More than two years ago, Convía won the contest to rehabilitate and operate the Escuintla-Puerto Quetzal highway in Guatemala. However, the Congress of the Republic, which is in chaos due to a new political crisis, has not yet defined whether to approve the PPP or not.
The Ministry of Economy will be in charge of setting the average price list of the products of the basic basket that will be in force in the country.
Article 3 of the decree approved by the Congress of the Republic explains that "... the Ministry of the Economy will set the average price list as of March 15, 2020, for each of the 34 products that make up the Basic Food Basket in its different forms of presentation, unit, pound, quintal, etc."
For this year, the government of Guatemala plans to issue an amount equivalent to $2.392 million, which includes new issues and titles that will expire soon and will be awarded again.
According to information from the Directorate of Public Credit, an entity of the Ministry of Finance (Minfin), during 2020 new issues will reach $ 1.845 million and collections or roll over, titles that expire but will be re-issued in the market, will be of $547 million.
Alejandro Giammattei, Guatemala's new president, is hosting a country with weak institutions, legal uncertainty and a business sector that is asking for a less "hostile" environment for new investments.
The Guatemalan Congress approved a bill that contemplates the creation of a special tax regime for agricultural activity.
Although this bill was involved in controversy days ago, as the chambers of industry and commerce expressed their opposition, Congress decided to approve the bill. See full bill.
A bill being discussed in the Guatemalan Congress proposes extending the term of the trust for renewal of coffee plantations and supporting producers until 2051.
The legal initiative for the Economic Reactivation of Coffee proposes altering the expiration date of the trust, currently foreseen until 2026, so that the coffee growers can have access to the resources until the year 2051.
Guatemalan businesses have declared persona non grata congressmen who voted for a law which exempted general secretaries of political parties from responsibility in matters relating to illicit electoral financing and increased the possibility of commuting prison sentences with money.
The law, popularly known as the "Corruption Pact", was heavily resisted by Guatemalan society.Pressure from the populace, together with a resolution contrary to the norm from the Constitutional Court, forced Congress to backtrack and archive the law.
The way in which the Guatemalan Congress approved reforms to the Penal Code, "suggests that its objective could be to ensure impunity in the country and through this take a backwards step in the fight for a true and effective Rule of Law."
Although President Morales said he was ready to analyze the reforms approved and veto them if they proved to be "harmful to the people of Guatemala," the very fact that Congress has approved them with such speed and simplicity reflects the delicate political crisis that the country is in.
The Supreme Court of Justice has agreed to uphold the request filed by the Public Ministry and the CICIG against the president, and now deputies must launch an investigation.
The political crisis affecting the country has been accentuated in the last few hours with a decision by the Supreme Court of Justice to send to Congress the file requesting a preliminary hearing.
With an international loan of $300 million, the Morales administration plans to build two prisons and twelve judicial complexes, and buy 1,500 patrol vehicles.
Through the Ministry of Public Finances the government is petitioning Congress for approval of a $300 million loan with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE).The government's plan is to execute these projects within six years.
The ILO Convention approved through Congress establishes a legal framework for hiring part-time employees, based on the principles of proportionality.
The Congress of Guatemala approved Convention 175 of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which sets standards for part-time employment and is based on the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination.
While the Morales administration insists on approval of the bill granting a direct concession of the operation of the terminal to APM Terminals, Congress has reaffirmed a position in favor of a new tender being approved.
Due to the lack of an agreement between the executive and the legislature, there has now been more than six months without any clarity on the future of the operation of the port terminal in Guatemala.
The standard necessary to prevent anticompetitive business practices is driven by the obligation to comply with the provisions of the Association Agreement with Europe.
The lack of approval given to the draft of the Competition Act, which was read in Congress but is now pending a new discussion session, is affecting the country's image abroad in terms of meeting international commitments, according to a publication by Elperiodico.com.gt.
The productive sectors are urging an agreement between the President and Congress of Guatemala to formalize the concession of the container terminal to APM Terminals.
Prensa.com reports that "...The awarding of the Quetzal Container Terminal (TCQ by its initials in Spanish), is in the eye of the storm because there is no agreement on what is the legal method to establish a new contract.The Executive has already sent the proposal for a direct award, but opposition deputies questioned the proposed mechanism, while the private sector is urging both agencies to seek an early solution to the problem. "
Warnings have been given over the fact that the project does not include international best practices, and that "the chapter on concentrations needs to be revised because it contains elements that would make its prior controls inoperative."
From a statement issued by Asies:
ASIES' OPINION OF RULING 02-2016 BY THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN TRADE AND ECONOMY ON INITIATIVE 5074 REGARDING APPROVAL OF THE LAW OF ON COMPETITION