The Legislative Assembly approved in first debate the issuance of $1.5 billion in debt securities in the international market, which in the opinion of the rating agencies, helps to reduce uncertainty about the government's ability to meet its financing needs.
The Treasury Department's initial plan was to issue $6 billion within six years, however, the committee in charge of the file modified the text so that the limit would be $1.5 billion.
The Andean Development Corporation approved a $500 million loan for the government, which will be used to "cover the needs contemplated in the 2019 Regular Budget."
The terms of the loan are at 6 months plus a margin of 1.85% at an annual Libor rate of 18 years from the effective date of the loan agreement.
In Costa Rica, the banking sector won a lawsuit it imposed against the Ministry of Finance, arising from disagreements over the method used to calculate tax payments.
The legal dispute dates back several years, since in 2003 the General Directorate of Taxation (DGT) validated the methodology suggested by the Costa Rican Banking Association (ABC) to calculate the payment of taxes on the income of financial intermediaries.
The Andean Development Corporation approved a $500 million loan to the government of Costa Rica, which will be used to "achieve fiscal sustainability in the short and medium term.”
The Andean Development Corporation (CAF) reported that these resources will be used to obtain the benefits generated by the implementation of the Law to Strengthen Public Finances and Costa Rica's access to international markets.
For the IMF, the country "may need additional fiscal measures, focused on the short term, to alleviate financing pressures and improve debt dynamics.”
After analyzing the current economic situation in Costa Rica, the directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) commended the recent fiscal reform, which is important to restore fiscal sustainability.
The Ministry of Finance reported that the placement was made through an extraordinary auction of domestic debt securities in the local primary market.
Costa Rican authorities informed that the collection was made through fixed rate securities in dollars with expiration in 2024, 2026 and 2029, and was assigned to 15 different stock exchange positions.
Faced with the Costa Rican government's plans to issue $6 billion in debt over six years, the productive sector demands that "parallel and complementary actions for economic reactivation" must be implemented.
Currently, the deputies of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica have in their hands the bill that would authorize the government to issue debt securities in the international market (Eurobonds), a proposal that contemplates that in the first two years $1.5 billion are issued each year, and that in the remaining four $3 billion are issued.
In the exchange of foreign currency debt that took place on February 6, the Ministry of Finance managed to negotiate $165 million of $428 million offered.
Grupo Prival reported that the debt that was swapped expired in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and now the bonds will expire in 2023 and 2026, which will give more looseness to the authorities to manage the country's public finances.
Because of fiscal uncertainty, in the first months of 2018, banks operating in the country reduced by 16% the amount invested in public debt securities in the local market.
Against the backdrop of doubts about the future of public finances in Costa Rica, it was reported that from January to September, 14 local public and private banks invested $3.190 million in government bonds.
The tax reform law that would be approved in second debate in the coming weeks, involves the exoneration of arrears and penalties for taxpayers who pay their debts in the first three months after the publication of the law.
The proposed measure consists of exonerating 100% of the interest on arrears and up to 80% of the penalty to taxpayers who pay in the first month after the Law is published in the official newspaper La Gaceta.
In Costa Rica, the private sector anticipates adverse effects on the export and tourism sector's competitiveness if the Ministry of Finance succeeds in consolidating its plan to issue $6 billion in bonds in the international market over the next six years.
The reaction of the country's export sector comes after the government announced this week that it will ask the Congress for authorization to issue bonds in international markets for at least $5 billion.
In Costa Rica, the Alvarado administration will ask the Congress for authorization to issue Eurobonds in international markets for at least $5 billion.
The Finance Minister, Rocío Aguilar, reported on November 20 that the country's public debt plans include the possibility of attracting more resources in the international market. One of the alternatives would be to place $5 billion in the next four years.
The Ministry of Finance reported that $200 million of the bonds placed in the domestic market were "in firm" and another $400 million placed to the best effort.
The Ministry of Finance reported that because of Direct Contracting No. CD-MH-CP-TN-001 -2018 called "Contract for issuance services and distribution of internal debt securities", on November 19th two companies were awarded with a firm issuance of $100 million each.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development wants to prevent schemes that allow using different jurisdictions in order to avoid paying tax where the activity is being carried out.
An article in DF.cl reports that "The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has prepared a report, commissioned by the G20, which will be presented in early February to launch changes in international tax regulations that prevent multinationals from exploiting loopholes in order to pay very little tax by declaring profits in tax havens. "
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