One day after the suspension of work in the private sector, authorities reported that all companies complying with the health and safety protocol will be allowed to continue operating.
On the night of March 16, public and private sector work was reportedly suspended, and shopping centers, bars, and discotheques were ordered to close, while public transportation was prohibited, in an effort to contain the spread of covid-19.
After Canada approved the use of a chlorothalonil pesticide molecule, Guatemala was authorized to export Chinese peas and sweet peas to the U.S. country.
Representatives of the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport) reported that it is estimated that Guatemala will sell between 5 and 10 million of peas to Canada each year.
Estuardo Castro, president of the platform Agritrade (Agexport), explained to Dca.gob.gt that "...
Transporte Aéreos Guatemaltecos has started processing permits to fly to Costa Rica, and according to the authorities, it could take up to six months to complete the process and be able to operate.
Without providing details of the types of routes that the airline Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos (TAG) intends to operate, Costa Rican authorities stated that the approval process is in phase 2.
Now, in addition, an inquiry must be made at the National Committee of Protected Areas to determine if a construction project is within a protected sector.
The headache of getting a construction license in Guatemala will get worse now that a new process has been added to the list. In addition to the 13 agencies that must "rule " whether or not a permission can be granted, Government Agreement 20-2016 by the Ministry of Environment, establishes in Article 13 a new requirement for the construction sector: a consultation with the National Committee on Protected areas (CONAP), said Jorge Benavides, research associate of the Foundation for the Development of Guatemala to Republica.gt.
The new head of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources believes it is illogical to reduce the cost of an environmental permit from $3,000 to $6 per, which would be applied with the entry into force of a new regulation in May.
Government Agreement 20-2016 published on January 12 in the official newspaper, La Gaceta, makes official the new rules for granting environmental licenses that will apply from May.
Employers are demanding a one-stop shop service for issuing building permits, in order to avoid the ordeal of visiting 18 state institutions, and also the streamlining of tax collection.
Guatemala ranks 106 in the world in terms of ease of obtaining building permits, according to the World Bank. Data from the Guatemalan Chamber of Construction (CGC) reveals that the current backlog of projects awaiting approval amounts to about 2.6 million square meters of construction work, processes which represents for the State lost revenue of up to Q2.145.000 ($277 million) through IVA , ISR, USI, payments to municipalities and for licenses.
A report states that three poultry companies in Honduras are requesting permission to sell eggs in neighboring countries.
Honduras' oviparous production exceeds domestic demand, therefore representatives from the Association of Poultry Producers in Honduras are trying to export their products, principally eggs, to Guatemala and El Salvador. Currently three Honduran companies "...
The total number of square meters of construction sites authorized in the first nine months of the year in the municipalities of the metropolitan area increased by 8.9% compared to the same period in 2013.
From January to September of this year authorization was given for the construction of 1.6 million square meters of buildings, similar to that reported in 2013 which was for 1.8 million square meters, in other words, it is expected that by the end of 2014 an increase in the amount of construction will be reported.
Due to recent seizures of products attempting to enter the country without health permits, an announced has been made of enhanced controls to prevent the entry of any food that does not have the appropriate certifications.
From a statement issued by the Government of Panama:
Pursuant to the Health Standards and / or phytosanitary and health protection of the population, the Panamanian Authority for Food Safety (AUPSA) reiterates that any food product that does not meet the required provisions will be retained, returned or incinerated if necessary.
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Guatemala is one of the institutions that is holding up construction projects by issuing licenses up to two years late.
At the moment the process of obtaining a license takes from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the size of the project. This has been the subject of discussions aimed at achieving reform in order to counter this problem.
Fresh chipilin leaves, edible chufle flowers, Izote flowers and pacaya and are the four agricultural products which received sanitation permits for entry to the US market.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association:
News of expansion of the exportable agricultural supply from Guatemala to one of its main trading partners was met with great anticipation by the Agricultural export Sector, because it contributes to the AGEXPORT's strategy to continue captivating niche markets in the United States with new products.
The shysters who live off government paperwork have reacted with alarm to the agility of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources regarding permits for Minimum Environmental Impact Activities.
Editorial
An article on Plazapública.com.gt reports that until very recently, "... there were only three ways of classifying Environmental Instruments.
Trade ministers from the region are promoting the regional recognition of sanitary permits by its digitization and online availability.
Trade ministers from the region analyzed uploading permissions to a web platform in order to expedite the process of trading regionally. The initiative would allow an exporter registered in Guatemala not to have to send physical documents to another Central American country in order to register.
The exploration license for project El Sastre 1 and the application for a similar license for project El Sastre 2 have been canceled.
According to the head of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) in Guatemala, Erick Archila, the process of forfeiture was started because MEM technicians have repeatedly been prevented from entering to inspect the area where the mine El Sastre 1 is operating, in San Antonio La Paz, El Progreso.
The Guatemalan proposal seeks to attract Spanish entrepreneurs, providing work permits and loans in order to set themselves up in the country.
Guatemala's foreign minister, Harold Caballeros, in the context of the recent XXII Latin American Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in Cadiz, said, "Guatemala made a proposal to President Mariano Rajoy and King Don Juan Carlos, to bring Spanish entrepreneurs to Guatemala. "