CABEI signed a memorandum of understanding with other Central American organizations to strengthen the development of the regional public debt market.
The agreement was signed by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the Executive Secretariat of the Council of Finance Ministers of Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic (SECOSEFIN), the Executive Secretariat of the Central American Monetary Council (SECMA) and the Association of Central American Stock Exchanges (BOLCEN).
In this regional context of economic crisis, falling fiscal revenues and increasing public debt, Costa Rica's debt level is expected to rise to 75% of GDP by 2021, and in the case of El Salvador, the indicator could exceed 85%.
The outbreak of covid-19 in Central America forced the government to declare severe household quarantines and to restrict several economic activities, restrictions that in some cases are still in place after five months of health and economic crisis.
Standard & Poor's has given a B+ rating to the $1.5 billion debt issue that Costa Rica expects to place in the international market in November.
"Global Ratings today assigned a "B+" rating to the prospective reopening of Costa Rica's notes which have a 7.158% rate maturing in 2045 and a "B+" rating in its planned issuance of notes maturing in 2031, the latter issue still does not have a defined trading rate," the rating agency said on November 8.
Although the goal for this year was to issue $100 million in debt bonds, during the first quarter the Nicaraguan government only awarded $1.1 million, doubting the level of investor confidence.
According to the "Public Debt Report, First Quarter 2019", prepared by the Central Bank of Nicaragua, from January to March regarding Investment Securities in dollars, 1.03 million was issued at an average rate of 5.31% and an average term of 7 months.
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.
Several Central American governments have resorted to issuing public debt as a way to continue living beyond their means.
An article by Rafael Delgado Elvir in Laprensa.hn objectively analyzes the tendency of governments to fall in debt when faced with economic slowdowns. Excess liquidity worldwide makes it very easy to issue bonds of any kind and for states to obtain direct loans.
Governments should act as good parents, thinking about the welfare of future generations, not just about the next election.
Governments should act as good parents, thinking about the welfare of future generations, not just about the next election.
In his article in Martes Financiero, Oscar Castaño Llorente discusses the rationale of the proposed creation of the Panama Savings Fund (FAP in Spanish), not only in its philosophical scope, but also from a practical point of view, present and future.
Fitch Ratings has analyzed patterns of economic growth in Central America, and its relationship to sovereign debt ratings.
According to Fitch Ratings, two patterns have emerged in the evolution of economic growth and public finances in Central America. The quality of sovereign credit in Central America is largely reflected by these two patterns, and this is expected to remain the case for the foreseeable future.