The Director of Meridian 100º, Bachelor Degree Héctor Vargas Villalta, has visited IMISA’s offices to make the first presentations and proposals to Argentinian companies from this new Free Zone Trade.

Lic Héctor Vargas, director of Meridian 100, www.meridian100.com, Free Trade Zone, visited Argentina specially invited by IMISA. Both have had the possibility to meet with different companies from the food, leather, industry and decoration sectors. The intention of the project is to attract those interested in achieving a strategic position in special zones to reach more competitively the Mexican and North American markets. Besides, Bachelor Degree Héctor Vargas and IMISA CEO Mr Cheyllada have taken care to explain the details of IMISA positioning projects in Costa Rica, Centroamerica and USA.

According to data from the Financial Newspaper  from Centroamerica in the 2007 balance, the rate of growth for the region was 5%, with hectic exportations, and a strong income of external capital (because of foreign investment and operations, and benefits acquired through the agreement for free trade with USA CAFTA.

The CEPAL report indicates that all the countries in the region will experience significant advances this year, to complete six years of sustained expansion.

Guatemala: a GDP growth of 5.6% is expected, justified by a rise of 26% in exports thanks to the validity of the free trade agreement with USA, and a better business environment.

El Salvador: 5% growth. This behaviour anticipates a projection of an annual gowth between 4.5% and 5%. Important development in agriculture, transport, finance, service and commerce.

Honduras: according to data, the economy will grow about 6.5% due to the improvement in the coffee exports, the building boom, and an increase in the currency capture and family operations outside the country.

Nicaragua: the expected 4.2% was not achieved, positioning itself between 3.7% and 3.9% with a strong increase in inflation because of a rise in the price of petrol, where energy and fuel will play a decisive role.

Costa Rica: a growth of 6.3% over the estimated 5%, where growth perspectives for economy are really favourable, with good fiscal / tax discipline and a financial surplus of 30% from the GDP.

Opportunities on the Regional level

Democracy, macroeconomic stability and free trade agreements with USA CAFTA are important opportunities for the region in general, with new opportunities for export and a good legal framework to attract new investment. IMISA is going to develop a strategy for positioning, expecting to count with important companies.