fly between Düsseldorf, Germany and Liberia International Airport.
The direct flight operated by the whole sale agent TIU will arrive Saturdays at 3 pm, indicated Tourism Minister, Carlos Ricardo Benavides.
"Costa Rica will be the first country in Central America to receive TIU flights. Elsewhere in Latin America the agency connects Germany with Cancún (Mexico), Montego Bay (Jamaica) as well as Puerto Plata and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic," reports Nacion.com.
Next Friday 10 September the Ministry for Trade will officially launch the E-regulations site.
"E-regulations Costa Rica" is an online database conceived as a completely transparent source of information on Costa Rican investment procedures.
"The website aims to be a user-friendly information platform providing assistence to anyone, whether local or foreign, wanting to navigate the world of procedures, permits and regulations governing the setting up of a business in Costa Rica," reports Ana Cristina Camacho for El Financiero.
The Costa Rican government is preparing an urgent proposal to solve its incompliance with trade regulations.
The proposal must be submitted by the end of September when the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Agriculture Group meets. However, first it needs to be negotiated with domestic rice growers and exporters.
Fernando Ocampo, Foreign Trade vice-minister, told Nacion.com that, "the proposal will take into account four considerations: compliance with WTO rules, consumer protection, support for growers and industry interests".
The government urged all public institutions to present a plan before the end of the year to eliminate unnecessary procedures and paperwork.
The guideline states that they must also present a project to improve regulations before the Economy Ministry.
“According to the document, all regulations issued by any ministry, and related to permits for productive activities (both goods and services), will be reviewed beforehand”, reported Nacion.com.
Authorities have opened regional offices, called “Creapymes”, which certify companies as Small and Medium Enterprises (SME).
Previously, the procedure could only be completed at the central offices of the Economy, Industry and Commerce Ministry, in the capital city of San José.
“Now businessmen will be able to get the certification on the same day they apply for it.
New rules forbid issuers from “stalking” cardholders in order to collect pending payments.
The banking industry stated that limiting their ability to call debtors will result in higher delinquency, and that they will object the measure at the constitutional court (Sala IV).
From Nacion.com: “According to article 35 of the new regulation, companies cannot attempt collection techniques with someone different than the client, and they can’t call debtors more than three times, according to article 18”.
New regulation to be enacted by the Economy Ministry has created controversy among credit card issuers.
Velia Govaere, vice minister, commented that the proposed changes will introduce more information transparency.
On the other side, Gerardo Corrales, CEO of BAC San José, argues that the changes would increase costs and complicate the operation of credit card issuing companies.
Two companies filed a lawsuit against the model used to set the minimum exit price for banana.
Balatana and TMF Agro submitted a complaint before the Contentious Administrative Court (Tribunal Penal Contencioso Administrativo), arguing deficiencies in how the price is calculated, and critizing the entities using it, such as Corbana (National Banana Corporation), and the Economy Ministry.
The chamber of Industries congratulates Laura Chinchilla as the next president of Costa Rica, and states the key issues for the sector.
“We welcome Laura Chinchilla, hoping her future Government improves job quantity and quality, always moving towards a more equal Costa Rica, but also more competitive and capable. We offer our support to work together in defining the road to place the country among the top generators of opportunities”, stated Juan María González, president of the Chamber of Commerce.
New regulations issued by the Economy, Industry and Commerce Ministry (MEIC), will come into effect on April 1st, 2010.
These oversee any contracts in which goods or services are sold using installment plans, for example timeshares or travel clubs.
"When buying a future service, consumers are entitled to know, before signing a contract, if the provider is registered in the Ministry's website", reported Nacion.com.
A MEIC study found that credit card issuers charge interest rates between 20% and 54%.
There are 27 issuers in the country, whom collectively offer 407 different products, according to the study by the Economy, Industry and Commerce Ministry (MEIC).
The most expensive credit cards are: Compra Facil, issued by Medio Pago (54% interest rate), Vista International issued by BCT (50.4%) and Master Card issued by Citi (49.32%).
A new regulation code overseeing credit cards, by the Economy Ministry (MEIC), will come into effect on November 3.
Automatic teller machines will be obliged to show on-screen any fees charged for cash withdrawals or statement queries.
From Elfinancierocr.com: "Issuers will also be required to issue detailed credit card statements, showing the main balance, current interest, interest applicable to the specific period, interest for delayed payments, and the monthly interest rate".
The National Consumer Commission sanctioned six supermarkets and an imports company because of labeling errors.
These companies were sanctioned for offering the final consumer a product labeled as dairy, but not classified as such.
"In July, ... it ruled against supermarket chains Automercado, Megasuper, Wal-Mart, 'Consorcio Cooperativo de Consumo', 'Prismar de Costa Rica', Perimercados, as well as against 'Mercantil de Alimentos'", reported website El Financiero.
Costa Rica's "Banco Popular", in agreement with the Economy Ministry, will support small and medium enterprises for their participation in public purchases.
Many SMEs don't participate in public purchases because they don't have resources to pay for compliance assurances, remarked Eduardo Sibaja, economy vice minister.
"Banco Popular will assist in providing guarantees.
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