"If the calculations made for Guatemala in 2013 and 2014 are taken as a reference for other Central American countries, the volume of illegal trade in the region, could be between 3.4% and 4% of GDP".
"If the calculations made for Guatemala in 2013 and 2014 are taken as a reference for other Central American countries, the volume of illegal trade in the region, could be between 3.4% and 4% of GDP".
"It is we ourselves who are still looking ourselves as independent countries, when in fact we must work even harder on this unification."
In his article published in the magazine industry, the executive director of the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala Javier Zepeda, describes the situation which as yet has not be able to be changed: the plan for regional integration only exists on paper.
Starting April chambers of commerce in the region will be providing free training on phytosanitary controls, management at border posts and customs procedures for exporting firms.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica:
As of April, the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica will be running a training program on trade facilitation for the public and private sector, within the framework of a cooperation agreement signed between the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (FECAMCO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to implement the USAID Regional Project on Trade and Market Partnerships.
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.
Now is the time to fulfill the clear mandate of the Presidents of the Central American Integration System for the establishment of a Customs Union in Central America.
From a statement issued by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (FECAMCO):
The Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (FECAMCO) held in San José, the transfer of chairmanship of this regional entity to the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica for the period 2015.
Analysis of the characteristics of the business of supplying ships in Panama, participating companies, products and services required, and eligibility requirements.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
- Expansion of the Panama Canal opens up opportunities for Costa Rican exporters to supply vessels
On November 4th Salvadoran businesses from the food, textile and services sectors will be visiting Guatemala City to explore business opportunities.
The Chamber of Commerce of Guatemala and the Agency for Promotion of Exports and Investments of El Salvador (Proesa) have organized this business fair in order to support companies in their drive for internationalization.
In 2013 the export supply of the region in the international market was focused on integrated electronic circuits, coffee, bananas, sugarcane and medical devices.
From a report by the Secretariat of Central American Economic Integration (SIEC):
Diversification of exports is above the thresholds of the largest Latin American exporting economies.
It is time for transparent information to be given on which Central American governments continue to obstruct the essential unification of border formalities.
EDITORIAL
The Council of Ministers for Economic Integration (Comieco) which met in Managua on September 4 and 5 ended, as always happens in these meetings with public officials, with a statement of good intentions including promises to "work on the standardization of procedures at border posts and a regional strategy for trade facilitation," objectives which have been stated often and which up to now are far from being realised.
Product distribution companies in the North of Central America are paying monthly installments of $100 per truck to organized criminal groups.
Far from declining, the cost and problems caused by extortion for companies in Central America, continue to rise and is harming regional trade. In Honduras alone, Eleconomista.net reported, "... between 2012 and 2013 some 18,000 businesses closed because of pressures from gang members and consequently some 72,000 direct jobs were lost."
Transport ministers have approved a document setting out traffic controls and a regional agreement on driving on roads with weights and dimensions for commercial vehicles.
The Minister of Public Works in El Salvador, Gerson Martinez, said "... it is a single manual for the entire region, including signs, symbols, (road) markings, because if each country has different signs, then it generates
Key information regarding the seasonality in the value of Central American trade in both the intra-regional and extra-regional markets.
Extracted from a report entitled "Seasonal patterns of trade in Central America: initial notes" issued by the Secretariat of Central American Economic Integration (SIECA):
Merchandise exports from Central America enjoy marked seasonal patterns, with March and May being the months where total exports had a seasonal variation of 8.6% and 3.5% respectively. In a distinct rhythm, during the months of February and April Central American exports observed a variation of -3.0% and -5.4% due to seasonal factors.
The rule adopted by the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration aims to eliminate border controls and forces companies to give a 15 working days notice for imports and exports.
Crhoy reports that "...Some representatives of the private sector in Central America have criticized a directive which came into effect this month, which imposes new phytosanitary measures for exports and imports, which was approved by the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration (Comieco). ". ..In contrast, Costa Rican exporters "... say they have had no problems at the moment and they are ready, in fact they recognize that it will facilitate trade."
Starting July 17th the categorization of products according to their health risk will be applied and a 15 day shipping notice will be required to import those labelled as "high risk."
A new "Directive on sanitation and phytosanitation for the facilitation of trade in goods and shipments in Central America", adopted by the Council of Ministers for Economic Integration (Comieco), approved in January and which will come into effect from Thursday, July 17, could detract agility from intraregional trade, warns the Exporters Corporation of El Salvador (Coexport).
Despite the antiquity of the efforts for Central American integration and for the Customs Union the obstacles to trade between the countries on the isthmus presented by customs offices are notorious.
The Federation of Chambers and Associations of Exporters of Central America (Fecaxca) is once again calling for policies and common strategies for standards and customs procedures.