Ten years after the elimination of the insurance monopoly in Costa Rica, private insurers have managed to "steal" from the state company about 12% of the market.
Mapfre Seguros, Sagicor, Assa Compañía de Seguros and Best Meridian Insurance are some of the 12 private companies that have been competing in the Costa Rican insurance market since 2008, when the law came into force opening up the business which for more than 80 years was in the hands of a single company, Instituto Nacional de Seguros.
Since last month the beer brand Gallo has been on sale in El Salvador, produced by the Guatemalan company Cervecería Centro Americana.
Laprensagrafica.com reports that "... Cervecería Centro Americana is forging ahead with its flagship beer, Gallo, in the Salvadoran market.The drink has been in some supermarkets in the country since April."
Although it has reduced its dependence on the USA as an export destination, Guatemala could find new opportunities with the expected shift in the trade policy between the US and Mexico.
Analysts recognize the value of finding other markets but also warn about the importance of continuing to watch the events in light of the statements made by President-elect Trump during his campaign regarding a possible revision of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Mexico.
The government has been presented with a proposal for comprehensive reform of the state which includes issues such as flexible working hours and the opening of the electricity and hydrocarbons markets.
The Panamanian government intends to set up an embassy in Ghana for commercial use as an entryway into the market in the West African subregion.
"... Panama has expressed its interest to Ghana in establishing a resident diplomatic mission in the capital, Accra, so that this nation can become its gateway to markets in the West subregion. "
The private sector is once again insisting on eliminating the monopoly on the generation and distribution of energy, instead of bailing out the state run power company, making rates more expensive.
Although the process to recapitalize the National Electricity Company (ENEE) is in progress, the recent increase in electricity rates has once again put on the table the discussion on the need to ensure competition in the domestic electricity market.
Two companies are vying for the local market and exporting more than 40 different types of tea to Central America, the US and recently to China.
Mondaisa, one of the competitors, reports that demand in the international market is growing 20% a year, while in the local market it is growing by 11% a year. Meanwhile Manzate recorded an overall growth of 12%, and in the local market of about 6%. Currently both companies have plans to expand in order to meet the demands of both the external and internal market.
Increasing the amount of land planted, consolidating markets where there is already a presence and exporting cigars to China are part of the tobacco industry's goals for 2015.
It is expected that in 2015 tobacco exports will grow by 5% and reach new markets such as those in China, Morocco and other Middle Eastern countries, where it is estimated that cigars would be very well received. These new destinations would join the 79 countries where sales are already being made. In 2013 total exports amounted to $227 million.
The Solis administration is opposed to the Power Contingency Act which would enable private power generation and force the state run power company to compete.
Arguing that there is no need for it because 'demand is being met," the executive branch is opposing the Contingency Power Act because" ... it would be contrary to the model of energy development in the country, contrary to what has been discussed in the discussion tables on energy."
Companies participating in the SIAL show in Paris made purchase offer deals worth more than $1 million and generated new markets in Europe and South America for products such as chia, crackers and organic cocoa.
The event was attended by a delegation of 12 member from companies in the Association of Producers and Exporters of Nicaragua (APEN), and succeeded in opening new markets for non-traditional products and increase their knowledge of the European market for future business deals.
With opposition from agro-industry, the government has initiated the processes required to join the trade bloc, including a consultation period, which runs until the end of the year.
Entry into the block requires a greater commercial opening than that established in free trade treaties negotiated between Costa Rica and member countries, Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile, which is why productive sectors such as agriculture and industry oppose it.
Chinese health authorities are inspecting plants and pineapple farms in the country as part of the process of market opening for the Costa Rican fruit.
In addition to inspections on farms and plants, a technical mission to China has verified health checks undertaken by the laboratories of the State Phytosanitary Service. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, "...Costa Rica's successful entry could result in a need to expand the amount of land planted with this fruit, which is currently 45,000 hectares. "
The guild is demanding the government to open up the market in order to allow companies to buy energy from abroad and reduce dependence on state power supplies.
The private sector is seeking to solve the energy crisis in Honduras by asking for regulation to be made flexible in order to allow direct import of energy for companies.
In order to remove the main factor causing loss of competitiveness of enterprises, the caps on private generation need to be removed and regulated competition be allowed in the electricity market.
Costa Rican industrialist are demanding substantive measures to achieve lower prices of electricity and fuel, aiming to break down the monopolies held by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) and the Costa Rican Oil Refinery (RECOPE), and urging the use of energy potential from geothermal sources in the country.
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