Four consortiums made up of companies from China, Spain, Italy and South Korea have presented their proposals to design and build a fourth bridge over the Panama Canal.
The timeframe for building the work has been estimated at 42 months, and the estimated investment is over $1 billion.This project aims to connect the areas of Arraiján and La Chorrera, to the west, with Panama City, near the Canal Pacific sector.
Tips to prevent promotions, discounts and special offers from leading to profitability problems.
By Ariel Banos, President and Founder of Fijaciondeprecios.com
5 Keys to implementing profitable promotions
When sales start to slow, promotions and special offers look like a great lifesaver.However, these measures do not always improve business performance.
The International Coffee Organization estimates that global demand will reach 175 million sacks of 60 kilos in 2020, driven by the markets of China, South Korea and Russia.
The sophistication of consumers and a growing preference for coffee in markets such as South Korea, China and Russia will be part of the main factors driving the increase in demand for the grain in the coming years.
In the period 2014/2015 demand for coffee will exceed supply due to lower levels of grain production in Brazil.
The next coffee crop cycle will be the first since 2009/2010 in which a deficiency will be registered in the market as an overall deficit of 612,000 bags of coffee is foreseen. "2014/2015 will see the lowest level of production since 2011/2012 and the largest annual percentage decrease since 2009/2010."
Offers made via digital media include discounts of up to 90% for a limited time period with a minimum number of buyers being stipulated in order for the sale to be confirmed.
Ten companies have been offering these services in Panama since 2008, moving about $10 million annually.
OfertaSimple.com, QuieroOfertas.com, Groupon.com and Cuponium.com are the four companies leading this market.
Ensuring the best possible deal when buying it is a way of life for many consumers, and becomes a source of pride and status.
The hunt for the best deals is an integral part of daily life for a growing number of consumers who are changing their purchasing behavior, beyond the new and imaginative ways of marketing developed by vendors.
Women still do the bulk of home shopping, and more and more of them research online before doing so.
A study by iVillage/SheSpeaks in the U.S. details how women are changing their shopping habits, detailing that a shopping tour begins at the PC, where they check existing offers and promotions through the Internet. They decide where to shop depending on what they find.