Costa Rica Vacation Package
1996 Country Commercial Guides
U.S. Department of StateCosta Rica Country Commercial GuideOffice of the Coordinator for Business AffairsCHAPTER I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY-----------------------------------------------------------------This Country Commercial Guide (CCG) presents a comprehensive look at Costa Rica's commercial environment through economic, political and market analyses.The CCGs were established by recommendation of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC), a multi-agency task force, to consolidate various reporting documents prepared for the U.S. business community. Country Commercial Guides are prepared annually at U.S. Embassies through the combined efforts of several U.S. government agencies.-----------------------------------------------------------------The Republic of Costa Rica, the size of West Virginia (19,575 square miles with an estimated population of 3.3 million), depends heavily on both agricultural and industrial imports. Although progress has been ma ... [Read More]
George P. Shultz
Met with President Aquino. Signed an emergency aid package. Visited Corregidor. ... Vacation. ... [Read More]
Travel Tips for Older Americans
Revised August 1996 PREPARATION FOR YOUR TRIP Start Early. Apply for your passport as soon as possible. Three months before your departure date should give you plenty of time. See the section, Passports and Visas, for details on how to apply. Learn About the Countries You Plan to Visit. Before you go, read up on th ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
The Embassy commissary sells a variety of canned and packaged goods, some frozen foods, staple items, beer, liquor, (limited) cigarettes, cleaning products, local meats, and some toiletries. However, lack of storage space and delivery delays can, and often do, cause shortages. The membership fee of $200 for singles and $300 for families is refundable upon departure. All sales are made at time of purchase by U.S. dollar check or U.S. currency. ... Make address changes before coming to post. Please add “hold for arrival” on any items that may arrive before you do. Packages sent via APO are limited to 70 pounds and a combined length and girth of 108 inches (100 inches for priority mail). All APO transactions are in U.S. currency. ... [Read More]
U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua - Economic and Commercial Section
OPENNESS TO FOREIGN INVESTMENT 1111President Enrique Bolanos, who took office in January 2002, has made a high priority of attracting new foreign investment to Nicaragua and building a more supportive environment for existing investment. Government actions in the past year have included successful performance under an IMF program that required a significant reduction in the budget deficit and provided new resources and debt relief; creation of the investment promotion agency ProNicaragua in August 2002; work toward opening a pilot "one-stop shop" for foreign investors in the Ministry of Development, Industry, and Trade (MIFIC); and steps toward completion of the privatization of the previously state-owned telephone company. However, other factors continue to discourage investment, including inadequate infrastructure and a judicial system that is subject to political pressures. 1111Nicaragua's Foreign Investment La ... [Read More]
Mexico
The Labor Law sets a standard six-day workweek with one paid day off. For overtime, workers must be paid twice their normal rate and three times the hourly rate for overtime exceeding nine hours per week. Employees are entitled to most holidays, paid vacation (after one year of service), vacation bonuses, and an annual bonus equivalent to at least two weeks pay. Companies are also responsible for these additional costs, according to the Federal Labor Law. The costs usually add about 30 to 35 percent of salaries. Employers must also contribute a tax-deductible two percent of each employee's salary into an individual retirement account. Most employers are required to distribute ten percent of their pre-tax profits for profit sharing. ... [Read More]
1996 Country Commercial Guides
U.S. Department of State 1996 Honduras Country Commercial Guide Office of the Coordinator for Business Affairs 1996 COUNTRY COMMERCIAL GUIDE HONDURAS TABLE OF CONTENTS I. COMMERCIAL OVERVIEW A. OVERVIEW OF IMPORT MARKET B. BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENT C. HOST COUNTRY BUSINESS ATTITUDE TOWARD THE U.S. D. MAJOR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES E. MAJOR ROAD BLOCKS TO DOING BUSINESS F. NATURE OF LOCAL AND THIRD COUNTRY COMPETITION II. ECONOMIC TRENDS AND OUTLOOK A. KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS B. MAJOR TRENDS AND OUTLOOK C. GROWTH, OUTPUT AND EMPLOYMENT D. INFLATION E. MONEY, CREDIT AND BANKING F. FISCAL OPERATIONS G. BALANCE OF PAYMENTS SI ... [Read More]
Panama
Private sector workers have the right to form and join unions of their choice, subject to the union's registration by the Government. A 1995 labor code reform package significantly increased workers' ability to establish unions. It streamlined the accreditation and registration process for unions, and established the minimum size of unions at 40 workers. If the Government does not respond to an application within 15 days, the union automatically gains recognition and is accorded all rights and privileges under the law. The package also addressed a longstanding concern of the International Labor Organization (ILO) by allowing labor leaders to keep their union positions if fired from their jobs. ... [Read More]
Panama
Private sector workers have the right to form and join unions of their choice, subject to the union's registration by the Government. A 1995 labor code reform package significantly increased workers' ability to establish unions. It streamlined the accreditation and registration process for unions, and established the minimum size at 40 workers. If the Government does not respond to an application within 15 days, the union automatically gains recognition and is accorded all rights and privileges under the law. The package also addressed a longstanding concern of the International Labor Organization (ILO) by allowing labor leaders to keep their union positions if fired from their jobs. ... [Read More]
France
Regulations will change with the implementation of measures of the European Directive on Prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading. The Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR – http://www.cesr-eu.org/] has launched a number of consultations that address the technical advice required by September 2003 by the European Commission. Measures cover the format of prospectus, disclosure requirements and information included in annual reports. The legislative package for prospectus must come into force in all EU countries on July 1, 2005. The sponsoring bank or broker is responsible for placing the securities with investors when the securities are listed and for acting as a market maker. Special procedures apply to listing on the "Nouveau Marché." Companies must offer at least 100,000 shares with a ... [Read More]
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