Faced with the advance of the coronavirus epidemic, businessmen in the region are asking citizens to follow only official recommendations to avoid giving way to disorienting versions that only contribute to generate instability and uncertainty.
In Central America, two countries have registered people infected with the virus. Costa Rica was the first to report cases of COVID-19 (also known as coronavirus) and so far the nation has registered nine infected people. Panama made its first case official on 9 March.
Companies from the logistics sector will be meeting in Panama City on October 18 and 19 to exhibit their products and services and take part in business conferences.
The event is being organized by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap) in conjunction with the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (Senacyt), and will be held at the ATLAPA Convention Center.
From November 7 to 10 companies related to the logistics sector will be meeting in San Pedro Sula to exhibit their products and services and participate in business rounds.
The event Expo Logística Honduras 2017 is being organized by the Honduran government, and will take place at the Expo Center Convention Center, San Pedro Sula.
From October 18 to 20, logistics and foreign trade companies will be gathering together in Panama City to take part in conferences on issues related to the sector.
The event, which will take place at the ATLAPA Convention Center, will involve companies and consultants in logistics and foreign trade.
The Asian country believes that the improvement in the country's logistical conditions as a result of the Canal expansion, represents an opportunity to set up a distribution platform geared towards Latin America.
On October 18 in San Salvador, logistics companies will be gathering together to discuss issues related to new models of distribution and logistics.
Among the topics to be discussed at the event organized by GS1 are Collaborative Logistics, technology as an enabler of value networks, Visibility in value networks, the challenges of the digital world, innovation, mobile technologies and networking, sustainability and Triple Baseline (Money - People - Planet), among other things.
Ten companies have already shown interest in setting up in the logistics center to be developed in Tocumen, whose business plan and regulations for a free zone could be ready in September.
Among the activities that will be developed by the companies operating in the logistics park are packing and repacking, as well as product manufacturing and other complementary activities.
The area in the Pacific entrance to the Canal could be leased by the State for the construction and operation of logistics infrastructure such as warehouses, cold storage facilities, ship repairs and a port for vehicles.
The 1,200 hectares owned by the State and "discovered" after cleaning and dredging of the areas surrounding the Canal expansion are part of a development plan that the Ministry of Affairs of the Canal is preparing to start when the new locks come into operation. The initial proposal is to lease the land to private companies so that they can develop the area, providing logistics services, transportation and communications to related industries.
The government has announced a committee formed of entrepreneurs who will design a national logistics strategy, focusing on redirecting the Colon Free Zone, integral panning for ports and the technological inter-oceanic corridor area.
The purpose of this Committee consisting of 7 members of the private sector, is to define together the plans, programs and goals of a Master Plan which aims to develop the sector as a whole.
From November 24th to 28th local and foreign companies in the logistics sector will be presenting their products and participating in business roundtables at the Expologística trade show in San Pedro Sula.
The event is organized by the Ministry of Finance and will be held at the Expocentre convention center in San Pedro Sula.
In January 2016 the results of a study will determine whether it is feasible to build multimodal ports in Bocas del Toro and Chiriqui and develop a logistic plan for the region.
The Maritime Authority of Panama explained that the feasibility study is being developed by Nathan Associates, which will have to deliver the results in January 2016. The purpose is to determine the condition of the province of Chiriqui, particularly Baru, in order to establish an economic development plan for the region.
Money in the pocket for every grandstanding politician and every wannabe business consultant, logistics in Central America is a much talked about theme on which no action is actually taken.
EDITORIAL
Logistics is vital for sustainable economic development, and it is perhaps the area of business management that has made the greatest strides in the last 50 years.
Employers from the logistics sector support the government's decision to create an entity focused on the development of the sector, but are complaining about the lack of their participation in it.
Although it was the very same logistics sector that suggested to the government there was a need to create an institution or Secretariat to delineate strategies for the industry, employers are complaining that the government has not involved them in the issue.
Logistics companies and customs agents have reported inconsistencies in the application of standards and inefficiency and slowness in the computer systems that are used to carry out the processes.
Although the country is the main logistics hub in the region, employers and brokers have pointed out the presence of obstacles, such as poor management of the SIGA computer system, affecting services and preventing an improvement in the competitiveness of Panamanian trade abroad.
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