The costs incurred by businessmen in Nicaragua, because of excessive procedures and low efficiency of foreign trade systems is 25% additional to the value of the goods, while in El Salvador and Costa Rica, amounts to 18% and 16%, respectively.
A study by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) specifies that the costs paid by businessmen in Nicaragua, because of excessive procedures and low efficiency of foreign trade systems is 25.3% additional to the value of the goods, followed by El Salvador with 18.3%, Costa Rica with 16.3%, Honduras with 15.8%, Guatemala with 14% and Panama with 9%.
Reducing trade barriers and procedures, increasing legal security and improving productive infrastructure are part of the changes required by the business sector for the region's economic development.
In Guatemala, the 12th Ibero-American Business Meeting is held, in which the private sector presents proposals to face the current challenges and generate opportunities for the countries of the region.
In Honduras, from October 1, processing of International Phytosanitary Export Certificates can be done digitally through use of an electronic signature and stamp.
Honduran authorities reported that the National Service of Agrifood Health and Safety (SENASA), at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), has launched online processing of the certificate.
Entrepreneurs in Honduras are demanding that procedures for the issuance of environmental licenses be simplified, a process which can take up to two years.
According to the affected sector, one of the causes of delays in the delivery of environmental licenses, which are needed for some projects to start, is the lack of technicians at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MiAmbiente).
Through an agreement with the business sector, the government of Honduras has announced that it intends to simplify procedures for licenses and registration of companies.
As part of a plan to facilitate private investment, the Hernandez administration has announced that they will also be talking with mayors so that local governments facilitate the operation of companies nationwide. In addition they"... announced that from April they will start using customs' forward looking statement."
A free virtual seminar has been organized for November 30 on the procedures and requisites for exporting food products to the United States.
The free webinar organized by the Secretariat of Economic Integration (SIECA) is called "Exporting food products to the United States, who regulates it?"and will be held online on November 30, from 10 am to 11:30 am.
Salvadoran industrialists claim that with the presidential veto of the administrative simplification law, the country has lost a valuable opportunity to improve the already deteriorated business climate.
EDITORIAL
With the veto of the Administrative Simplification Act, the Salvadoran government is sending a clear message to the business community and to society in general: There is no interest in paving the way for the private sector to generate more jobs and, consequently, more wealth and socioeconomic development.
Proportion of people who have paid a bribe in the last year to access a public service: in Panama 38%, in Honduras 33%, in El Salvador 31%, in Nicaragua 30%, in Guatemala 28% and in Costa Rica, 24%.
EDITORIAL
The report "People and Corruption: Latin America and the Caribbean", prepared by Transparency International, shows how inhabitants of Latin American countries have got used to corruption: from the scandalous cases at the highest political level to under the table payments which are made on a daily basis when carrying out procedures as simple as requesting medical care in a public hospital or obtaining a document from a public office.
Central American citizens who have traveled to the United Kingdom four times in the last 24 months will have access to fast-track windows at airports and other British border controls.
An article by BBC World reports that this system facilitates immigration procedures for 16 countries, of which 12 are in Latin America,"... using the "Registered Traveler" scheme, which allows frequent visitors to pay £70 (about US $85) a year to avoid having to fill out a landing card and to access the windows for passengers from the UK and EU. "This method did not previously include citizens from any Latin American country.
The launch of an online approval system for mineral export inspection has been announced.
From a statement issued by the Honduran Institute of Geology and Mines:
Tegucigalpa April 20, 2016.- In a representative event by the Honduran Institute of Geology and Mines INHGEOMIN, a step has been taken towards the cutting edge with the launch of the online Inspection Approval Module for Exporting Minerals, which is a new technology platform that will benefit exporters as a new form of communication between citizens and the INHGEOMIN in its capacity as regulator of mining activities in Honduras.
From April 1st 2015 the only documents needed to send products to the Indian market will be the air declaration, the commercial invoice and bill of entry.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
Less complex administrative systems and a simplified tax system are the requests made by the private sector to the government in order to improve the country's competitiveness.
In order to improve competitiveness and the business climate, the Honduran Council of Private Enterprise has asked the government to simplify the tax code and streamline public procedures. "...The aim is to ensure the economy will grow and allow the State to collect resources in order to meet its obligations. "
An announcement has been made that rulings on environmental feasibility will be given within 24 hours, environmental permits categories 1 and 2 will take two months, and for projects the period is three to four months.
Taking into account the demands of the business sector the government has announced it is changing the procedures for submission of environmental permits in order to reduce the waiting times and streamline the process.
The inspection of 70 containers of foodstuffs which on average enter and leave the port every day is carried out by a single official.
Importers and exporters bear the costs for delays and extra stays of containers, which costs around $60 a day per unit, resulting in an increase in the final value of the products.
Maria Rivera of the Honduran Association of Animal Feed Manufacturers (Ahproaba) told Laprensa.hn that "...
The private sector is calling on the government to implement a fast-track mechanism to expedite the issuance of sanitation permits for exports.
In meeting with the Ministry of Health, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tegucigalpa raised the option of expediting the delivery of sanitation permits for exports, analyzing the experiences of neighboring countries which have reduced lead times.
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