Panama and Honduras were the only two Central American countries to report increases in foreign direct investment in 2018 over the previous year, with year-on-year changes of 36% and 3%, respectively.
The growth of investments directed to Panama, which concentrated 51% of the sub-regional total, explained the increase that was reached in 2018 in Central America (9.4%), since except Panama and Honduras, the Central American countries received less Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) than in 2017, explains the report "Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2019", produced by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
Despite the location and the fiscal benefits that in some cases the countries of the region offer, the lack of education of the population will be the main barrier to continue attracting large investments.
The lack of guarantee of finding the competent and sustainable human capital necessary for the proper operation of companies is an issue that negatively influences the attraction of important investments in Central America.
In 2016 44% of foreign direct investment in the region was concentrated in Panama, and a fourth consecutive year of increases was recorded, with 16%, while Costa Rica received 27% and increased by only 1.1%.
From chapter I of the report "Flows of FDI in Latin America and the Caribbean", by the ECLAC:
FDI into Central America grew by 3.7% in 2016 and totaled 11,833 million dollars.The increase in investments to the two main recipients of the subregion -Panama, which recieved 44%, and Costa Rica, 27%- compensated for the drop in FDI to the other Central American countries.
Knowing how to laugh at yourself is a virtue that every entrepreneur in Costa Rica should have, even though it might all end in tears.
This is what Alfonso Carro does in his article on Crhoy.com: laugh at himself, at the same time bringing to light the helplessness felt in light of the deteriorating conditions for investment in an economy such as Costa Rica, which was once number one in Central America.
Determinants of investment, committed figures, and key economic sectors in the region in which Colombian companies have ventured into in recent years.
From the summary of the document by Cepal: "Colombian Investment in Central America":
The main objective of paper on Colombian investment in Central America is to analyze the business strategies that have led to increased Colombian foreign direct investment (FDI) in Central American countries.
This year multinational plans to invest that amount in remodeling, maintenance, new units, electronic commerce, and logistics and distribution.
From a statement issued by Walmart of Mexico and Central America:
Mexico City, 10 March 2016.- In 2016 Walmart de Mexico and Central America will invest an estimated $14.700 million pesos ($866 million), 17% higher than the total amount invested last year.
The Costa Rican company increased its sales by 2% compared to 2014, thanks to the dynamism of flavored alcoholic beverages in the US, foods in Guatemala, and beers, wines and spirits in Costa Rica.
Flavored alcoholic beverages, especially in America, and increased profitability in beer, wine and distilled drinks in Costa Rica and food in Guatemala, boosted Costa Rica Florida Ice & Farm's operating income in 2015, reaching $179 million, 13% more than in the previous fiscal year.
VECA Airlines has announced the start of flights from El Salvador to Guatemala and Costa Rica, with capital contributed by Empresas Alba.
$60 million is the amount that Empresas Alba has contributed as seed money to VECA Airlines, and it is expected that this will cover the operation of the company until December this year. It is expected that next year the investment will be lower, as the airline is aiming for financial self-sustainability by 2016.
This year the food producer plans to invest $50 million in its operations in Nicaragua, $20 million in Honduras and between $10 and $15 million in Costa Rica.
In Nicaragua the company will invest in building two plants and strengthening its distribution center, in Costa Rica it will be investing in improving logistics systems and in Honduras resources will be used for renewal of equipment.
Employers in the region are complaining about a lack of long-term development policies, and are asking for Government transparency, effectiveness and legal certainty, so that they can continue investing in the region.
During a meeting between businessmen and government called 'Expanding opportunities: promoting the private sector and job creation', entrepreneurs from different sectors shared their concerns and views on the investment climate in the region.
"What makes a country prosperous is not its resources but how productive it is. A country is not rich because of what it has but because of what it does with it " - Javier Simán.
An analysis by Claudio M. de Rosa in an article in Laprensagráfica.com, refers to the economical situation and the political circumstances in El Salvador, but most of the concepts and findings can be extrapolated to the entire Central American region.
The small economies of Central America dictate that small or regional investments are attracting the most private equity interest.
Mark Bishop from The Provident Group explains that: "the problem with Central America was and remains, very fragmented economies, small markets and lack of experience with legal transparency –it makes putting capital in there just much more difficult– there is going to be a couple of selective opportunities but its still a difficult market to get your arms round...We thought there was going to be a lot more consolidation regionally".
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