Costa Rica "will strengthen its fiscal sustainability by controlling expenditure and modernizing the tax system with a $350 million loan approved by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)."
During the controversy generated by the implementation of the fiscal reform in Costa Rica, the approval of a $350 million credit was announced to "support the country in the implementation of its fiscal reform program."
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 bill that in Costa Rica authorizes the Alvarado administration to issue $1.5 billion in debt in the international market has already taken the first step in the Legislative Assembly.
At the beginning, the Treasury Department requested authorization 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.
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.
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.
The latest risk ratings for the issuance of long-term debt of Central American economies identify Panama as the most attractive country to invest in.
On March 8, Moody's decided to raise its long-term issuer rating in foreign currency from Baa2 to Baa1, arguing that the outlook remains more favorable in the medium term.
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.
The financial deficit of the Central Government at the end of last year was equivalent to 6% of the Gross Domestic Product, 1.2% less than originally expected.
According to the authorities, the fiscal deficit as a proportion of GDP was lower than expected because of the measures taken in terms of collection, expenditure containment and efficiency, and the approval of the Law to Strengthen Public Finances.
"The tightening of global financing conditions is a concern for Central American countries with large current account deficits or those highly dependent on capital flows."
According to the report "World Economic Outlook - January 2019" compiled by the World Bank (WB), countries with a high external debt burden would be at risk if a sudden change in investor confidence in emerging market and developing economies were to occur.
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 rating agency reduced the long-term and senior unsecured bond issuer ratings of the Costa Rican government from Ba2 to Ba1 and changed the outlook to negative.
According to Moody's, among the main factors behind the decline is the continued and projected worsening of debt metrics in the back of large deficits despite fiscal consolidation efforts.
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.