Nayib Bukele returned to the Legislative Assembly the reform to the law of Free Zones that granted tax benefits for an additional period of 10 years to companies in the country to increase their investment in 100% with respect to the initially made.
On August 29, 2019, the Assembly informed that the Legislative Plenum endorsed the reform to the Law of Industrial and Commercial Free Zones, establishing that the users of these zones would have a term of 10 additional years (before there were five) to continue enjoying total exemption from taxes, which would be applicable once the period established for the regular enjoyment of this benefit expired.
A request has been made that the interest rate paid by the government for using funds from the Pension Trust Bond rise from 1.3% to 7.5%.
Elsalvador.com reports that "... The leaders of the Committee requested yesterday that a new article specifically state that pension funds earn the passive base interest rate used for investments of 180 days and published by the Central Bank plus 3.5% ..
A bill introduced by the government intends to streamline access to the Panamanian market for foreign companies in the provision of maritime auxiliary services.
Excerpted from the bill introduced by the government of Panama:
Law 41 of June 14, 2013, through which reform is made to Law No. 8 of 1998 is amended by Decree, Act 56 of 2008 and Act 57 of 2008 which dictates other provisions on the work at sea and on waterways, significantly restricting access to the Panamanian market to foreign investors in the provision of maritime auxiliary services in the Republic of Panama.
FUSADES is asking the Salvadoran Congress to make reforms to the Special Act on Public-Private Partnerships in order to ensure its effectiveness.
The Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES) is refering to the reforms that have been put forward by the ARENA party which among other things suggest that the Agency for Promotion of Exports and Investments of El Salvador (PROESA) be in charge of monitoring the administration of the law. The recently passed legislation "includes a new administrative institution: the Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships", reported Laprensagrafica.com.
Businessmen want to expedite the process of approval by the Legislature, in which Proesa is the governing body, and which may include water and sanitation projects.
Members of the Council for Growth are seeking Congressional support in order to make three amendments to the Special Act on Public-Private Partnerships.
Carlos Guerrero, private sector representative on the Board and president of the Salvadoran Chamber of Construction (Casalco) explained that the reforms revolve around three themes. "One is to expedite the approval process of a partnership in the legislature. Currently, a project has to gain approval of the Assembly many times," noted an article in Elmundo.com.sv.
Private sector operators see in the Law of Public-Private Partnerships serious deficiencies which would prevent the bill from obtaining the desired results.
"The law, as it has been approved, will not achieve the expected results, we believe that it is not a good law, it has serious deficiencies that will make it very difficult to obtain the expected results," said Javier Castro, director of Department of Legal Studies (DEL) of the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES).
An IDB study indicates that delays in the approval of the law on public-private partnerships is jeopardizing private investment.
According to a study by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a project funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), while El Salvador has made progress in preparations for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), delays in the approval of a regulatory framework are jeopardizing private investment.
Seven bills designed to encourage investment are still pending in the legislative committees of finance, treasury, and economy.
Laprensagrafica.com reports that "The Legislative Assembly is about to close the first Legislative month of 2013 without having approved any of the reform initiatives and new laws proposed by the President, Mauricio Funes, to encourage investment.
The International Services Act, which created the environment for the arrival of foreign banks, free zones and call centers, will be modernized.
The government of El Salvador is preparing amendments to the Law on International Services, which in its time allowed a multiplication of foreign investment in the financial, telecommunications and the maquila sector among others.