Puerta del Istmo, Centro Logístico Quetzal and ZDEEP Piedras Negras, are the projects advancing in Guatemala in the process of becoming Zones of Special Public Economic Development.
It has been reported that one of the 17 free zones operating in the country has started the process of closing its operations entirely due to the legal uncertainty generated by the emergent employment law.
Companies operating in free zones have spent several months denouncing the serious situation they have faced since the Emergent Act for the Conservation of Employment was implemented, instead of encouraging investment and job creation, it has become a good example of how to discourage investment in a country.
Free zone companies have denounced that lack of regulation for the emerging employment law is preventing them from selling products completed before the law came into force.
As well as the finished and ready to be marketed products there are also raw materials, machinery and other production materials which entered the free zone before the new law was passed and are now in a legal vacuum, because of the absence of regulation to establish the treatment to be given to them in the context of the new legislation.
From September 27 to 29 Costa Rica will be hosting an event which brings together representatives from companies and free zones in Latin America and other continents.
The Association of Free Zones of the Americas will be holding the XX Conference on Free Zones of the Americas, a space which will bring together representatives from the most important countries and free zones in Latin America, to discuss and exchange experiences and knowledge.
The 50 companies already operating at Tocumen's airport facilities will be able to access free trade zone incentives if the request made by the administration of the terminal is approved.
The documentation was submitted to the National Commission of Free Zones at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI), and there will be a 30 day period to review and approve the application.
The XV Latin American Conference on Free Zones will discuss the challenges and opportunities they face, especially from 2015 when the WTO requires the elimination of export tax incentives.
The "XV Latin American Conference on Free Zones" will take place from 26th to 28th October this year at the Hotel Casa Santo Domingo, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala.