Developing the region's short distance cargo and passenger sea travel could lower costs and favor agricultural exports.
Central America's short distance maritime transport project (TMCD, Spanish Acronym) is advancing. Feasibility studies have determined that with little investment, the 49 ports located in Central America and Mexico, "could be adapted for short distance passenger and cargo transportation, as it is done in Europe".
Port authorities from Central America and the Dominican Republic are studying plans to cut costs of cargo handling.
The proposal is currently under review at a meeting in Nicaragua of Central American port officials who fear that high handling charges could eat into the benefits to be gained from a trade association with the European Union.
"By comparison with the costs of the cargo itself, handling costs in Central America are very high," said Carlos González De la Lastra, president of the Central American Commission of Maritime Transport (Cocatram).