In Guatemala, the first project to install a Special Public Economic Development Zone was approved, which will require a $14 million investment and will be on the Highway to Puerto Quetzal, Escuintla.
The name of the industrial park, which will be on a 150-hectare site and will house industrial, commercial and service sector companies, is "Michatoya Pacífico" and will require an initial investment of $13.8 million.
Data from the Bank of Guatemala indicate that in 2018 the amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) that attracted the country reached $1.032 million, $738 million lower than the $1.170 billion registered in 2017.
Data from the Bank of Guatemala indicate that in 2018 the amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) that attracted the country reached $1.032 million, $738 million lower than the $1.170 billion registered in 2017.
In Guatemala, five private projects to build economic development zones are already in the process of being processed, only two months after the regulation defining the fiscal benefits to develop them came into force.
On February 4, the Law on Special Public Economic Development Zones (ZDEEP) came into effect, which provides for tax benefits consisting of a 10-year exemption from 100% income tax, as well as the temporary suspension of taxes associated with imports, among others.
Despite the location and the fiscal benefits that in some cases the countries of the region offer, the lack of education of the population will be the main barrier to continue attracting large investments.
The lack of guarantee of finding the competent and sustainable human capital necessary for the proper operation of companies is an issue that negatively influences the attraction of important investments in Central America.
The regulation for Special Public Economic Development Zones, which came into effect in Guatemala on February 4, establishes fiscal incentives for companies operating under this scheme.
Among the tax benefits provided by the Law on Special Public Economic Development Zones (ZDEEP), include the exemption for 10 years of 100% of income tax, as well as the temporary suspension of taxes associated with imports.
In the last eleven years in Guatemala, companies providing telecommunications services have invested just over $1.26 billion in the sector.
Figures from the Bank of Guatemala specify that Telecommunications is the fourth most important economic activity, according to the flows of Foreign Direct Investment that have reached the country, since between 2007 and 2018 an average of $105 million per year has been invested.
Since the free trade zones law was amended, almost 100 companies have closed in Guatemala in the last two years, and by 2019 the figure is expected to keep growing if the regulatory framework is not modified.
Data from the Bank of Guatemala detail that from January to October of this year, exports of companies in free trade zones totaled $471 million, 2% less than the $479 million registered in the first ten months of 2017.
During 2018, Guatemala received $1.175 million in FDI, barely 0.5% more than the investment reported in 2017, mainly because of the political and legal uncertainty that ruled the country.
Figures from the Banco de Guatemala (Banguat) report that in the last five years, the country has gained $6,139 million in foreign direct investment (FDI), being 2014 the one that registered the highest year-on-year increase when reporting a 7% rate regarding 2013.
During the first semester of the year the country acquired $546 million in Foreign Direct Investment flows, 4.6% less than the $573 million reported in the same period of 2017.
According to the figures of the Banco de Guatemala of the total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from January to June of this year, $183 million went to the Trade sector, $97 million to the Manufacturing Industry, $89 million to Banks and insurance companies, $58 million to Telecommunications and $52 million to Electricity.
Partly explained by the regimes created to encourage investment in different sectors, countries in the region went from receiving $11 billion in 2016, to $12.1 billion last year.
According to a study by the Center for Economic Integration Studies, in 2017 inflows of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the region reached a record figure of $12.083 billion, registering an increase of 9.8% compared to 2016.When analyzing the period from 2010 to 2017, it can be seen that the inflow of FDI has increased considerably, showing a growth rate of 7.9%.
The foreign investment flows received by Guatemala between January and March totaled $293 million, 7% less than in the same period in 2017.
According to figures from Banco de Guatemala, during the first quarter of 2018, 32% of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) went to the electricity sector, and 20% went to the manufacturing industry.
In Guatemala, the National Competitiveness Policy has come into force, which aims to promote development through 11 economic clusters.
The Ministry of Economy reported that the National Competitiveness Policy, which is part of the 2018-2032 period, will focus on "... the 11 clusters chosen from a list of 25 that had been previously identified, those being: forestry, fruits and vegetables, processed foods, beverages, textile clothing and footwear, metalworking, light manufacturing, tourism and health services, TIC's software & Contact Centers, transport and logistics, construction."
Israeli government officials have announced that they plan to invest close to $2 billion in various businesses in the sectors of agriculture, medicine and education.
The investment will be made through the Guatemalan-Israel Fund for Investment and Development in Guatemala, and this seeks to make the Central American country the center of Israeli business in the region.
Contrary to the negative figures recorded in 2015 and 2016, in 2017 Peruvian direct foreign investment received by Guatemala totaled $82 million.
In addition to reversing the negative trend in 2015 and 2016, last year Peru became the fourth country in terms of the largest flows of direct investment registered in Guatemala, as it was only surpassed by the US, Mexico and Colombia.
For the third consecutive year, in 2017, foreign investment received by Guatemala fell compared to 2016, explained by a lack of legal certainty, particularly in the mining industry.
Even though no one expected great results at the end of 2017, the 3% fall with respect to foreign investment received in 2016 has worried the business sector, as it reinforces the downward trend seen since 2015, when the FDI received by the country was 12% lower than the amount reported the previous year.