As a result of the corruption case in Costa Rica involving a shareholder of Constructora MECO, Fitch Ratings downgraded the company's long-term national rating to "A-(pan)" from "AA-(pan)", and at the same time placed it on Negative Watch.
On the morning of June 14, 2021, some 700 agents of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) and the Public Prosecutor's Office (prosecutors) raided 21 homes, Casa Presidencial, Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT), National Viability Council (Conavi) and Public Transportation Council (CTP).
Arguing that there are indications that businessmen have attempted against the Nicaraguan society and the rights of the people, local authorities ordered to lift the bank and tax secrecy of former Funides executives.
In recent weeks in Nicaragua a wave of arrests has been made against presidential pre-candidates, business leaders and people who oppose the government's actions.
Following the approval of the legal framework that recognizes Bitcoin as a legal tender in El Salvador, one out of two local businessmen are concerned that the circulation of the cryptocurrency is mandatory and one out of three are distrustful of this change in the laws.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of El Salvador carried out a survey among its members, businessmen in general and citizen consumers to know the expectations of the productive sector regarding the implementation of the cryptocurrency.
In Nicaragua, following the arrests of political and business leaders, uncertainty has increased after local authorities arrested Luis Alberto Rivas Anduray, Executive President of Banpro.
In the last weeks Cristiana Chamorro, Arturo Cruz, Felix Maradiaga Blandon and Juan Sebastian Chamorro have been arrested, these people were presidential pre-candidates and are accused of multiple crimes.
After the Legislative Assembly ratified the country's accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the business sector is of the opinion that this will help consolidate the institutional reforms needed to make the State more efficient.
The Assembly informed that by approving in the second debate the bill 22.187, which contains the agreement on the terms of accession, the deputies gave the green light to Costa Rica's accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
After in 2020 most franchises operating in the country reported declines in their operations because of the pandemic, expectations for 2021 is to overcome the losses and in some cases grow.
According to the report "Prospects for 2021 and the situation of franchises in Guatemala and Central America" prepared by the Guatemalan Franchise Association (AGF), in the country in the current context four out of 10 companies have closed between 1% and 10% of their franchise units or establishments.
Given the economic crisis generated by the covid-19 outbreak, nine out of ten companies operating locally reduced their revenues and one out of three made temporary closures.
Between May and August 2020, a COVID-19 section was included in the Directory of Businesses and Establishments (DEE) as part of the update, in order for businesses to indicate what the main effects of the pandemic were.
Companies with teams dedicated to innovation, organizational structures that allow for agile decision making and that quickly migrated to teleworking, are those that have best adapted to the new commercial reality.
The pandemic brought about a scenario of changes in the business models, the companies had to apply radical changes in an accelerated way in order to successfully face the challenges represented by the changes in people's habits.
Policies focused on credit restructuring, fiscal incentives for the production of essential goods and improving the efficiency of import and export processes are part of the proposals of the Nicaraguan private sector to face the economic and health crisis.
"In recent weeks, the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (Cosep) has been proposing a series of measures to the authorities in response to the unstoppable advance of the pandemic caused by the outbreak of covid-19 and the alarming situation of the health system," the union explained in a statement.
In Guatemala, approximately 75% of agricultural enterprises have reported liquidity problems in the context of the crisis generated by covid-19.
A study conducted by the Chamber of Agriculture (Camagro) states that during May, agricultural companies recorded income losses, a situation that can be explained by the quarantine decreed and the social isolation measures.
Lack of clarity in the opening schedule and the absence of a unified, concrete and immediate policy that aims at economic recovery under the established health guidelines, is part of what concerns entrepreneurs.
As part of the return to normal business activities, after the severe quarantine imposed on the country due to the outbreak of covid-19, this week the Panamanian economy is preparing for the opening of the second block of activities.
The Salvadoran business sector is calling for a reversal of the more rigid restriction measures implemented by the Bukele administration since May 7, arguing that the ban on public transport units has generated chaos.
In response to the health crisis facing Panama, the sector's union requested government intervention to suspend rent collections and payment of employer's fees.
On April 1, 2020, the Association of Restaurants and Related Industries of Panama (ARAP) sent a note to the Presidency of the Republic, in which they requested that given the crisis that has been generated by the outbreak of covid-19, they be granted a moratorium of 6 months or more.
After the first case of covid-19 was reported in the country, the private sector is asking authorities to close the borders partially or completely and to have people entering the nation examined and quarantined if necessary.
Jose Adan Aguerri, president of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP), explained that among the measures taken by the companies for this emergency is the creation of a critical department so that the companies that the staff is working in three different places in case any of them is affected, have guns to measure the temperature of customers who come to the company and not allow them to enter with fever.
Allowing import, export and transit processes to be carried out efficiently is the recommendation of the region's businessmen to avoid product shortages in the regional market.
For the Federation of Chambers and Industrial Associations of Central America and the Dominican Republic (Fecaica), governments should continue to take the measures considered necessary so that the cases detected so far do not continue to multiply, or at least, the contagion curve can be minimized, taking actions such as activating and expanding emergency response mechanisms and informing the population about the risks and ways to protect themselves.
Recognized Brazilian company of backhoe loaders, telescopic, articulated and other types of cranes looking for companies interested in representing the brand and distributing their machinery in Central America and Mexico. The company manufactures and sells telescopic,...