OilGasArticles - Oil and Gas Industry Articles, News and Blogs - http://www.oilgasarticles.com
Diversify Fields-Integrate Economy with World Market-Central America Ride High on Economic Prospects
http://www.oilgasarticles.com/articles/437/1/Diversify-Fields-Integrate-Economy-with-World-Market-Central-America-Ride-High-on-Economic-Prospects/Page1.html
Oil and Gas Author
Oil and Gas Articles features up-to-date, searchable oil and natural gas industry articles, online oil and gas publication service, and a full-text article database covering all areas of the oil and gas industry.  
By Oil and Gas Author
Published on 09/2/2006
 

The countries of Central America, including Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, have traditionally been dependent upon agricultural exports for a large portion of their economic activity. However, these countries have begun to diversify their economies towards manufacturing and tourism. Central American countries have sought to integrate their economies with world markets. Along these lines, the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), approved by the United States in late 2005, will likely boost the regions economic prospects and increase access to the regions largest export market. Meanwhile, three countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) have signed free trade agreements with Mexico, and there has also been progress on further trade liberalization with the Andean Community. With almost no domestic hydrocarbon reserves, all seven Central American countries rely heavily on imported oil for their energy needs. As a result, the countries have been hurt by high world oil prices in recent months. Partially offsetting this, many have been able to secure preferential pricing from Mexico and Venezuela . Besides oil, Central America has a large amount of installed hydroelectric capacity. Still, the region is nevertheless dependent upon imports for some three-fourths of its total energy consumption.


Central Americas Environmental Report

Pollution from cars, industry, and power generation is a major problem in several areas of Central America. Central America remains one of the world's poorest regions. This has encouraged massive exploitation of the area's natural resource base. Large areas of forest have been cut down and burned for firewood or used in the production of paper, while significant portions of land have been cleared for agricultural use. Oil exploration activities in certain parts of Guatemala, such as the northern Peten rainforest region, have encouraged road construction, accelerating the clearing of land and forested areas. These activities have lead to large-scale erosion and soil loss, leaving many areas vulnerable to flash floods and mudslides as the natural landscape's ability to retain water is jeopardized.