In 2016 the Latin American forum that brings together over 500 companies from the service industry will be held in San Jose.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica:
San Jose, Costa Rica, November 26, 2015: The Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX), the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) and the Costa Rican Coalition for Development Initiatives (CINDE), announced that the IDB has named Costa Rica as the host for 2016 for one of the most important events in Latin America for the corporate services industry: "OUTSOURCE2LAC". The decision was made official last week, during the fifth edition of the forum, held in Guadalajara, Mexico.
A logistics distribution center, a building for government offices, a school, a hotel expansion, and electrical infrastructure are some of the projects which submitted environmental impact studies in March in Costa Rica.
The report "Construction Projects in Costa Rica - March 2015", prepared by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData.com, provides a list of major construction projects which in March submitted environmental impact studies (EIS) to the National Environmental Technical Secretariat (SETENA).
While the epic speeches on a regional maritime traffic sound crazy, Puerto Cortes is rationally emerging as the hub port in the North Central Triangle .
The port terminal, announcing an increase in productivity of 90% through the modernization of the container and general cargo terminal, aims to be the hub for cargo coming from North America and cargo destined for Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
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.
Despite innumerable meetings of leaders and officials who frequently express their willingness to act on the issue, customs transit continues to be the main factor affecting logistics costs for regional trade.
At the first congress of freight transport in El Salvador once again the problem that continues to prevent the region achieving greater commercial development, was brought to the light.
From 18 to May 20 Latin American companies in logistics sector will be meeting in Honduras to discuss issues on regional trade and business opportunities in the supply chain.
The 32nd edition of Alacat will be held on the premises of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cortés (CCIC) and its main objective is to present "... the new guidelines to improve export logistics among the countries of the region and establish business partnerships between different transport agents. " The even will involve at least 500 participants from different countries in Latin America.
The agreement between the two governments states that as of December 15, 2015 customs offices at common borders will suspend their tax functions and allow the free movement of goods and people.
From a statement issued by the Government of Guatemala:
64 years after having started the process of Central American integration, the presidents of Guatemala, Otto Pérez Molina, and Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, signed a historic agreement for a customs union between the two nations today, from which it is expected that economic growth of 15% will be produced in the short term. The agreement aims to eliminate the three land crossings on the borders of the two countries.
Both governments announced that they have signed an agreement to unify customs in order to expedite the transport of vehicles and people, with effect from 1 June.
With this agreement, it is expected that the border between the two nations will be fully liberated for both freight and passengers in December. Immigration procedures will be carried out online or in an office to be located near the border area.
Central American exporters are being recommended to keep using alternate routes during the union conflict which is causing ports to operate erratically.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association (AGEXPOT):
The 29 main ports for goods moving from the West Coast of the United States, including Los Angeles and Long Beach, the main US ports, have been operating erratically since August 2014 due to a conflict which has been going on for months between the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union from the West Coast (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA).
The business sector is demanding that the government take action to minimize the impact of the expiry at the end of the year of tax incentives granted to foreign firms in free zones.
About 1,300 companies enjoy the benefits granted by the World Trade Organization, which expire on December 31 this year. Two companies have already moved their operations to other countries, according to the Ministry of Economy of Guatemala.
Companies which are certified as Authorized Economic Operators will be able to reduce paperwork times and have priority at customs.
In order to access this certification interested companies must be up to date with tax and customs payments, tax requirements, and review legal and administrative processes, industrial safety and human resources. The cost of certification varies according to the processes which need to be improved.
On December 22 the concessionaire of the Grand Canal in Nicaragua, HKND started preliminary works, including the construction of access roads to the excavation sites and other facilities.
Representatives from the Nicaraguan government and the president of the Chinese company HKND, Wang Jing, inaugurated the start of the project to build the canal, which will start, according to the concessionaire, with the ancillary works which are needed before the main work can be begin.
On November 5th and 6th industry experts will gather together in San Jose, Costa Rica, to discuss issues such as the impact of the deterioration of infrastructure on the economy of Central America.
The event which is being organized by the Latin American Center for Competitiveness and Sustainable Development (LACCSD) will focus on analysis on the status of ports, airports, roads and border crossings and their impact on the economy of the region.
With the increase in rates in Guatemalan ports, exporters are demanding more value added and efficiency in the service of moving containers.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association (AGEXPORT):
The Guatemalan Exporters Association, -AGEXPORT- requests that port authorities ensure there are improvements in service ports and wants to know which investments justify the increase to the rates at Puerto Quetzal, which became effective on October 16, and in Puerto Santo Tomas, which will take effect on November 1.
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.