Tourism Activities: Regulations in GuatemalaFriday, March 26, 2021 In order to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, the authorities issued a Ministerial Agreement regulating tourist activities during Holy Week. On March 25, the Ministerial Agreement 73-2021 of the Ministry of Public Health was published in the Diario de Centroamerica. Tourism: Crisis Worsened in 2020Wednesday, February 3, 2021 The amount of visitors arrivals to Central America and the Dominican Republic shows a downward trend since 2016, which was consolidated in 2019 and worsened in 2020, a phenomenon that is explained by the events recorded in the extra-regional market. Between 2015 and 2019, the countries of the SICA region, the average growth rate of visitor arrivals was 4.9%, where only in 2019 there was a negative rate of -0.2%, highlights a document of the Secretariat for Central American Tourism Integration (SITCA) published in January 2021. Economic Reactivation: Proposals to Shorten DeadlinesMonday, August 31, 2020 After five months of restrictions on productive activities, the Panamanian business sector proposes to shorten the dates of the "Updated Plan for National-Provincial Reopening" and to set that schedule in September. For the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP), the country is not only experiencing a health pandemic, it is also in the midst of a socio-economic crisis that has affected businesses, the labor market and the State's revenues. Currently, there are activities that cannot go on for another week without operating. How to Generate More Jobs?Monday, June 8, 2020 Eliminating "tax harassment", suspending threatening messages to the private sector, such as lifting bank secrecy, and stopping persecuting the formal employer is part of what Costa Rican entrepreneurs are proposing to generate more jobs in the next two years. In Costa Rica, the business sector presented the Alvarado administration with a proposal of 113 actions to generate new jobs in the next two years. Panamanian Economy Falls 6%Friday, May 28, 2021 During March 2021, the Monthly Index of Economic Activity registered a -6% year-on-year variation, a decrease that is attributed to the effects of the sanitary emergency caused by Covid-19. According to the most recent report of the General Comptroller's Office of the Republic, the Monthly Index of Economic Activity (IMAE) accumulated from January-March 2021 showed a decrease of 10.06%, compared to the same period of 2020. Panama Closes Border with ColombiaFriday, May 21, 2021 Arguing that the significant progress achieved to control the Covid-19 pandemic is put at risk, the Panamanian government decided to temporarily suspend the entry into its territory by land, sea and river, of all persons coming from the border with Colombia. The Republic of Panama expresses its concern regarding the decision of the Government of the Republic of Colombia, contained in the Resolution of the Ministry of the Interior 0667 of May 19, 2021, by which they determine the opening of the maritime, land and fluvial crossings in the common border, highlights an official statement. Meetings and Events: Industry is Paddling Against the TideWednesday, May 12, 2021 As a result of the reduction of the permitted capacity for meetings and events to be held in Costa Rica, businessmen of the sector will have to adjust their expenses and contain costs in a better way. Costa Rican authorities informed that in order to contain the advance of the pandemic, during the rest of the month of May there will be a reduction in the permitted capacity for meetings and events. Reusable Facemasks: New Regulations in ForceTuesday, May 18, 2021 Panama has a new regulation that establishes requirements on materials, environment for the operation, design, manufacture, labeling, use, washing and final disposal of reusable fabric masks for personal use outside sanitary facilities. The initiative, which applies to establishments dedicated to the industrial and artisanal manufacture of hygienic cloth masks, as well as their storage and distribution, is based on international standards; providing traders with the tools that will allow them to offer quality products and help in the protection against the Covid-19 virus, informed the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI). Automotive Industry had a Good Start in 2021Tuesday, May 18, 2021 After vehicle sellers in Guatemala in 2020 faced a complex panorama as a result of the crisis caused by the pandemic, during the first quarter of the year a 30% y-o-y increase in the number of new imported units was reported. Statistics from the Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT) detail that in the first three months of 2021, close to 9,300 new vehicles were imported in the country, a figure that exceeds by 30% what was reported in the same period of 2020. Costa Rica Applies New Mobility RestrictionsMonday, April 26, 2021 In order to reduce the effects of the pandemic that caused the outbreak of Covid-19, from April 27 to May 16, there will be restrictions on vehicle traffic from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. the following day. Given the speed of the increase in the number of infections and hospital occupancy, some of the most severe epidemiological data since the beginning of the pandemic, the health authorities made the decision to change the restriction schedule, according to an official statement. Costa Rica: Commercial Activity LimitedFriday, April 30, 2021 In order to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, local authorities decided that from Monday, May 3 through Sunday, May 9, all commercial establishments operating in the cantons of the Central Region and which are not classified as essential, must close to the public. These establishments will be able to operate under the non-face-to-face modality by means of home delivery or self-service. The rest of the country will not be affected by closures, informed the Presidency of Costa Rica. Business: Panama Relaxes RestrictionsThursday, April 15, 2021 As from April 19, the curfew nationwide will be from 12:00 midnight to 4:00 a.m. the following day, the opening of bars with outdoor terraces and the holding of sports activities with the public will be allowed. As from next Monday, April 19, the public will be allowed to attend outdoor sports activities with a 25% capacity and without liquor sales, informed the Ministry of Health. Investments in Households Boost Hardware BusinessMonday, April 12, 2021 In the last year in El Salvador, sales of hardware stores have remained dynamic, a situation that is explained by changes in living habits resulting from the pandemic, as in recent months’ consumers have decided to invest in remodeling their homes. The increase in family remittances is another factor that has influenced the increase in hardware store sales. According to official figures, during 2020 the country received $5,919 million in family remittances, an amount that exceeded by 5% what was reported in 2019. Covid-19: Survey of Damage in Costa RicaThursday, February 25, 2021 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. It was confirmed that 94% were affected by Covid-19, where 91% indicated as main consequence the reduction of income, informed the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC). Honduran Economic Activity Falls 9% in 2020Wednesday, February 17, 2021 At the end of last year, the Monthly Index of Economic Activity reported a -8.5% year-on-year variation, a drop that is explained by the negative effects generated by the outbreak of covid-19 and tropical storms Iota and Eta. The national production of goods and services in terms of volume, showed a contraction in the accumulated variation rate of 8.5% (increase of 3.1% in 2019), mainly explained by the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on economic activity and demand, added to the impact of tropical storms Eta and Iota on agricultural crops, some industries and productive infrastructure, mainly in the northern part of the country, says an official report. |
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