In Guatemala were published in the Diario de Centroamerica the sanctions of the laws for the Simplification of Administrative Requirements and Procedures and Free Zones, regulatory frameworks that aim to encourage investments and job creation.
In the June 1, 2021 edition of the Diario de Centroamerica, the texts of Decree 5-2021, which corresponds to the Law for the Simplification of Administrative Requirements and Procedures, and Decree 6-2021, which refers to the Free Trade Zones Law, were included. See complete publication.
After the announcement of the Bill that creates the Program for the Modernization of the Logistics Services Infrastructure in the Colon Free Zone in Panama, local businessmen believe that more attractive incentives should be sought.
Last April 28, the Assembly reported that the Minister of Commerce and Industries, Ramon Martinez presented to the plenary of the Legislative Body the bill that creates the Program for the Modernization of the Infrastructure of Logistics Services in the Colon Free Zone (ZLC), and introduces amendments to Law 8 of April 4, 2016.
Portafolio Inmobiliario announced that it will begin the development of the Green Valley Free Trade Zone project, which in its first stage contemplates the construction of a Free Trade Zone located in the municipality of Grecia, province of Alajuela.
The total land on which the project will be located amounts to more than one million square meters, however, its construction will be carried out in stages.
Last year the commercial activity of the Panamanian Free Zone totaled $18,469 million, 10% less than what was reported in 2018.
From January to December 2019 imports in the Colon Free Zone (CFZ) totaled $8,655 million, and re-exports totaled $9,814 million, decreasing by 11% and 9% compared to the same period in 2018, respectively.
Regarding figures reported in December last year, a report of the General Comptroller of the Republic states that the value traded reached $ 1,391 million, 6% more compared to the same month in 2018.
With the reform proposal to the Law of Free Zones presented to Congress, it is intended to reduce from 20 to 10 the requirements that must be met to approve a new free zone.
After several months of working on the proposal to make changes to the law, the file was submitted to the legislative chamber and prepared by the Honduran Maquiladora Association (AHM), the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Honduras and the Ministry of Economic Development (SDE).
In the Dominican Republic, approvals were granted for the development and operation of four new industrial parks, as well as the respective permits to install 12 new companies in free trade zones.
In the case of the new parks, these will be located in Boca Chica, Valverde, San Cristobal and Santiago, reported the National Council of Export Processing Zones (CNZFE).
In the first seven months of 2019, the commercial activity of the Panamanian Free Trade Zone totaled $10.782 million, 14% less than in the same period of 2018.
From January to July, imports in the Colon Free Zone (ZLC) totaled $5.224 million, and re-exports amounted to $5.557 million, decreasing by 12% and 16% compared to the same period in 2018, respectively.
The business sector and executive authorities are working on a proposal for reforms to the Law of Free Zones of Puerto Cortés, a project that aims to expand existing incentives for this regime.
The modifications that will be discussed in next week's mobile congress in San Pedro Sula seek to reform decrees 1, 2, 3, 12, 16 and 22 of the Free Zone Law of Puerto Cortés.
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.
In El Salvador, it is proposed that the law discussed in the Assembly, considers the reduction of minimum requirements for investments made in special economic zones, to compensate for the disadvantages of lack of productive activity in the area.
In July 2018, the Executive Branch presented to the Legislative Assembly the draft Law on Special Economic Zones (LZEE), which is being analyzed by the Economy Commission.
Although in Costa Rica the level of unemployment of buildings in industrial parks is 8%, some precincts are facing threats, since companies could leave them because of the traffic congestion in the area where they are located and the travel time of employees.
For Colliers, other threats faced by industrial parks in the country to have their facilities unoccupied are that companies have several sites for the separation of their processes and competition for human resources.
In Guatemala, the regulations governing the tariffs to be applied to users, administrators and economic zones have come into force as part of the new legislation on Special Public Economic Development Zones.
The tariffs that will be applied according to the categories established in the regulation, published in the Diario de Centroamérica on June 28th, were effective.
In the Dominican Republic, contracts were approved for the development and operation of four parks in export processing zones and 13 permits for the installation of companies.
The National Council of Export Processing Zones (CNZFE) reported last May 21 that it approved permits for two new parks of processing zones to be built in Boca Chica, and another in Nigua.
In 2015 331 active companies were registered, of which 52% are devoted to services, 45% to manufacturing and the remaining 2% to the food industry.
From the executive summary of the study by PROCOMER"Balance of Free Zones: Net profit regime for Costa Rica 2011-2015":
1. Net National Product (NNP) for the operation of the Free Trade Zone System (FTZ) in 2015 reached a value of $3.179 billion, reflecting a growth of 5% compared with 2014.The NNP grew faster than the economy, which last year showed dynamism of 3.7%.Firms in the service sector were the largest contributor to this NNP, with an average share of 47%.