Although the end of the year holidays is a threat to Central America for a second wave of covid-19 infections, it is expected that total closures will not be decreed since there are currently effective health control options, and less costly for the economy.
When the first cases of covid-19 were reported in the region in March 2020, most governments decided to paralyze a large part of productive activities and decree home quarantines. These actions focused on containing the advance of the virus caused a severe economic crisis in all countries.
In Guatemala, the government announced that in the next two years it plans to build a plastic waste recycling plant that would produce electricity, and the investment would be financed by donations.
The Ministry of Economy (Mineco) is focused on identifying within the metropolitan area which is the most suitable area for the installation of the plant and the plan is that it will start operating within two years.
The tariffs that will be applied according to the categories established in the regulation, published in the Diario de Centroamérica on June 28th, were effective.
After Canada approved the use of a chlorothalonil pesticide molecule, Guatemala was authorized to export Chinese peas and sweet peas to the U.S. country.
Representatives of the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport) reported that it is estimated that Guatemala will sell between 5 and 10 million of peas to Canada each year.
Through the signing of a bilateral agreement, Guatemalan exporters plan to establish contacts with potential partners and facilitate trade negotiations.
With the objective of strengthening commercial ties and promoting negotiations between both nations, the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) signed an agreement with the National Committee for Economic Cooperation with Latin American Countries.
The proposal presented by the union of Guatemalan businessmen to the Morales administration contemplates, among other things, reforming the judicial system and establishing a scheme of fiscal certainty.
After2017 closed with a deterioration in business expectations, the Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (Cacif), has proposed to the authorities of the Morales administration an action plan that includes four lines of work.
The Morales administration expects to have ready next month the first draft of a law that regulates part-time work, which must be approved before February 2018.
Companies from Hong Kong and Taiwan could be interested in setting up a synthetic and manufacturing plant in the country.
The information was provided by representatives of the Apparel and Textile Commission (Vestex) at Agexport, who explained that in the case of the company from Taiwan, its interest is in establishing a manufacturing plant and supplying the US market.The other company, from Taiwan, could be interested in installing "... a manufacturing plant for synthetic products, and the countries that they are investigating are Guatemala and Haiti."
Among the elements that the business sector proposes incorporating into the discussion on the water bill is respect for acquired rights.
The Coordinating Committee for Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations, (CACIF) has asked Congress to be take them into account in the debate on the water law initiative, and raised a number of issues to be considered in the text-writing process.
The Guatemalan private sector estimates that losses caused by the paralysis of activities and blockades on the country's main roads add up to $6 million a day.
On the morning of Tuesday, May 23, 14 blockades were counted on different roads in Guatemala, from the route to the Atlantic, the Interamerica highway, Puerto Quetzal and El Salvador, among others.
The Ministry of Labor is preparing a bill to regulate how companies can carry out part-time hiring, starting in February 2018.
The draft law being prepared by the government will allow the establishment of conditions for part time jobs starting in February next year, when the 175th Labor Organization Convention,approved in January of this year, comes into force.
Inefficient infrastructure and port logistics in the country is affecting the performance of exports of agricultural products such as frozen green beans, honey, fruits, tomatoes and sesame seeds, among others.
From a statement issued by Agexport:
For the second consecutive year, Guatemala 's total exports fell by 2% in 2015, for which reason exporters grouped together in AGEXPORT carried out detailed analysis of the sectors and products affected, and the impact of this loss on the country.
In the first quarter of the year textile exports generated revenues of $192 million, 7% more than in the same period in 2014.
A report by the Bank of Guatemala indicates that as of February articles of clothing were the second most exported product. During 2014 this sector generated approximately $1.5 billion in exports, representing a growth of 12.6% in export volume.
The guild is once again insisting on the urgency of the government passing the law which grants tax incentives to the maquila industry so that they can remain competitive in the global market.
Once the Investment and Employment Decree 4644 is approved, there would come into effect "... Tax incentives for the maquila industry, with terms of exemptions from income tax up to 15 years for taking up residence in the capital and 25 for those in the departments."
The Guatemalan Exporters Association is asking Congress to urgently approve vital regulations to ensure better conditions for investment and the creation of more jobs.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport):
Recognized Brazilian company of backhoe loaders, telescopic, articulated and other types of cranes looking for companies interested in representing the brand and distributing their machinery in Central America and Mexico. The company manufactures and sells telescopic,...
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