The intention is to revive the hotel Cerro Verde, an investment that could be around $10 million and would be developed as a public-private partnership.
A feasibility study conducted by consulting firm Urani Pitarch Associated Advisors SL (PAX Consulting), demonstrates the viability of developing the project entitled "Renovation of Cerro Verde Mountain Hotel, Canton Las Lomas Santa Ana" which could resume operations in about two years.
Some of the main businesses from El Salvador will be advocating for the realization of Fomilenio II and for a deepening of the Association for Growth pact signed between the two countries two years ago.
From a press release by the Presidency of El Salvador:
A delegation from the National Council for Growth will make an official visit to Washington DC from 24 to 26 June, where meetings will be held with senior government officials and the Congress of the United States, under the framework of the first 18 months of the Partnership for Growth.
A new wind farm and the expansion of the International Airport of El Salvador, are the first two projects to be conducted under this system.
"Today (yesterday) I called a meeting with the president of CEPA (Autonomous Executive Port Commission) and CEL (Executive Hydroelectric Commission of the Lempa River) to immediately structure the first two projects: the expansion of the international airport and the wind project which the CEL is working with," said Alexander Segovia, Technical Secretary of the Presidency.
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).
Salvadoran Congress has passed a law that will allow public institutions to form partnerships with private companies for infrastructure and public services projects.
From a press release issued by the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador:
In order to establish the regulatory framework for the development of projects for the provision of infrastructure and public services of general interest effectively and efficiently, the Legislative Assembly in Plenary approved with 84 votes in favor, the "Special Law on Public Private Partnerships"(PPP).
Salvadoran Congress has stipulated that the minimum investment amount for a private public partnership should be 10 million dollars.
From a press release of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador:
The Special Committee on Finance and Budget, began review on Monday of the Bill on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), which is to establish the regulatory framework for the development of projects for the provision of infrastructure and public services of general interest, in an effective and efficient format.
The project aims to facilitate the arrival of foreign investment in the country, but it remains trapped in Congress.
"The law presented by the government is positive. Hopefully this is a good law, but in itself it is not enough. If conditions (such as uncertainty, bureaucracy, etc..) carry on being reinforced, then the law will not help "said Roberto Rubio, from Funde.
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.
The expansion of the International Airport of El Salvador and energy projects are some of the works that the State plans to make in conjunction with private companies.
In reference to the Public-Private Partnerships Bill under study in the Legislature, the Technical Secretary of the Presidency, Alexander Segovia, said there are many infrastructure needs that the state can not meet in the short or long term and in which private enterprises could intervene, "under appropriate legislation."
The Goverment of El Salvador has decided that the expansion of the International Airport of El Salvador will be conducted via a public-private association.
The technical secretary of the presidency announced that they decided to use this mechanism due to the “large resources required by the expansion”.
“We plan to do this expansion via a public private partnership for a simple reason: the state lacks the resources.
Private investment projects taking place in the coastal area of El Salvador will be supplemented by $50 million in additional projects.
An article in Laprensagrafica.com quotes the U.S. ambassador in El Salvador, Mary Carmen Aponte, reaffirming U.S. support through the Millennium Fund.
The ambassador announced yesterday that they "had an approval of a second donation of Millennium funds, this would be accompanied by $50 million to support with additional works investment projects implemented by private companies. 'The public-private partnerships will be very important and FOMILENIO II will have a component of $50 million. Once received the FOMILENIO II the fund will be available to help private enterprise '. "
Using partnerships with private sector companies, attempts are being made to provide training and employment opportunities for young people who neither study nor work.
NEO is an initiative led by the Multilateral Investment Fund and the International Youth Foundation, to foster partnerships between the private sector, governments and civil society organizations in order to significantly boost the entry in the workforce for disadvantaged youth in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Representatives of employers in El Salvador say the bill submitted to the Legislature does not provide legal certainty to investors.
The draft Law on Public Private Partnerships (PPP) is unsatisfactory to businesses and analysts, and they fear that if passed in its present form, there would be enormous discretion used when carrying out its regulatory functions which would not ensure legal certainty for investors .
Adjustments to the text are being planned in anticipation of the implementation of Public-Private Associations (APP in Spanish).
This will be the second amendment to the Competition Act since it was created.
The main reason for this reform is to adapt standards to the government’s economic recovery plans and the imminent operation of the Public-Private Associations (APP).