Despite opposition from the business sector, the government has frozen the prices of 20 basic food products and is considering including more.
The products included in the price stability agreement are: beef, pork, chicken, sausages, eggs, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, squash, coffee, rice, beans, corn, wheat and corn flour, butter, milk, sugar and banana leaves, and their derivatives.
The private sector is opposed to the government's proposal to freeze prices for a group of consumer products.
Employers propose replacing the price freeze measure with the establishment of a suggested price for products that are included in the basic basket and the further strengthening inspection measures at points of sales, so that prices remain stable.
Central American firms in industries such as food, agribusiness, services, manufacturing and logistics will be taking part in business meetings on November 12th in San Pedro Sula.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cortés (CCIC) announced that on November 12 in San Pedro Sula for the third time this year there will be a multisectoral round of business meetings, in which they expect the participation of Honduran companies and other countries from the region.
The guild is demanding the government to open up the market in order to allow companies to buy energy from abroad and reduce dependence on state power supplies.
The private sector is seeking to solve the energy crisis in Honduras by asking for regulation to be made flexible in order to allow direct import of energy for companies.
Emin Jorge Abufele, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cortés (CCIC), told Laprensa.hn: "...
Seven companies will be in the city on August 7th and 8th searching for distributors for products such as honey, cereals, snacks and sweets.
The purpose of the visit is for the Costa Rican companies to do business with Honduran companies to distribute their products in the northern area of the country.
Vanessa Rodriguez of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cortés (CCIC), noted that "Costa Rican businessmen are looking for exclusive distributors, they are not aiming for several buyers or for there to be local competition. In the agendas they choose those who they see more potential in to distribute their products. '"
The Chamber of Commerce and Industries has extended to May 16th the registration deadline for the virtual meeting with companies from various productive sectors.
Companies will be able to make online business appointments in the activity to be held on May 16, for which there the registration period lasts until Wednesday 30 April.
"The sign up period has been extended until Wednesday.
The Honduran maquiladora industry is increasingly benefiting from the agreement which stimulates and protects Canadian investments coming into the country.
This industry has shown great optimism after the approval of the trade agreement. "We will have several advantages," says Daniel Facussé, president of the Honduran Maquila Association (AHM).
On 19th and 20th October Canadian investors interested in acquiring all kinds of garments will arrive in San Pedro Sula.
"There is great deal of interest from a group of Canadian entrepreneurs in manufacturing, to buy clothes of all kinds. This is a great opportunity for the start of a good relationship," said Victor Tarrab, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Cortes (CCIC).
Employers have requested that the temporary law whose validity will expire in two months be made permanent.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has also asked for the entry into force of the National Employment By Hours Programme which according to official statistics has reduced unemployment by 3.6%, generating about 155,000 jobs. According to Labor Minister Jorge Bográn, it is important to ensure the stability of the program, if not these positions could be lost and there would be no room for new applicants.
The demand for professionals who can speak and write English rose by 70%, keeping pace with the growth of joint ventures with overseas companies.
That was the explanation given Bessy Rocio Lara, director of the Department of Labor. Among the areas where the most bilingual staff are needed are the industrial engineering sector, business administration and some technical careers.
Mexican business representatives from an unknown Spanish company have proposed taking over the management of city waste, using it to generate energy.
Laprensa.hn reports that "The business delegation representing the company Actea - Solar, founded with Spanish capital, met with Mayor Juan Carlos Zuniga to express interest in evaluating the possibility of investing in Honduras to help solve the problems of waste management using landfills. "
Honduras' customs system has not been updated with the new tariffs for European products, in force since 1 August.
A week ago the Agreement entered into force and Honduran importers have not yet received the corresponding tariff benefits.
"The Automated System for Customs Revenue (known as SARA by its initials in Spanish) is the system where people get information on the taxes that have to be paid based on the treaty and immediately after it enters into force it has to be ready, but the Revenue Office has not yet managed to input, so to speak, all the tax breaks included in this agreement," said Eduardo Ramos, advisor to the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Cortes.
From 3rd to 10th September, the National Telecommunications Commission of Honduras will be holding an auction of the 36 digital television frequencies and one national one.
An announcement has been made of the publication of tender specifications; "In order to be included participants must be up to date with payments to the state, have a radio or television company and pay the bid price, which for television ranges around $123,000," noted an article in Laprensa. hn.
On 8th and 9th of July, a multi sectoral mission for trade and investment will hold business meetings with Honduran businessmen.
"The areas of tourism, services, chemicals, technology, manufacturing, agribusiness, food and beverages, minerals and construction materials will be represented at the meeting," noted an article in Laprensa.hn. Honduran entrepreneurs have until July 5 to register for the event which will be held in the Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Cortes (CCIC).
The plant located in Puerto Cortes, which had been seriously affected by the earthquake of 2009, now has capacity to store 71,000 barrels of fuel.
Among the works developed at the site was the restoration of 26 tanks with a capacity of 711,000 barrels of various petroleum products which are sold in Honduras. In addition, infrastructure was rebuilt in the administrative area, piping systems and fire protection system.