WORKING ON IMPROVING
TBY talks to Miguel Aguiar, General Manager, Banca Para el Desarrollo, on the sector.
Is it tough for SMEs to compete in Costa Rica where operational costs are high?
It is extremely tough, which is why we are working on improving the cost of credit. Today, we have a loan portfolio close to CRC200 billion (USD354 million) that was granted at basic passive rates during the entire term of the loan. Costa Rica has to work on creating loan solutions that include grace periods to allow SMEs to begin paying their loans when they reach the breakeven point given that it is difficult to for them to start paying back immediately.
What are your goals and priorities for 2018?
Our priority for 2018 is building a system to boost innovation and entrepreneurship. In the last few years, we have built a credit distribution channel integrating 59 financial entities within a specific standard regulation. Now, we are working hard to integrate all institutional entities in our country to create the platform for our 2018 priority. We are involving all state institutions and ministries, with a great emphasis on education. We are also working with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) on rural entrepreneurship issues to generate a program at the rural level.
WORKING ON IMPROVING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
Yamileth Astorga, President, Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA)
TBY talks to Yamileth Astorga, President of the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA), on the challenges of providing high-quality potable water and working to prevent a water deficit.
read articleInterview
Luis Carlos Delgado Murillo, President, National Supervisory Council for the Financial System (CONASSIF)
TBY talks to Luis Carlos Delgado Murillo, President of the National Supervisory Council for the Financial System (CONASSIF), on the importance of collaboration between the private and public sectors and facilitating new business.
read articleInterview
Minor Rodríguez, General Manager, Coopesa
TBY talks to Minor Rodríguez, General Manager of Coopesa, on being the only self-managing cooperative in the world dedicated to heavy aircraft, the importance of communication, and maintaining a flat and democratic governance structure.
read articleReview
Reaching the Sky
The construction sector in Costa Rica has recovered significantly from a slump in 2016. However, the country has much to accomplish, especially in terms of ensuring new residential projects are inclusive for all income levels and fixing the infrastructure problem.
read articleInterview
Dr. Fernando Llorca Castro, Executive President, Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social
TBY talks to Dr. Fernando Llorca Castro, Executive President of Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social, on the importance of institutional longevity, joining the OECD, and bringing standardized services to every part of the country.
read articleFocus: Education Training
Get the Ball Rolling
One of the main factors that attracts investors to Costa Rica has been its skilled human capital. For this purpose, the government and academia are collaborating to improve programs and better align them to the requirements of several industries.
read articleReview: Education
Class Is In Session
High levels of public investment have made Costa Rica's education system one of the strongest in Latin America, and government leaders are working to improve teacher quality and ensure that the poorest Costa Ricans have access to quality secondary and tertiary schools.
read articleInterview
Marco Robert, General Manager, IMC Interamericana Medios de Comunicación
TBY talks to Marco Robert, General Manager of IMC Interamericana Medios de Comunicación, on the importance of articulating a clear philosophy, the industry's biggest weaknesses, and the ideal advertising setup.
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