CENTRAL AMERICA: YOUR NEAREST PRODUCTION SITE TO BOTH NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE! Edwin Smit 15th of October 2008 Director Ideas Amsterdam

‘Ease of Doing Business’ Indicator El Salvador Panama Nicaragua Guatemala Costa Rica Honduras

17 key aspects Score: (1) weak (2) regular (3) good (4) excellent CRESGTHNNIPN 1. Political aspects Social aspects Security Economic aspects Fiscal aspects Finance Infrastructure (local) Infrastructure (export) Communication Free Trade Agreements Climate and natural resources Agr. Sector Organizations Fitosanitary Service Agricultural supplies Unqualified Labour Management Subsidies

Business Ideavelopment Chart 16,6%0%100% Weak Strong Introduction Growth Maturity Business Competitiveness Market share per country of total Central American exports (2006) Decline

Business Oportunities – target groups 16,6%0%100% WEAK STRONG Business competitiveness Market share per country of total Central American exports (2006) Investors:green Importers:yellow Exporters:blue 16,6%0%100% WEAK STRONG Business competitiveness Market share per country of total Central American exports (2006)

BIC – Costa Rica 16,6%0%100% WEAK STRONG Introduction Growth Decline Melon Watermelon Banana Young plants Pre-finished pot plants Foliage Cut flowers Pineapple Maturity Mango Business competitiveness Vegetables (others) Vegetables (to/cu/pe/eg)*) Processed fruits & vegs Market share COSTA RICA of total Central American exports (2006)

BIC – El Salvador 16,6%0%100% Market share EL SALVADOR of total Central American exports (2006) Introduction Growth Decline Maturity Melon Watermelon Young plants Pre-finished pot plants Foliage Cut flowers Pineapple Banana Processed fruits & veget WEAK STRONG Business competitiveness Mango Vegetables (other) Vegetables (to/cu/pe/eg)*

BIC - Guatemala 16,6%0%100% Market share GUATEMALA of total Central American exports (2006) Business competitiveness WEAK STRONG Introduction Growth Decline Maturity Mango Melon Watermelon Banana Young plants Pre-finished pot plants Foliage Cut flowers Pineapple Vegetables (to/cu/pe/eg)*) Vegetables (others) Processed fruits & veget

BIC - Honduras 16,6%0%100% Market share HONDURAS of total Central American exports (2006) Business competitiveness WEAK STRONG Introduction Growth Decline Maturity Cut flowers Pineapple Melon Watermelon Banana Young plants Pre-finished pot plants Foliage Mango Vegetables (other) Vegetables (to/cu/pe/eg)*) Processed fruits & veget

BIC - Nicaragua 16,6%0%100% Market share NICARAGUA of total Central American exports (2006) Business competitiveness WEAK STRONG Introduction Growth Decline Maturity Cut flowers Melon Watermelon Banana Foliage Young plants Finished pot plants Mango Processed fruits & veget Vegetables (other) Vegetables (to/cu/pe/eg)*) Pineapple

BIC - Panama 16,6%0%100% Market share PANAMA of total Central American exports (2006) Business competitiveness WEAK STRONG Introduction Growth Decline Maturity Cut flowers Pineapple Mango Melon Foliage Young plants Finished pot plants Watermelon Banana Processed fruits & veget Vegetables (other) Vegetables (to/cu/pe/eg)*

BIC – Central America 16,6%0%100% weak strong Introduction Growth Decline Maturity El Salvador Nicaragua Costa Rica Panama Honduras Guatemala Business competitiveness Market share per country of total Central American exports (2006)

Conclusions

Strategic Allies Knowledge on a production level Knowledge on a marketing - sales level Finance Access to high-tec supplies and services -> Need for omnipotent strategic allies!

Central America! Huge geografic potential The region ‘does not sell itself as a region’ Therefore: little interest from foreign companies for Central America (countries are too small to justify active export policies)

Upcoming Events

March 2009 Agricultural Trade Mission Guatemala – Costa Rica - Status: Confirmed ! - To be organized by Magnifiq and Ideavelop - Focus at the ornamental sector - A visit to and a matchmaking program during the Agritrade - Minimum of 12 Dutch participants

September 2009 Agricultural Trade Mission Nicaragua – Honduras - Guatemala -Status: still to be approved by the EVD -To be combined with a mission of Dutch mayors to Nicaragua -To be organized by LEI, Magnifiq and Ideavelop -Fruits and Vegetables -Minimum of 15 Dutch participants

October 2009 Central American participation to Hortifair Status: still to be approved - Focus on the region, not on individual countries - Importance of having exchange of events; not only Dutch events in Central America - Great political importance (unification of Central America) - To be organized by Magnifiq, Ideavelop and the 6 Central American countries - Sectors: Fruits, Vegetables and Ornamentals

March 2010 Business Meetings Guatemala and Costa Rica - Status: Confirmed ! - Focus on the region, not on individual countries - Importance of having exchange of events; not only Dutch events in Central America - To be organized by Magnifiq, Ideavelop and the 6 Central American countries -Fruits, Vegetables and Ornamentals -Minimum of 20 Dutch participants

All presentations of this seminar can be found on: Thank you very much and see you in Central America!