The defense of the interests of a privileged union which paralyzed the normal operation of the Caribbean ports of Costa Rica for 15 days, cost at least $1.5 million.
Hiring extra staff, renting of machinery and food expenses for officers of the security forces guarding the entrances to the terminals cost approximately $1.5 million, an expense that was incurred while employees of Japdeva went on strike.
Used car importers argue that the Treasury is using the 2015 value of cars as a reference price when establishing the value of used vehicles.
The Costa Rican Chamber of Automotive Companies and deputies from the Libertarian Movement have filed an lawsuit and asked to meet with the Ministry of Finance to complain about the methodology being used to calculate the taxable value of used cars.
In the first nine months of the year $15.9 million worth of footwear was exported, which is 26% more than in 2013.
The sector's competitiveness in terms of labor costs, incentives to industry, preferential access to key markets and strategic location of the country, are the main factors attributed to the growth in exports of Nicaraguan footwear.
The Investment Promotion Agency of Nicaragua, told Elnuevodiario.com.ni that "...
Entrepreneurs in the Chiriqui province have to travel to Panama City to request a sanitation certificate, a process which often takes up to a year.
In addition, employers in the region have to "... pay $300 for each procedure in respect to the sanitation certificate and ultimately obtains another permit certifying the processing plant." These problems have intensified since the Food Protection Division of the Ministry of Health stopped issuing these permits in Chiriqui, four years ago.
There is growing confidence by businesses to delegate to specialized companies the storage, management and distribution of their inventory.
Another service offered by companies that focus on managing inventories for third parties is the labeling of products to help companies promote their products in the market. This trend of outsourcing inventory management is on the rise in Costa Rica, allowing companies to "...
The private sector is asking the government to repeal the new tariff schedule in the ports of Quetzal and Santo Tomas de Castilla, saying it there is no justification for it and the competitiveness of ports is deteriorating.
According to employers, the increase is not only unwarranted, but also directly impacts the cost structure of firms, which end up passing on the prices increases to end consumers.
While in 2012 a company had to pay about $50 for the export formalities, up to September this year, that amount was $125.
Export procedures include certificates of origin, phytosanitary certificates, commercial invoices, fumigation, cargo insurance, among other things, according to the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer).
Lander Roman, an export logistics analyst at Procomer told Nacion.com that "...
Employers say the value added tax of 13% on services will raise end prices of buildings by between 4% and 8%, and propose a differential rate for the sector.
The Costa Rican Chamber of Construction (CCC) states that the construction of a dwelling requires other services such as electricians, plumbers, metalworkers, architects, engineers, and others, which will eventually transfer this 13%, impacting the final cost.
Real estate developers are complaining about delays in the approval of plans and the increase this generates in the cost of projects.
While the Ministry of Housing and Land Management (Miviot) seeks to increase controls and inspection of procedures for plans for all projects to be implemented at national level, housing developers claim that the delay in the approval processes can increase their project costs by up to 50%.
In the South American country a rule has been published that establishes that costs and expenses incurred during transportation of goods by air must be borne by the importers.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
On October 11, the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) of Peru issued a rule that the costs and expenses incurred during transportation of goods by air will be borne by the importers.
In the view of entrepreneurs it is not enough to change the energy mix towards the renewable sources and they are proposing a long term strategy in order to compete in the region.
A proposal to create a long-term policy between business and government "..." where the private sector makes a commitment to invest in renewable energy and this energy somehow, goes to those great industries that generate employment in the country, such as the free zone ', said César Zamora, country manager of the energy company IC Power .
A hike in the prices of raw materials and other costs is threatening the dynamism seen in recent years in the plastics industry in El Salvador.
This year, participants in the plastics industry projected lower growth due to the rising price of its main raw material, ethylene monomer, resulting in a rise in the cost of the final product. Among the most affected products are packaging, household and hygiene products.
Entrepreneurs from the logistics sector in Guatemala argue that the increase from 30% to 60% on import charges which came into effect on October 16th will reduce competitiviness.
The new tariff schedule includes a $38 payment per inspection using scanners, among other costs incurred in handling cargo, which in the end will result in price increases for the consumer.
The state run power company estimated that starting May 2015 the cost of electricity will go down from $165 to $109 MW/h, as a result of its energy diversification.
The entry into force of contracts which were awarded in tender processes using the method of successive rounds will create a reduction of up to $56 MW / h, according to Jorge Alonso, manager of Empresa Eléctrica de Guatemala (EEGSA).
Investments by Costa Rican companies in their neighboring country went from $2.43 million in 2010 to $67.7 million in 2013.
Installation of production facilities, maquila subcontracts or transfer of part of the production process are part of the investment models that Costa Rican businessmen are utilizing in order to minimize the negative effects of the high production costs prevalent in Costa Rica and to stay competitive at the level international.