During 2018, Guatemala received $1.175 million in FDI, barely 0.5% more than the investment reported in 2017, mainly because of the political and legal uncertainty that ruled the country.
Figures from the Banco de Guatemala (Banguat) report that in the last five years, the country has gained $6,139 million in foreign direct investment (FDI), being 2014 the one that registered the highest year-on-year increase when reporting a 7% rate regarding 2013.
Israeli government officials have announced that they plan to invest close to $2 billion in various businesses in the sectors of agriculture, medicine and education.
The investment will be made through the Guatemalan-Israel Fund for Investment and Development in Guatemala, and this seeks to make the Central American country the center of Israeli business in the region.
A portfolio of 105 infrastructure projects worth $1.6 billion, to be developed using public-private partnerships is being promoted among foreign companies.
During the Guatemala Investment Summit the government of Guatemala presented its portfolio of projects to local and foreign investors, in search of options to finance and develop them using public-private partnerships.
Supermercados La Colonia has announced it will invest $27 million in opening five new stores in the second half of the year, totaling 12 thousand square meters of sales floor.
The company founded on Honduran capital has announced that with the five new stores the total stores it will have nationwide will rise to 35.
Port of Singapore Authority plans to invest $400 million in its container terminal in Rodman, to increase capacity by two million TEU's and accommodate vessels carrying up to 24 rows of containers.
The construction of two additional docks and installation of eight gantry cranes is expected to allow for "... accommodating vessels with up to 24 rows of containers." With this project the aim is to expand port capacity at the Pacific entrance to the Canal.
VECA Airlines has announced the start of flights from El Salvador to Guatemala and Costa Rica, with capital contributed by Empresas Alba.
$60 million is the amount that Empresas Alba has contributed as seed money to VECA Airlines, and it is expected that this will cover the operation of the company until December this year. It is expected that next year the investment will be lower, as the airline is aiming for financial self-sustainability by 2016.
A free zone, two hotel developments and a condominium estimated at $185 million and $30 million are part of the works that private entrepreneurs have planned for the province of Limon, in Costa Rica.
With the announcement of the construction of the container terminal at Moin and the extension of Route 32, investors have glimpsed investment and business opportunities in the province, which foresees strong economic development in the coming years.
In the same month that two fast food franchises closed operations, another chain has announced that over the next 18 months it will be investing $4 million in opening three new stores.
At the moment the fast food chain Johnny Rockets operates in three locations, in which it has invested about $2 million. It is expected that in the coming months there will be three new facilities to be located in City Mall in Alajuela, Escazú Village and Terrazas de Lindora, with an investment of 4 million.
A meeting of Honduran businesses has been organized for February 12 which aims to present a portfolio of private investment projects.
This meeting entitled 'Investing in Honduras in 2015' aims to bring together various sectoral ministers with the business community in order to pool projects to be developed during the year and publicize the work plans.
Ruled out by the previous government of Panama, the proposal to build a cruise terminal in Amador has once again been brought to light at the hands of a group of private investors.
Previously, former officials of the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) had shown that the cost of dredging needed to maintain the necessary draft was very high, but recently a group of businessmen have indicated that funds for the project could be provided mainly by the private sector.
Banking, energy and industry are the sectors where Gazprombank, the largest private bank in Russia, are exploring opportunities to finance projects in Guatemala and Latin America.
Representatives from the Russian company visited Guatemala to analyze the market and consider potential investment opportunities in sectors such as banking, energy and industry.
In the absence of concrete actions by the state, companies in the province of Limón have announced that they will promote economic development in the area using foreign investment.
In order to generate more projects to develop economic activity in the province of Limón, employers in the area are calling for foreign investors who have an affinity with the region.
Foreign direct investment in Panama amounted to $4 billion during 2013.
During 2013 foreign investment amounted to $4 billion, $980 million more than in 2012, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).
In addition, the chief of the MEF, Frank De Lima, said: "...the volume of investment in private sector projects is estimated at $7.65 billion between 2010 and 2018."
The Altara El Tucano project has stopped paying its investors and is to execute the Guarantee Trust.
After the deadline of 30 working days provided to the settlor Altara The Tucano to provide the resources to pay obligations owed to the trust, the administrator, Scotiabank announced the execution of the guaranty for non payment.
"The trust was created to issue bonds to finance the purchase of the Hotel El Tucano, located in San Carlos , Alajuela.
Marina Vista Mar Group is to invest $6.5 million in the construction of a marina in La Ensenada de San Carlos with 150 berths.
From a statement by the Cabinet of the Government of Panama :
"The Cabinet Council has approved a Cabinet Resolution which gives a favorable ruling on holding a Concession Agreement between THE STATE, through the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) and the company MARINA VISTA MAR GROUP, S.A., which will invest 6.5 million dollars in it.