Guatemala is seeking to consolidate its presence in Asia in order to explore new business, investment and cooperation opportunities.
From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Guatemala:
The interest of the Republic of Guatemala in consolidating and improving the bilateral relationship with the Republic of India, beginning from the month of May 1972 has been realized with the opening of the Embassy of Guatemala in New Delhi, being officially established on 4 April of this year. The Republic of India set up its resident Embassy in Guatemala in 2011.
The diplomatic mission will be concurrently accredited to Central America, and the announced purpose is the narrowing of trade and diplomatic relations with the region.
A statement on Guatemala.gob.gt reads:
The secretary general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Morocco, Youssef Amrani, announced that for the first time this country will establish an embassy in Guatemala, due to the geographical and strategic position that is our nation.
In order to exploit the opportunities offered by the Chinese market, the Salvadoran government is studying a way to do it without affecting relations with Taiwan.
A study of relations with People's Republic of China, conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador concluded that for this year, 2013, the country could open a commercial office in the Asian nation.
Leaders of business associations in the region have indicated that governmental arbitrariness is interfering in Central America’s development.
A statement from the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (FECAMCO) reads:
Business organizations in the region which make up the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (FECAMCO) when meeting in Miami, Florida, USA, expressed their "great concern" about the institutional crisis in El Salvador, which they described as an "assault on the rule of law."
Businesses in Guatemala have suggested creating an anti-smuggling unit made up of the Public Ministry and the National Civil Police Force.
The members of the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala (CIG) proposed to the Vice President Roxana Baldetti that a series of measures be taken to combat smuggling, which is affecting trade.
An important proposal is to create anti-smuggling unit made up of the Public Ministry and the National Civil Police.
Guatemala is preparing a plan to inspect factories in order to avoid a possible arbitration, forced by the US, for non-compliance of labor standards under CAFTA.
The Labour Ministry is preparing a program to inspect working conditions in the textile factories which could take six months to complete. The plan must conform to the standards set by enterprises under the 29-89 scheme (Law on Promotion of Export Activity and Maquilas).
The Apostille Convention, an instrument that streamlines the procedures for the legalization of foreign public documents, is now in effect.
A press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica reads:
With an event held at the Golden Hall of the Foreign Ministry, Costa Rica today put into effect the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, called the "Apostille Convention” which is a milestone in terms of simplification of procedures for the legalization of foreign public documents.
The two governments have formed the company "Grannacional de Alimentos", which will channel exports from Venezuela to Nicaragua.
Initially, the organization will handle exports of foods such as jam, banana, fruit juices, milk, tuna and cocoa powder.
Juan Carlos Jimenez, president of the Venezuelan Food Corporation, explained: "We have under agreement with Nicaragua imports of beef, long life milk, and coffee, among other things, and also we have established strategies to ensure other requirements of agricultural items for our country in the coming months . "
Even the modest 2.5% growth forecast for the Salvadoran economy will be difficult to achieve if the government does not undertake 10 basic tasks.
There is not much new in these 10 tasks suggested to the Funes administration by four notorious economists. The lack of political agreement is perhaps the main reason these tasks are still pending, threatening to achieve the 2.5% growth committed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The four agreements are part of a package of 10 agreements of different kind which are under negotiations.
The first agreement, signed during initial negotiations between Cuban and Salvadoran businessmen, is the acceptance of principles and objectives which must be met during the negotiations of a Partial Agreement for the mutual granting of tariff preferences.
The proposal, from the ex-president of the Honduran National Business Council (Cohep), is designed to put pressure on Nicaragua to recognise the Lobo government.
If borders were to close, Nicaragua would face economic issues due to the fact that many of its export products leave via the Port of Cortés on the Caribbean coast of Honduras.
The proposal from the ex-president of Cohep does not surprise Francisco Aguirre Sacasa, Nicaraguan congressman, according to Elnuevodiario.com.ni. It writes that Sacasa had already warned of possible measures to put pressure on Ortega to recognise the Porfirio Lobo government.
On June 1st and 2nd a high-level Russian delegation will meet with Nicaraguan ministers for the second session of the so called “Join Committee” (“Comisión Mixta” in Spanish).
Manuel Coronel Kautz, Nicaragua’s vice chancellor, told newspaper La Prensa that they will discuss topics related to energy, health, industrial cooperation, tourism, transportation and foreign trade.
Both blocks decided to concede in what seemed to be irreducible positions, making last minute concessions yesterday.
One of the key issues was denominations of origin: Europe demanded laws to protect brands such as champagne and manchego cheese. The other was how many dairy products would be allowed into the Central American market. The latter was closed when Central America agreed to allow 1.900 tons of powder milk with reduced tariffs and 3.000 tons of cheese, excluding fresh cheese.
The countries signed a Free Trade Agreement which levies tariffs for 100% of Panama’s products and 85% of Canada’s.
The reserved 15% includes the most sensible products for Panama, such as poultry, onion, paper and cardboard.
It will become effective on early 2011, and includes labor and environmental protection dispositions, as well as agreements regarding investments, state purchases and electronic commerce.