To be able to ship cargo throughout the region, Central American business leaders are exploring options for moving goods using alternative methods, such as shipping.
Representatives from the Costa Rican government and the union of exporters met to address the issue of blockades in Nicaragua and the logistical drawbacks that they have caused, since Costa Rica transports by land about five thousand containers to the other Central American countries every month. As a result of this meeting, both parties concluded that the most viable option is to use maritime transport.
The best way to generate entrepreneurship and innovation is not bringing people together in boring classrooms led by public officials who will never be entrepreneurs or innovative themselves, but by leaving space in the market for those who do have the courage and skills to be so.
Analysis of the overall growth of Uber, an international company that connects its customers to a transport network using software for mobile phones, is the basis for the development of a concept which states that the greater the freedom of competition is, the better products and services will be for consumers, and the greater economic development.
The two Governments have signed an agreement abolishing visas in order to expedite the necessary formalities for travel between the countries.
With Russia, the total number of countries that have abolished visas for citizens of Honduras amounts to more than 70. Among them are: Turkey, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Malta, Malaysia, Japan, Israel, Greece, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade in Costa Rica has created a new unit to "support local companies engaged in exports or who have the potential to do so."
EDITORIAL
The question that immediately arises is how this "support" to companies with export potential will be given since it is already well established that official "consultants" who populate the offices of the new unit, do not know how "to be entrepreneurs," but merely how to receive their salaries on time every month, regardless of the fate of companies that they "support":
In order to boost trade links and tourism, among other things, the embassy will open its doors on October 14.
From a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Honduras:
Chancellor Mireya Aguero de Corrales together with Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Mr. Nicolay Vladimir, Undersecretary of Finance, Evelyn Bautista, commissioner for the Promotion of Public-Private Partnerships (COALIANZA), Jose Antonio Pineda, from the Foundation for Investment and Development of Exports (FIDE), Vilma Sierra and the representative of the Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP), Abraham Benatton, held a discussion with the media to publicize the forthcoming official visit to Russia by the Honduran delegation .
It chose to set up the embassy in Panama because of the advantages offered by the country for the projection of Dutch investments in the region.
From a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Panama:
The installation ceremony of the Dutch Embassy in Panama brought together on Monday the Foreign Minister, Fernando Nunez Fabrega, and the Minister for Trade and Cooperation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Lillian Ploumen, who expressed the satisfaction of both governments regarding the event which "is an undeniable symbol of excellent diplomatic relations".
Although Taiwan maintains its financial support with countries in the region, the rise of China as a trading power is forcing a diplomatic approach with the great Asian tiger.
An article in Laprensa.hn reports on the inevitable: "The Government of Honduras' flirtations with China are becoming more intense, and analysts point to the potential realization of trade and diplomatic relations, in an attempt to capitalize on the growing political and economic influence of the Asian giant in the countries of the region. "
The delivery of a 100 year concession award for an Inter-oceanic Canal to a company without the capital or experience to carry out a project of this magnitude could be the result of a brilliant long-term operation by the Chinese government.
Editorial
By Jorge Cobas
As a commercial project, the Inter-Oceanic Canal in Nicaragua is economically unfeasible, in particular because the uncertainty over the return on investment to be made is so large.
Leaders of business associations in the region have indicated that governmental arbitrariness is interfering in Central America’s development.
A statement from the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (FECAMCO) reads:
Business organizations in the region which make up the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (FECAMCO) when meeting in Miami, Florida, USA, expressed their "great concern" about the institutional crisis in El Salvador, which they described as an "assault on the rule of law."
The proposal, from the ex-president of the Honduran National Business Council (Cohep), is designed to put pressure on Nicaragua to recognise the Lobo government.
If borders were to close, Nicaragua would face economic issues due to the fact that many of its export products leave via the Port of Cortés on the Caribbean coast of Honduras.
The proposal from the ex-president of Cohep does not surprise Francisco Aguirre Sacasa, Nicaraguan congressman, according to Elnuevodiario.com.ni. It writes that Sacasa had already warned of possible measures to put pressure on Ortega to recognise the Porfirio Lobo government.
Both blocks decided to concede in what seemed to be irreducible positions, making last minute concessions yesterday.
One of the key issues was denominations of origin: Europe demanded laws to protect brands such as champagne and manchego cheese. The other was how many dairy products would be allowed into the Central American market. The latter was closed when Central America agreed to allow 1.900 tons of powder milk with reduced tariffs and 3.000 tons of cheese, excluding fresh cheese.
Presidents and representatives from the governments of Central America are participating in a mini-summit with Hillary Clinton.
Nicaragua is the only country missing. They opted not to send anyone to the meeting.
“The U.S. State Secretary arrives to Guatemala from Costa Rica, where she expressed Barack Obama’s commitment to help Central American countries in their fight against drug trafficking”.
The Spanish Ambassador has returned to Honduras, in order to normalize diplomatic relations between both countries.
Even though Lobo’s government has not been officially recognized by the Government of Spain, their intention is to gradually normalize diplomatic relations.
“Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister, explained today at the European Parliament in Brussels that talks can be resumed ‘once Honduras returns to Constitutional Order”.
The Guatemalan government sent Ambassador Ángela Garoz back to Tegucigalpa, after being recalled on June 28, 2009.
Haroldo Rodas, Guatemalan Chancello, explained that she resumed her diplomatic duties on Monday.
An article by Proceso.hn states that “Rodas clarified that Guatemala ‘never’ broke diplomatic relations with Honduras, by that their Ambassador was recalled for consultation, as a ‘diplomatic measure’ against the destitution of Honduran ex president Manuel Zelaya.
The Government of Guatemala will recognize Porfirio Lobo as the legitimate president of Honduras once he is sworn in.
Álvaro Colom, Guatemalan head of state, announced that he will receive president-elect Porfirio Lobo in his Presidential Residence tomorrow.
"Carlos Amador, president of the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport), ... assured that recognizing Lobo is crucial to resume the regional integration and competitiveness agenda", reported Prensalibre.com.