Electric Transformers Market in Central AmericaThursday, March 1, 2018 From January to September 2017, countries in the region imported $229 million worth of electrical transformers, and 43% were purchased by companies in Costa Rica and Panama. Figures from the information system "Market for Electric Transformers and Converters and Reactor Coils in Central America" , compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"] El Salvador: Exports Up 17%Thursday, March 1, 2018 In January 2018, exports totaled $500 million, 17% more than in the same month in 2017, and sales of sugar and clothing accounted for most of the increase. The Central Reserve Bank (Banco Central de Reserva or BCR) reported that during the first month there was a noteworthy " ... positive result from 24 branches of the economy with export records, with the greatest contributions standing out as those from the sugar industry with US $35.8 million, maquila industrial services with US $16.4 million and textiles and their apparel with an additional US $11.2 million." Expocomer: $130 million Foreseen in Business ProjectsThursday, March 1, 2018 The organizers estimate that commercial transactions made between participants will amount to around $130 million, and the economic benefit for Panama could be $45 million. "... 'We have an excellent Expo, with very good expectations. We will have to wait for the numbers at the end of the event, but we hope that the economic spillover for the country will be at least equal to last year's, that is to say, worth about $45 million. Business transactions between participants should be in the order of $130 million," Inocencio Galindo, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Panama (CCIAP), told La Estrella de Panamá." Nicaragua: $238 million for RoadsThursday, March 1, 2018 With a loan from the BCIE, the improvement and renovation of 195 kilometers of roads in different areas of the country will be financed. The project involves the paving of 194.39 kilometers, divided into six road sections with different asphalt pavement structures, hydraulic concrete and concrete paving slabs. Return of Madrid - Guatemala FlightsThursday, March 1, 2018 The airline Wamos has announced that as of May the weekly frequency between the capital of Spain and Guatemala City will once again be operational, until at least November 2018. From a statement issued by the INGUAT: Peruvians Seek Business in HondurasThursday, March 1, 2018 On March 6, a delegation of businessmen from the South American country will visit San Pedro Sula to explore business opportunities with Honduran companies. Among the Peruvian companies that will arrive in Honduras are companies from the food industry, manufacturing, packaging, mining suppliers and equipment for industrial companies. Tender: Secure Transport ServiceThursday, March 1, 2018 Crédito Hipotecario Nacional de Guatemala is putting out to tender the transport, custody and safekeeping of valuables from central offices to agencies and vice versa, for a period of seven months. Guatemala Government Purchase 7543107: Printers: A $267 million BusinessFriday, March 2, 2018 In the first nine months of 2017, countries in the region imported $267 million worth of printing machines and equipment, and 45% was purchased by companies in Costa Rica and Guatemala. Figures from the information system on the Central American Market for Printing Machines and Apparatus, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"] Elections, Competitiveness and ExportsThursday, March 8, 2018 Three weeks ahead of the ballotage in Costa Rica, exporters are demanding more flexibility from the candidates, modernization of the port of Caldera and better security controls at ports and on roads. One of the issues that has most affected the flow of international trade in Costa Rica in recent years has been the security of exports and how these have been damaged by theft and constant interception of containers. This is one of the issues which exporters are demanding more attention be paid to by the government that will take office on May 1. Guatemala: Annual Inflation up to February 2017 is 4.1%Thursday, March 8, 2018 The CPI registered a monthly variation of -0.2%, mainly explained by the negative behavior of food prices. From a report by the National Institute of Statistics: Panama: Construction Starts 2018 on the RiseThursday, March 8, 2018 In January 2018 the cost of new construction, additions and repairs grew by 22% compared to the same month in 2017, rising from $95 million to $117 million. The most recent figures from the Comptroller General of the Republic show that the highest value of new construction, additions and repairs was registered in the district of Panama, with a total of $53 million. Remittances Still Growing in 2018Thursday, March 8, 2018 During the first two months of 2018, remittances sent from abroad to Guatemala totaled $1.265 billion, 5% more than the total received in the same period in 2017. According to figures from the Banco de Guatemala, in January and February of 2018 the country received $1.265 million in the form of remittances, an amount that exceeds by 5% the $1.202 billion registered in the first two months of 2017. Chinese Investment in the Colon Free ZoneThursday, March 8, 2018 A manufacturer of clothing and sports shoes of various brands has started operating in the ZLC, from where they plan to distribute throughout Latin America. From a statement issued by the Colon Free Zone: Nicaragua Imports Less AppliancesThursday, March 8, 2018 The decrease of 5% registered in 2017 with respect to the previous year was explained by a 23% and 9% fall in the import of monitors and refrigerators, respectively. In contrast to the behavior of imports of monitors and refrigerators, washing machines and radio and television broadcasting devices showed increases of 23% and 17%, respectively. Costa Rica: Rise in Rates in DollarsThursday, March 8, 2018 The Effective Rate in Dollars has risen from 2.29% to 2.33%, while the Passive Base Rate fell from 6.1 to 5.95%. The Central Bank of Costa Rica published on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 7 news that after a rise in the last few weeks, the Passive Base Rate registered a reduction of 0.15%, and will remain at 5.95% until Wednesday, March 14th.[GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"] |
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