In a competitive scenario for lower costs and higher productivity, devaluation against the Lempira Dollar in Honduras and the Cordoba Dollar in Nicaragua is a factor that could help these economies stay competitive.
In the last five years, the exchange rate in Honduras increased by 17%, from 21.06 Lempiras per U.S. dollar in June 2014 to 24.67 in the same month in 2019.
In recent years, the sector in Guatemala has lost nearly 30,000 jobs, because the high costs resulting from having one of the highest minimum wages in the region, makes it more profitable only to export raw materials, rather than making them in the country.
Vestex figures show that in recent years several jobs have been lost in the sector, given that between 2006 and 2018 the industry lost a considerable number of jobs, going from 82,109 to 53,636 places, equivalent to a 35% decrease.
American Drugstore and C. Imberton were sanctioned for proving "that they engaged in the anti-competitive practice of agreeing to fix the prices of Cataflam, Diovan and Lamisil products."
The Superintendence of Competition of El Salvador (SC) sanctioned American Drugstore, for $171,000, and C.
Costa Rica is discussing a bill that proposes to charge an additional 0.5% on all premiums and prohibits deducting from income tax the 4% collected to finance the Fire Brigade.
For the directors of the Association of Private Insurers (AAP), the approval of the National Statistical System Bill, which is being discussed in the country's Congress, would put companies in trouble and cause a contraction in growth.
According to the IMF, the Central American country has been the most dynamic economy in Latin America in the last three decades, reaching one of the highest per capita incomes in the region.
A report published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and signed by Alejandro Santos, Panama's mission chief, and Metodij Hadzi-Vaskov, chief economist in the Western Hemisphere Department, explains that the country's growth is important, since the economy has grown at around 6% per year for a quarter of a century, well above other countries with traditionally strong growth such as Chile, the Dominican Republic and Peru, as well as twice the growth rate of Latin America as a whole.
For the business sector, it is urgent for the Costa Rican government to start setting deadlines in the economic reactivation agenda, and in the changes that will be made to overcome competitiveness deficiencies.
According to the II Quarterly Business Survey, there are multiple deficiencies in the topic of competitiveness. For example, businessmen were asked if they considered that there were advances in simplifying procedures and 72% of those consulted said no, while only 24% considered that positive changes are perceived.
Holcim S.A. in El Salvador was sanctioned for "having failed in its duty of collaboration to provide the information and documentation required to the Superintendence of Competition."
From the Superintendence of Competition statement:
Because Colombian ports have a lower operating cost base than Panamanians, the South American country competes to appropriate the logistics business in the region.
Until a while ago, Panama led the logistics operations in the region, however, there are some signs that indicate that this situation could be changing, since the growth in the movement of maritime cargo in the country has reported a slowdown in recent years. For example, between 2016 and 2017 there was a 10% increase, and last year the reported rise was just 1.7%.
Investing in infrastructure that improves the connection between its main ports is one of the most determining factors for Panama to recover the competitiveness that is beginning to lose regionally and globally.
The Panama Maritime Chamber (CMP) presented its strategy "Maritime Vision Country 2019-2024", in which it analyzes that although the Canal was expanded and remains competitive at the port level in the region, the country needs to improve in terms of institutionality, human resources, infrastructure, processes and technology, to continue giving tools to the logistics sector to continue its development.
In Costa Rica, the private sector anticipates adverse effects on the export and tourism sector's competitiveness if the Ministry of Finance succeeds in consolidating its plan to issue $6 billion in bonds in the international market over the next six years.
The reaction of the country's export sector comes after the government announced this week that it will ask the Congress for authorization to issue bonds in international markets for at least $5 billion.
From November 21st to 23rd, a regional event will be held in the country's capital to discuss issues related to competitiveness, innovation, territorial development and cluster management.
The 11th Latin American Congress of Clusters (CLAC) of the TCI Network will be held at the end of this month, on the topic "Leadership for innovation and competitiveness in Latin America: territorial development strategies based on Clusters."
Costa Rica and Panama are the economies of the region where businessmen find it easier to develop business, followed by El Salvador and Guatemala, and in the last two places, Honduras and Nicaragua.
The World Bank announced the results of the Doing Business 2019 report, which measures the regulations that favor or restrict the development of business activity in different countries. Doing Business consists of quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of private property rights, comparable in 190 economies.
Due to failing to provide on time the information and documentation required to carry out a study on the beef market in the country, in El Salvador the Superintendence of Competition sanctioned Sukarne.
From the statement of the Superintendence of Competition:
Partly explained by delays in the labor market, between 2017 and 2018 the Central American country moved from 91st to 96th place in the Global Competitiveness Index.
According to the 2017-2018 Global Competitiveness Index report, prepared by the World Economic Forum, the decline recorded by Guatemala this year is mainly due to lags in the areas of health and labor market.
Charges, taxes, high fuel prices and other costs at airport terminals can represent close to 30% of the value of air tickets in countries in the region.
Airlines that operate in the Latin American region face an uncompetitive market, since in 2018 these companies are projected to earn $2.95 per passenger, a figure much lower than the $15.67 estimated in North America or $7.58 in Europe, according to representatives of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
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O4Bi is a system that allows to control and manage what a company needs: the complete process of development of works, accounts receivable, treasury, banks, sales and accounting.
O4Bi is a very robust system that allows to control and...
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