Business Owners Optimistic
by Rod Hughes
Despite the economic woes of Costa Rica’s biggest export market and main source of tourism (the United States), 400 local business owners overwhelmingly predicted this country’s economic growth will continue or even improve this year. The poll was conducted by the Union of Private Sector Chambers and Associations (UCCAEP)
The poll was conducted in January, before a report was released that Costa Rican exports to the United States had fallen that month by 6% from January of last year and before the Central Bank predicted growth would slow this year to 4.8% from last year’s 6.8%. Still, economic observers have long held that perception has a large influence on the economy so the businessmen may turn out to be correct.
The UCCAEP survey showed 94% of the businessmen had high hopes for economic performance. Tourism and export sectors showed only a slightly less positive view. Indeed, preliminary tourism figures this year are surprisingly good.
Jaime Molina, UCCAEP vice president, noted that an acute labor shortage continues to act as a brake on the economy. He called for better government training programs to bring job skills up to fill openings that go begging, reported the English-language weekly, The Tico Times.
Meanwhile, representatives of six Trinidad and Tobago companies are scheduled to be in San Jose next Monday in search of partners, distributors and potential customers This country signed a free trade pact with 12 nations in the Caribbean community in September, 2005. The representatives will be at Hotel Barcelo San Jose Palacio.