Exports of goods from the definitive regime – outside the free zone – decreased in February by 5%, compared to a year earlier, according to figures released by the Costa Rican Chamber of Exporters (CADEXCO).
This behavior worries the sector as it continues with the trend shown months before.
It is worrisome that the growth is concentrated only in companies in the free zone regime,”
said Laura Bonilla, president of CADEXCO.
The companies that operate under the definitive export regime and that are located mainly in rural areas, are those that show a slow growth. Therefore, Bonilla believes those are the companies that require greater attention from the Government, mainly in regarding competitiveness and impulse.
The concern is shared by Francisco Gamboa, executive director of the Chamber of Industries, who explained that some of the decreases were also in the industrial area.
We are concerned about this drop, the food industry -25%, the electrical and electronics industry -27%, exports to Nicaragua -6%, to Guatemala -4%, to the United States of -27%, to Honduras -5%, El Salvador -7%, Dominican Republic -18%, Colombia -6% and Mexico -4%, all important destinations for a large number of companies in the sector, including small and medium-sized industries,”
said Gamboa.
Contrary to this regime, companies in free zones grow at a positive pace, with medical precision equipment being the leading industry. The country’s total exports grew in the same period by 5%.