The National Investment Council has been created, an entity composed of representatives from the public and private sector and which aims to improve the competitiveness of Honduras.
A series of policies implemented by the new government to encourage the private sector, including the creation of the National Investment Council (CNI by its initials in Spanish) is made up of representatives from the public and business sector.
Interest rates paid on foreign debt bonds in the international market went down by between 1% and 2%.
Interest rates on sovereign bonds placed in 2013 in the international market recorded a decline of 1% to 2%.
"The government of Honduras issued $1 billion in two tranches: the first for $500 million, with an 11 year term, at 7.50% and the remaining $500 million, with a 7 year term, paying 8.75%."
In 2013 remittances sent to Hondurans from abroad increased by 7.1% compared to 2012, reaching a record $3.1 billion.
In 2013 foreign exchange earnings from remittances reached the $3.1 billion milestone, setting a record in recent years, while in 2012 the level reported was $2.8939 billion. It is estimated that 2014 revenues will be about $3.286 billion, growing by 6%.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing, water and electricity were the sectors that contributed most to the rise in the price index.
From a report on the consumer price index released by the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH):
In December 2013, the monthly variation in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 0.30% (0.12% in December 2012). Meanwhile, annual inflation was 4.92% and the average for the year was 5.18%.
If the additional tranche of $250 million approved by Congress is placed, the country's debt level will rise to over 40% of GDP.
Honduras's fiscal deficit will go from yellow to red alert if the government decides to issue $250 million more in debt bonds on the international market.
This amount, in addition to the $500 million already issued, will be used to finance the payment of the domestic debt and the general budget of revenues and expenditures of the Republic, explained Francisco Rivera, chairman of the Budget Committee of the Legislature to Laprensa.hn.
While the fall in imports of capital goods in general was 4.6%, in the agricultural sector the reduction was 24.3%.
This is mainly due to reduced tractor imports from Mexico.
Latribuna.hn reports that "there was a similar trend for capital goods for transport, with a reduction of $48.9 million compared to what was achieved in the first eight months of 2012."
Up until last August, exports totaled $2.7424 billion, compared to the same period of 2012 when $3.2627 billion was reported.
From a press release issued by the Central Bank of Honduras:
In August of this year, FOB exports of general merchandise amounted to $2.7424 billion, down $520.3 million compared to the figures from the same period in 2012.
Between January and September remittances to Honduras totaled $2.28 billion, $181 million more than in the same period of 2012.
According to the Central Bank of Honduras, remittances are the main source of foreign exchange in the country, more than coffee exports, manufactured products, shrimp and all other goods. In September alone remittance income totaled $246 million.
The coffee cycle closed 2012-13 with sales of $650 million less than in the previous cycle.
This was announced by the Coffee Exporters Association of Honduras (Adecafeh). Among the largest Honduran grain buyers are Germany and Belgium, followed by the the U.S., Japan and Korea, said Miguel Pon, Adecafeh's manager.
"The harvest was down 24% compared to last year, representing nearly 1.7 million quintals," he said.
The textile industry is to invest $320 million in expanding the capacity of electricity generation from biomass, between 2013 and 2015.
The projections, presented by the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH) are subject to the dynamism of the U.S. economy during 2013, the main market for textiles. The maquilas companies will be driving the change as a mechanism of reducing costs and improving competitiveness, replacing the use of thermal energy.
In July 2013 foreign debt reached $5.5574 billion, $713.4 million more than what was owed in December 2012.
From a report on external debt of the public and private sectors published by the Central Bank of Honduras:
External debt of the public and private sector published July 2013.
Total External Debt
Up to July 2013, the balance of the total external debt reached $5.5574 billion, up $713.4 million compared to what was registered in December 2012, mainly due to the net use (disbursements less amortization) of $729.3 million, while the balance was reduced by $15.9 million due to the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against other currencies.
During the first six months of 2013 exports of soap totaled $49.2 million compared to the same period in 2012 when the figure was $40 million.
With this background, the soap industry expects to close 2013 with growth higher than the $82.1 million earned from exports in 2012, according to figures from the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH).
"... if the upward trend in the volume of exports is maintained, foreign exchange earnings could range from between $95 and $100 million at the end of this year," noted an article in Elheraldo.hn.
In the first half of 2013 424,000 square meters were built, while in the same period in 2012 453,000 square meters were built.
Data from the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH) reveals that in the Central District 187,761 m² were built between January and June, 19,688 m² less than the figure reported in the same period of 2012 when it was 207,449 m².
In San Pedro Sula's the behavior of this sector was similar with 94,436 m² and in 2012 106,337 m².
The hotel franchise La Quinta Inn & Suites is building its first hotel in Central America in the city of Tegucigalpa.
The project will be called LQ Las Cascadas and is expected to open in late 2014.
Latribuna.hn reports: "Hoteles La Quinta is one of the largest hotel franchise companies, in addition to being owners and operators in the United States, Mexico and Canada, offering Business Class services with an innovative idea that distinguishes them from other hotels ".