For the authorities of the Central Bank, the economy begins to show signs of recovery, because for four consecutive months the economic activity has registered a positive performance.
In June of this year, the Monthly Economic Activity Index (IMAE) began to show signs of recovery, recording a 1.2% year-on-year increase. In July and August, positive variations continued, with 1.4% and 1.7% increases reported, respectively.
For real estate developers, combining offices, residences and businesses in the same project reduces the risk of losing profitability, as lower demand for one component can be offset by higher demand for another.
With the aim of reducing investment risks, Costa Ricalas companies prefer to build multi-purpose projects, which combine residences, offices and shops.
The same free market concept that led to a concession of a taximeter plate of almost zero original cost to reach a value of tens of thousands of dollars, must now be applied to the irruption of collaborative transport services.
EDITORIAL
Jorge Cobas González
Founder of CentralAmericaData
During the first semester of the year the sale of 108,000 new vehicles was recorded, well above the 67,000 used units sold in the same period.
According to figures from the Superintendency of Tax Administration, between January and June 2017 and the same period of this year, sales of new vehicles went up by 28%, rising from 84,075 units to 107,949 units.
Although exports of dairy products have grown in the last two years, producers say that local production and domestic consumption have stagnated.
The Central Reserve Bank recorded record figures in the export of dairy products during the past year, adding up to $30 million, and in the first five months of 2018 sales abroad already add up to $12 million.
The presence of new distributors, more pharmacy chains and growth in the imports of medicines and medical supplies reflect the sector's dynamism.
Recent mergers and acquisitions in the pharmacy market are just a sample of the dynamism achieved by the pharmaceutical business in the country. Growth is being seen not only in the number of points of sale of businesses dedicated to selling medicines and other supplies, but also in growth in imports and in the number of companies dedicated to the manufacture of medicines for human use and medical equipment, among other products.
The Instituto Técnico del Este´s construction project, awarded to a consortium comprised of MECO and Rapiparedes, has already received environmental approval to start.
The project involves the construction of a training center for technical subjects in the province of Panama, according to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study which has now been approved by the Ministry of Environment.
In 2015 Costa Rica led the import of aluminum and articles made of aluminium in the region, with $166 million, followed by Guatemala, which imported $147 million, and thirdly Panama, with $129 million.
Marketfiguresfor aluminium and products made of aluminium in CentralAmerica compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData.com, show that in 2015 the countries in the Central American region as a whole imported 153,000 tons of aluminum and articles thereof, equivalent to $646 million.
In 2015 Panama led the importation of footwear and related materials in the region, with $234 million, followed by Costa Rica, which imported $155 million, and in third place Guatemala, with $154 million.
Data from the report Foreign Trade Office on Shoes, similar articles and related materials,prepared by Business Intelligence Unit at Centralamericadata.com shows that in 2015 the countries of the region imported $757 million, corresponding to a volume of 84,484 tons.
In 2015 Central American countries imported $447 million worth of auto parts, and 60% of them came from the USA, Japan and China.
Datafrom a report entitled "Vehicle Parts Market in Central America", prepared by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData.com shows that Guatemala is the main buyer of these goods in the region.In 2015 alone the country imported $121.6 million and 37% of it came from the United States, 12.6% from Japan, another 12.6% from China, 9% from Mexico and the rest from other countries such as South Korea and Germany.
Mixed-use buildings and vertical condominiums in Guatemala and Sacatepéquez are some of the projects for which environmental impact studies were submitted in June 2016.
The latest report"Construction Projects in Guatemala",prepared by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData.com, provides an up to date list of construction projects for which environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies were submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) in June.
Works at the airport, works on riverbeds and construction of sports infrastructure are some of the projects which were awarded to private companies in May 2016.
The report "Construction Projects in Central America", prepared by the Business Intelligence unit at CentralAmericaData.com contains a detailed list of major construction projects awarded by Central American governments.
Health insurance recorded the highest growth, going from $95 million in subscribed premiums up to May 2015 to $106 million in the same month in 2016, which is an increase of 11%.
Between May 2015 and May 2016 the total amount of premiums written in the first five months of the year rose from $555 million to $566 million in the same period this year.
Works on electrical and road infrastructure and jobs in the mining sector are some of the major infrastructure projects awarded in Central America in March 2016.
The report "Construction Projects in Central America", prepared by the Business Intelligence unit at CentralAmericaData.com contains a detailed list of major construction projects taking place in Central America.
A contract has been awarded in Panama to Ingeniería Rec, SA for studies, design and construction of a building project with infrastructure called "Urbanization San Antonio" in the province of Veraguas.
In the tender for the supply of materials, labor, equipment and administration for studies, design and project construction of buildings and infrastructure for the "Urbanización de San Antonio" project located in the village of San Antonio, district of Atalaya, province of Veraguas, the company INGENIERIA REC, S.A. submitted a bid of $65.8 million, which competed with proposals from CONSTRUCTORA MECO, S.A., CONSTRUCCIONES CIVILES GENERALES S.A., ASINCRO PANAMA CORPORATION and that of Constructora San José (Panama Branch) S.A., who bid $66.9 million, $62.3 million, $58.1 million, and $56.2 million respectively.