JPMorgan Chase says that "the real economic consequences of this (Panama Papers) fiasco are not going to be all that severe," and recommended buying Panamanian sovereign bonds.
The investment bank JPMorgan Chase believes that all of the factors that have sustained economic growth in Panama are still present, and if Panamanian sovereign bonds have underperformed this year as a result of greater aversion to risk after the Panama Papers scandal, then investors should "buy Panama".
The Honduran Miners Association is organizing a visit to England and Austria to promote investments in the extractive industry.
A committee of business executives related to the mining sector will visit Europe in the coming weeks to promote investments in the mining industry in Honduras.
"The new president of the Mining Association of Honduras, Africa Madrid, said the idea is to invite European investors to come and invest in the mining and metallurgical industry."
The Government aims to create Proguate, an entity that will focus on attracting foreign investment and implementing a competitiveness strategy.
The Guatemalan government aims to create an agency to promote investment in the country. Proguate will focus on designing a brand for the country in order to attract foreign investment and implement a competitiveness strategy.
A draft bill on the stock market currently being discussed may not be consistent with what has been planned for the development of the financial sector.
Incorporating mechanisms for access to the stock market for small savers is part of the initiatives contemplated in the reform bill sent for consultation in December, one which industry representatives considered difficult to implement, because of the costs involved.
A review by the OECD of Costa Rica's investment policy points out success and includes recommendations to improve critical aspects.
A statement from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reads:
Costa Rica signs OECD agreement to boost investment
Costa Rica has now become the 45th country to join the international investment instrument of the OECD, aimed at helping the country attract more and better foreign investment and promote responsible business conduct.
For every million dollars that comes into Central America as Foreign Direct Investment, only 4.7 jobs are created on average.
In Nicaragua, for example, an average of six new jobs are created per million dollars in incoming FDI, this is the highest number among the countries in Central America. "The data reflects the recent report on FDI in Latin America and the Caribbean 2013, by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)," noted an article in Laprensa.com.ni.
Europe wants a more ambitious agreement with Latin America to ensure the protection of investments in the region.
"The European Union would like to have "more ambitious" protection of foreign investment in Latin America as expressed in the last summit meeting with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), said the EU representative in Uruguay, the Spaniard Juan Fernández Trigo ", noted an article in Economía.elpaís.com.
Railways, an industrial park, port terminals, and roads are concrete investment projects that will be presented during the next Guatemala Investment Summit 2013.
The National Alliance for the Development of Economic Infrastructure (ANADIE by its initials in Spanish) is preparing a series of infrastructure projects that will be presented during the 2013-Guatemala Investment Summit organized by the Chamber of Industry (CIG by its initials in Spanish) for next May, with the expectation of attracting over U.S. $1.3 billion in investments this year.
Political instability is making both domestic and foreign investors very nervous.
An article in Laprensa.hn looks at how recent political developments related to legal certainty, are worrying Honduran businessmen, as they complicate the promotion of the country as a recipient of foreign investment.
"The situation we are seeing in Honduras is benefiting neighboring countries such as El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, which provide more legal certainty" said Jesus Canahuati, a textile entrepreneur.
During recent decades the country has experienced slow growth in the production of goods for domestic consumption and export.
An analysis piece by Eddy Betanco B. for Laprensa.com.ni notes:
"Sluggish domestic production explains why Nicaragua generates a GDP that is lower than other countries in the region and very similar to Haiti. Regarding production of goods for domestic consumption, Nicaragua continues to be heavily dependent on imports of manufactured `products, agribusiness, agriculture, etc., which can be seen in supermarkets and other businesses in which the supply of Nicaraguan products is very low. "
Latin America may be the final destination of a trillion dollars whose placement has been paralyzed by the uncertainty caused by the fiscal situation in the United States.
An article in Laestrella.com.pa reviews the issue in respect to Manuel Escobar, vice president of investments of BBVA Puerto Rico, who highlighted the uncertainty that currently exists in the market, caused, mainly, by the U.S’s so-called 'fiscal abyss' , which, according to estimates, has caused close to a trillion dollars to be held by investors waiting to see how the situation unfolds. "There is a great amount of investment opportunity in the current situation, we just have to know how to take advantage of it."
The Salvadoran government is promoting a series of measures that are part of the model called "New Cycle for Investment, Development and Employment" which seeks to give renewed impetus to private investment in the country.
A press release from the Presidency of the Republic of El Salvador reads:
The Economic Cabinet, led by the Technical Secretary of the Presidency, Alexander Segovia, revealed today in a presentation of this model the objectives, stages and actions with which the government is promoting economic takeoff and breaking the "vicious circle" which has impeded the country's development.
Organizations and unions of Salvadoran maquila workers have proposed the creation of an insurance policy guaranteeing payment of 100% of salaries in the event of closure of business operations.
The bill envisaged by organizations and unions also proposes sanctions such as loss of tax benefits for a period of three months for those companies who commit very serious offenses.
The Brazilian construction company Andrade Gutierrez has retired from the Monkey Point project, and the government of Nicaragua recognizes that "it is not easy to make it happen."
An article in Prensa.com.ni reports that "The prefeasibility and feasibility studies made by Andrade Gutierrez have revealed that the construction cost per kilometer of the port would be about two million dollars, according to information provided to the press.
In a forum organized by the Guatemalan American Chamber of Commerce, several concerns were expressed with the draft reform of the constitution promoted by the Perez Molina administration.
In the view of the lawyer, Gabriel Orellana, forum participant, "... the process (of reform) inspires distrust."
Jose Raul Gonzalez on behalf of the business sector said that "...