Two years after the Law to Strengthen Entrepreneurship came into force in Guatemala, only 40 companies have been registered under the figure of Entrepreneurship Companies, a situation that is partly explained by the lack of incentives provided by the legal framework.
With the application of the Health Alert System by covid-19, the Guatemalan economy was reopened, however, the operating guidelines and specific health and safety protocols for various economic activities have not been made official.
After almost 100 days of restrictions on the mobility of people and the closure of some productive activities, the Guatemalan private sector is asking the authorities to start evaluating the gradual opening of businesses under strict protocols.
Due to the outbreak of covid-19, the authorities decreed the closure of several economic activities since mid-March, and up to date restrictions to the operation of some sectors are still in place.
In Panama, 13,775 corporations were registered in the country during 2019, 4.6% more than those reported in 2018.
The most recent figures from the Office of the General Comptroller of the Republic detail that between 2018 and 2019, the number of corporations registered in the country grew by 4.6%, from 13,171 to 13,775.
Regarding dissolved corporations, it reported a drop for the years in question, from 7,760 in 2018 to 6,162 in 2019, equivalent to a reduction of 21%. In the case of merged companies, there was also a decrease of 15%, from 353 to 299.
In Panama, during the first eleven months of 2019, 12,763 corporations were registered in the country, 4% more than those reported in the same period of 2018.
The last report of the General Comptroller of the Republic details that between January and November 2018 and the same period in 2019, the number of corporations registered in the country increased from 12,272 to 12,763.
It is estimated that by 2019 there were 396,796 microenterprises operating from homes in the country, 10% more than the 361,404 reported at the end of 2018.
On average, each microenterprise has 13 years to develop its economic activity, but there are differences by sector: in the agricultural sector, the average is 20 years, in the industry sector is 14 years, in the trade sector is 12 years and in the service sector microenterprises have on average 11 years developing their economic activity, reported the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC).
Procomer, an entity that leads since 2016 the project of the Unique Investment Window in Costa Rica, says that 12 procedures related to the opening of companies and entry into the free zone regime, are already in the testing phase.
The aim of the Foreign Trade Promoter (Procomer) is to integrate in a single digital process, the more than 68 procedures that currently must be carried out in different ministries and municipalities to open and operate a business in Costa Rica.
In the Dominican Republic, five new companies have approved permits to operate in free trade zones, which together will make an investment of close to $16 million.
Among the activities of approved companies are: manufacture of doors, windows and boxes, international call center services, and textile manufacturing, reported the National Council of Export Processing Zones (CNZFE).
During the first nine months of 2019, 10,476 corporations were registered in Panama, 3% more than those reported in the same period of 2018.
The latest report of the General Comptroller of the Republic details that between January and September of last year and the same period of 2019, the number of corporations registered in the country went from 10,146 to 10,476.
So far this year, 17 new company licenses have been approved in the country under the Multinational Companies Headquarters regime, a figure that is higher than the 7 that were reported throughout 2018.
In addition to the 17 companies that already obtained their licenses in 2019, there are 7 other companies that are in the phase of evaluation by the Commission of Headquarters of Multinational Enterprises of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI).
In the Dominican Republic, approvals were granted for the development and operation of four new industrial parks, as well as the respective permits to install 12 new companies in free trade zones.
In the case of the new parks, these will be located in Boca Chica, Valverde, San Cristobal and Santiago, reported the National Council of Export Processing Zones (CNZFE).
In Panama, during the first four months of 2019, 4,314 corporations were registered in the country, 8% less than those reported in the first quarter of 2018.
The latest report of the General Comptroller of the Republic details that between the first quarter of last year and the same period of 2019, the number of corporations registered in the country went from 4,692 to 4,314.
From January to April of this year, the number of mercantile companies registered totaled 13,975, 15% more than the number reported in the same period in 2018.
Data from the Mercantile Registry (RM) specify that between the first four months of 2018 and the same period of 2019, 1,783 more companies were registered in the country, going from 12,192 to 13,975.
In the Dominican Republic, contracts were approved for the development and operation of four parks in export processing zones and 13 permits for the installation of companies.
The National Council of Export Processing Zones (CNZFE) reported last May 21 that it approved permits for two new parks of processing zones to be built in Boca Chica, and another in Nigua.
Modifications made to the law regulating the SEM regime in the country, would have been the reason for reporting during last year the establishment of only seven new companies of this type.
Among the reforms to the special regime for the establishment and operation of Sedes de Empresas Multinacionales (SEM) made in 2018, it is worth highlighting that companies must have a minimum number of full-time permanent employees, and in addition, a tax rate of 5% was imposed on the net taxable income derived from the services rendered.
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,...