In the first six months of the year, government entities from the countries of the region submitted 73 environmental impact studies for the construction of different public infrastructure projects.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData, provides the updated list of public and private construction projects that present the environmental impact studies (EIA) to the respective institutions of each country.
The Morales administration has announced that it plans to carry out maintenance and restoration work in 4,000 educational establishments located in different areas of the country.
Authorities at the Ministry of Education stated that the maintenance works on buildings in the educational network will be financed with national funds and with a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
In the first projects that are planned to be developed as part of the plan, around $116 million will be invested in construction works, vehicle purchases and other things.
The first investments will be made in seven departments, and the province to which the most resources have been allocated is Quiché, which will receive an investment of $46 million.In this region, 43 projects will be implemented, including the construction of a service center and the acquisition of garbage trucks.
When public resources are very limited, as it happens in Central American countries, association schemes between the State and the private sector become essential for developing the infrastructure that the region so badly needs.
A report from the Secretariat of Economic Integration (Sieca) states that "...In Central America, growing fiscal constraints faced by the countriespublic sectors make it increasingly difficult to achieve efforts for long-term infrastructure projects.In this context, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) become relevant as an alternative measure of financing where private participation sector is facilitated in partnership with the government, with the aim of improving quality of services, reducing operating costs and capital, generating additional income, improving public management and minimizing budget spending.
In August 2017, 36 environmental impact studies were submitted in the centralamerican countries to build sewer systems, roads and government offices, among other things.
Data from the interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData:
A water treatment system in Panama, office buildings in Costa Rica and a university building in Guatemala are some of the projects that are expected to be developed in the coming months in the region.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects for which environmental impact studies (EIA) were submitted to the respective institutions of each country in August 2017.
Apartment towers in Costa Rica and Panama, and oil well drilling and related works in Guatemala, are some of the construction projects planned for the coming months in the region.
CentralAmericaData's information system "Construction Projects in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit, provides an up to date list of public and private construction projects for which environmental impact assessments (EIAs) were submitted to the respective institutions in each country in March 2017.
The government has announced that in 2017 it will put out to tender 45 infrastructure projects, financed with funds from the Inter-American Development Bank.
Health, education, security, and water and sanitation are the areas in which the Guatemalan government plans to develop projects in 2017.
Fernando Quevedo, IDB representative in Guatemala, told Diario de Centroamérica"... the loan portfolio for the country amounts to $700 million, of that amount, $450 million is in progress and $100 million is available to disburse on infrastructure."
Included in the portfolio of investment projects that the government plans to develop are the State Administrative Center, an Intermodal Dry Port at Tecun Uman and the Metro Rail.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Economy:
Guatemala, April 20, 2016. Acting President, Jafeth Franco Cabrera, addressed the fourth meeting of 2016 of the Economic Cabinet, accompanied by the Minister of Economy and representative of the Technical Secretariat of the Economic Cabinet, Ruben Morales.
Excessive government guarantees and errors in the tender processes are two of the "Seven Deadly Sins of Deficient Public-Private Partnerships" says the World Bank.
A report from the institution highlights the main mistakes made in the process of building partnerships between governments and private companies for financing and developing productive infrastructure.
Among the works whose execution has been suspended because of lack of funds is the construction of bridges, schools, water systems and roads in different parts of the country.
The Social Development Fund (FODES) said it needs at least $15 million to resume the 43 projects that were suspended after the Ministry of Finance rejected its application for funds.
The National Center for Economic Research suggests tendering the frequencies for 4G LTE technology in 2016, and creating an entity to coordinate policies for the port sector.
The National Economic Research Center (CIEN) carried out an assessment of the country's infrastructure and has proposed actions to improve the conditions of the three major elements: ports and border trade, energy and telecommunications.
In Guatemala it has been proposed that private companies invest in the construction of local public works an amount equivalent to what they should pay in taxes.
The proposal put foward by the Foundation for the Development of Guatemala (Fundesa), to be officially presented in October draws on ideas in Law No. 29230 of Peru, where "... Since its implementation at least 33 projects have been completed .
The current political turmoil is threatening the implementation of important infrastructure projects such as the construction of the State Administrative Center, valued at $200 million.
The resignation of several ministers in Perez Molina's cabinet, including Sergio de la Torre, Economy Minister and Commissioner for competitiveness, Juan Carlos Paiz, both members of the board of the National Agency for the Development Partnerships Economic infrastructure (ANADIE) complicates the near future of planned projects to be developed in the form of public - private partnerships.