With the modification of the Free Zones Law, it will now be possible to accumulate up to 25 samples which do not have a commercial value in a single declaration.
Jaime Campos, executive director of the Regulatory Improvement Organization, told Elmundo.sv that the reform "...'will help the investment climate in the country' because the reform introduces the concept of the 'accumulated goods declaration', which will allow imports or exports of up to 25 samples in a single declaration."
The Legislature has passed a legal reform to approve a $57 fine to cargo carriers moving in restricted places and times.
From a statement issued by the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador:
The Legislature has approved with 67 votes, amendments to the Law on Land Transport, Traffic and Road Safety, which will support the traffic agents of the National Civil Police, who may impose a fine of $57.14, on carriers moving cargo in restricted places and times, which will help to regulate vehicular traffic in specific times and places.
The government has pointed out that the amendments to the Law of the Salvadoran Coffee Council do not include a new tax, but rather a change in the retention rate of $0.35 per hundredweight exported.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in El Salvador (MAG):
The government of the Republic stoutly denies that it has created a new tax on coffee production and reiterates its commitment to this important economic sector, in which the 2004-2015 crop already exceeds the previous one.
A request has been made for the law against money and asset laundering to meet international standards, a condition required to obtain funds from FOMILENIO II.
The Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES) requested that the Legislature take into account the reforms recommended by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (Gafic) to the Anti-Money and Asset Laundering law, as it is a condition required by the U.S.
A proposal has been made to reduce the number of times a public-private partnership project would pass through the filter of the Legislative Assembly.
Among the reforms to the Law on Public-Private Partnerships that the Council for Growth has suggested to Congress is a reduction, from three to one, of the number of times a Public- Private Partnership (PPP) project should go through the filter of parliamentary approval.
If approval is not given to the amendments to the Law on Public-Private Partnerships and the Money and Asset Laundering Act, the second disbursement will not be realised.
This was explained by Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes. "Donors are free to stipulate any conditions deemed appropriate. Everything that is the responsibility of the Executive has already been done," he said.
It should also hasten to adopt new laws to fight crime and reform the Special Act on Public Private Partnerships.
These were some of the recommendations made by José W. Fernandez, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business from the U.S.
During his visit to the Central American nation, officials met with entrepreneurs who are part of the National Council for Growth who said he came "to see how we can help ...
FUSADES is asking the Salvadoran Congress to make reforms to the Special Act on Public-Private Partnerships in order to ensure its effectiveness.
The Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES) is refering to the reforms that have been put forward by the ARENA party which among other things suggest that the Agency for Promotion of Exports and Investments of El Salvador (PROESA) be in charge of monitoring the administration of the law. The recently passed legislation "includes a new administrative institution: the Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships", reported Laprensagrafica.com.
Businessmen want to expedite the process of approval by the Legislature, in which Proesa is the governing body, and which may include water and sanitation projects.
Members of the Council for Growth are seeking Congressional support in order to make three amendments to the Special Act on Public-Private Partnerships.
Carlos Guerrero, private sector representative on the Board and president of the Salvadoran Chamber of Construction (Casalco) explained that the reforms revolve around three themes. "One is to expedite the approval process of a partnership in the legislature. Currently, a project has to gain approval of the Assembly many times," noted an article in Elmundo.com.sv.
Just like in a never ending story, there are now plans in El Salvador to modify the legal framework regulating the conditions of the tender process, which is already underway.
The aim is to avoid future conflicts which could lead to subsequent international arbitration. For this reason the Salvadoran Congress and Executive Port Commission (CEPA) is starting a process to discuss the law next week.
National regulations are to be adjusted to conform to the Association Agreement with the European Union, giving added value to designations of origin or geographical identifications.
From a press release issued by the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador:
The full legislature has passed amendments to the Law on Trademarks and Other Distinctive Signs, with 79 votes, which will allow the maximization of production by small and medium businesses, the specialization of product quality and diversification of export markets.
Companies starting operations in free zones outside the metropolitan area will be fully exempt from income tax for 15 years.
From a press release issued by the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador:
With 82 votes from all of the parliamentary groups, the Legislature approved tonight reforms to the Law on Industrial Free Zones, which according to the ruling, will generate greater certainty and legal security for the productive sector.
The treasury has imposed radical changes on the draft law reforming the free zone regime, setting limits on tax breaks.
Laprensagrafica.com reports that "Executives from two major companies in the synthetic textiles sector were surprised yesterday, after the Ministry of Finance (MoF) last week presented to Members of the treasury his own statement of amendments to the Law on Free Zones.
A whole group of new services based on new technologies are not covered under the current Law on International Services.
The Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (Fusades), is proposing amending the current law, so as to incorporate new services and update existing ones. It also proposes setting up a commission on international services which are responsible for maintaining the information.