Adverse court decisions against companies, social and political conflicts and fiscal issues are some of the factors that are impeding the development of productive projects in Central American countries.
One of the latest court decisions affecting companies with investments in the region was that of Minera Petaquilla, in Panama. The contract that this company had signed with the Panamanian State was declared unconstitutional last week.
Two irrigation system construction projects are being prepared in different municipalities in the departments of Yoro, La Paz, Intibucá, Lempira, Atlántida, Cortés and Santa Bárbara.
The projects that will be executed are the Programa de Desarrollo Agrícola Bajo Riego (PDABR), and the Project of Competitiveness and Sustainable Development of the South Western Border Corridor (PRO-LENCA), whose investments will be $25.3 million and $27.8 million respectively..
Supermercados La Colonia has announced it will invest $27 million in opening five new stores in the second half of the year, totaling 12 thousand square meters of sales floor.
The company founded on Honduran capital has announced that with the five new stores the total stores it will have nationwide will rise to 35.
Gator Partners has obtained a provisional license to build in Bahia Las Minas, Panama, a power plant with a capacity of 400MW, based on ethane.
Gator Partners is planning to build and operate a power plant called "Térmica Energía Corotú" which will operate using ethane gas with a combined cycle plant with a capacity of 400MW.
The project sponsor, Gator Partners LataAm SA is a public limited company established in the Township of Panama City and was registered on November 11, 2014, with the Folio No. 155 585 316. The legal representative is a Panamanian, Oguel Alejandro Suero.
Electricity substations, a municipal stadium, a hydroelectric project, residential projects and dredging of rivers, are among the projects which presented environmental impact studies in February in Guatemala.
The report "Construction Projects in Guatemala - February 2015", prepared by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData.COM, provides a list of major construction projects which in the month of February presented environmental impact assessments (EIA) to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Guatemala (MARN).
Malls, residential projects, sewage works and power plants are part of the list of environmental impact studies presented in February in Panama.
The report "Construction Projects in Panama - February 2015", prepared by the Business Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData.COM, provides a list of major construction projects which in the month of January presented environmental impact studies (EIS) to the National Environmental Authority (ANAM).
VECA Airlines has announced the start of flights from El Salvador to Guatemala and Costa Rica, with capital contributed by Empresas Alba.
$60 million is the amount that Empresas Alba has contributed as seed money to VECA Airlines, and it is expected that this will cover the operation of the company until December this year. It is expected that next year the investment will be lower, as the airline is aiming for financial self-sustainability by 2016.
The South Korean company says it will be investing $300 million in public infrastructure, including works on electrification, renewable energy projects and hospital infrastructure.
For the construction of a hospital in Choluteca the multinational Samsung plans to invest $35 million, while for the electrification in rural areas and renewable energy projects it has estimated it will spend $40 million and $45 million respectively.
Two social welfare institutions are considering whether to invest $90 million in gas generation plants to sell electricity to the National Electric Power Company.
In order to cover the increased demand which arises in seasons of highest energy consumption, the National Institute of Retirement and Pensions for Employees and Officials of the Executive Branch (INJUPEMP) and the Honduran Social Security Institute are considering investing in power generation based on gas. The investment would mean allocating about $90 million to the purchase of mobile plants to sell supplies to the National Electric Power Company.
The Costa Rican company has announced it will be opening five stores in Guayaquil airport and has signed contracts to operate at air terminals in Guatemala City and Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay.
For the expansion of its operations, Grupo Britt has invested about $5 million, which will come from both equity and bank financing. Including these projects, there will be 13 countries where the company operates.
A meeting of Honduran businesses has been organized for February 12 which aims to present a portfolio of private investment projects.
This meeting entitled 'Investing in Honduras in 2015' aims to bring together various sectoral ministers with the business community in order to pool projects to be developed during the year and publicize the work plans.
In 2015 the mayor of San Pedro Sula plans to invest $32 million in paving, drainage and traffic lights.
Other works included in the catalog of investment projects planned are: resurfacing of the Ring Road, road signs throughout the city and change of the traffic light network, among others of great importance for the development of the city.
The mayor, Armando Calidonio told Laprensa.hn that "...
President Hernandez announced that they will build in the department of Choluteca a new airport terminal and other public infrastructure works.
From a statement issued by the Government of the Republic of Honduras:
President Juan Orlando Hernández held a discussion with members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the South to promote new projects which the government plans to develop in the south.
Greater integration between the State and the business sector is essential to exploit the opportunities offered by the region's investment projects.
During the World Business Forum Latin America 2014, held in Guatemala, entrepreneurs from different sectors pointed to the need for increased connectivity and commercial traffic between South America and Central America, in order to take better advantage of investment opportunities in each of the countries, through the use of public-private partnerships.
Investment of more than $2 billion in real estate and infrastructure projects in the next two years is estimated.
Projects undertaken by public-private partnerships and renewable energy are what will drive growth in the construction sector in the short term, projects William Hall, president of the Honduran Chamber of the Construction Industry.
"I believe that the construction industry is reexperiencing a major boost.