El 2004 pasará a la historia económica de Centro América como un año clave: por una parte, la expectativas del CAFTA que generan optimismo entre todos los involucrados en la industria de la confección. Por otra, la proximidad del 1 de enero de 2005, que traerá el mayor reto enfrentado por la región, la eliminación de cuotas. Hay empresarios de la industria que comentan que es como aquel chiste: “tengo una buena noticia y una mala; ¿cuál quieres primero?”

La realidad es que la industria de confección de Centro América está lista para ambos eventos. Y las Asociaciones de la región con entusiasmo para enfrentarlos.

El CAFTA se ve de forma unánime como la gran oportunidad para todos, la buena noticia que puede amortiguar el impacto de la eliminación de cuotas.

Alejandro Ceballos, Presidente de VESTEX, considera que Guatemala se verá beneficiada de forma directa, y tendrá oportunidad de hacer programas con mayor valor agregado a los productos. “ El beneficio que nos aporta el poder utilizar la hilatura regional es evidente, ya que promoverá el uso de telas que se fabrican aquí,” opina. “Además, con la regla de origen de ‘carácter esencial’, se permite utilizar accesorios de cualquier parte del mundo. Esto promueve el paquete completo, que para Guatemala es un objetivo prioritario. Estamos listos para cubrir programas de moda, con accesorios y acabados más sofisticados que hayan sido confeccionados en la región”.

Para Joe Stephenson, Presidente de ANITEC de Nicaragua, el CAFTA abre una gama de oportunidades para toda Centro América, y especialmente para Nicaragua. “¿Medir las oportunidades o determinar sus beneficios? La imaginación es el límite”, afirma. “Tenemos muchos planes de expansión a nivel nacional”.

F2004 will go into Central America’s economic history as a key year: on the one hand, the expectations of CAFTA, that generate optimism among all involved in the apparel industry. On the other, the nearness of January 1st, 2005, that will bring the greatest challenge faced by the region, quota suppression. There are members in the industry who comment the situation resembles the old joke: “I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?”

The truth is that the apparel industry in Central America is ready for both events. And the region’s associations, with enough enthusiasm to face them.

CAFTA is unanimously seen as the great opportunity for all, the good news that can buffer the impact of quota elimination.

Alejandro Ceballos, President of VESTEX, considers that Guatemala will benefit directly, and will have the opportunity of undertaking programs with more added value to products. “The benefit provided to us by being able to use regional yarns is evident, as it will promote the use of fabrics manufactured here”, he declares. “Besides, with the ‘essential character’ rule of origin, we may use accessories from anywhere in the world.
This promotes full package, which has become a primary goal for o Guatemala. We are ready to cover fashion programs, with more sophisticated accessories and finishes manufactured in the region.”

To Joe Stephenson, President of ANITEC in Nicaragua, CAFTA opens a whole new range of opportunities to all of Central America, and especially to Nicaragua. “Measure the opportunities or determine its benefits? Imagination is the limit”, he states. “We have many expansion plans at a national level.”

José Berliavsky, President of the Costa Rican Textile Chamber, CATECO, considers that CAFTA will directly benefit its members. “The textile negotiations were hard, as it a sector that has enjoyed protection in the United States. Even so, we manage to obtain free access of products that comply with the rule of origin, and there was important flexibility in cases such as bras and men’s woven boxers, as they demand simple transformation.”