Because of the economic crisis, Foreign Direct Investment flows have practically vanished, and in order to attract the few investments that are projected for next year, countries are expected to compete by offering incentives and aid programs for businesses.
The covid-19 outbreak dissipated the investment intentions of companies globally.
Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo, sanctioned the law that creates the Special Regime for the Establishment and Operation of Multinational Companies for the Provision of Services related to Manufacturing.
After the <a href="https://centralamericadata.com/en/article/home/Aval_a_ley_de_Empresas_Multinacionales" target="_blank">deputies of the Panamanian Assembly approved in the third debate last month the bill that aims to promote investments in this context of economic crisis that derives from the outbreak of covid-19, the President of the Executive sanctioned the regulation on August 31, 2020.
Deputies of the Panamanian Assembly approved in third debate the bill creating the Special Regime for the Establishment and Operation of Multinational Companies for the Provision of Services related to Manufacturing.
The services of these multinationals will be able to be developed in different provinces of the country and will work in product manufacturing, equipment machinery, product packaging services, machinery and equipment, the Assembly informed.
In the context of the tense diplomatic and commercial relationship between the two world powers, Central American countries could have the opportunity to attract new investments, as it is estimated that some American companies would need to migrate their operations to the American continent.
As a result of the tension between the two nations, Mauricio Claver-Carone, an advisor to President Trump, believes that U.S. capital, which currently generates thousands of jobs in China, will turn south of the U.S. borders.
From January to September 2019, the country received $671 million in foreign direct investment, 6% more than in the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Bank of Guatemala show that between the first nine months of 2018 and the same period in 2019, foreign direct investment (FDI) that reached the country increased by $39 million, from $671 million to $632 million.
Because of the tension between the productive sector and the government, coupled with the lack of official statistics from the Central Bank, some companies in Nicaragua have chosen to stop providing information to the authorities.
In an attempt to hide the complicated economic situation, the country is going through, local authorities have not published information on the Monthly Economic Activity Index since February 2019, when the year-on-year drop was 7.5%. This prevents businessmen from making decisions based on the real situation of the economy.
Strengthening government institutions in the areas of contract enforcement, property rights protection and investor protection are part of the recommendations made by the IMF in its most recent visit to the country.
According to the international organization, policies to regain the confidence of the private sector, including a frank assessment of the impact of recent measures, are essential to promote economic recovery and compensate for increased poverty. In the short term, strengthening government institutions in the areas of contract enforcement and efficiency of the legal framework for dispute resolution, protection of property rights, investor protection, property registration, and insolvency resolution could significantly improve the country's competitiveness.
In Nicaragua, the authorities have not published information on the Monthly Index of Economic Activity since February 2019, when the year-on-year fall was 7.5%, a situation that prevents businessmen from making decisions based on the real situation of the economy.
For the Guatemalan business sector, the decision by Congress to vote against the bill granting the concession to rehabilitate and operate the Escuintla-Puerto Quetzal highway "sends a negative message to potential investors."
The first positions emerge after learning that the Congress of the Republic buried the road project to rehabilitate and administer the highway Escuintla-Puerto Quetzal with toll collection, which would be granted in concession to the Consorcio Autopistas de Guatemala, under the format of Public-Private Partnership.
Between the first semester of 2018 and the same period of 2019, the flows of Foreign Direct Investment reaching the country decreased by 25%, a decrease that is explained by the uncertainty that predominates among businessmen, derived from the political and economic crisis.
According to official figures, from January to June of this year the country received $364 million in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which is less than the $483 million received in the first six months of 2018.
Road maintenance for $258 million, construction of an overpass for $58 million and the development of an energy park for $19 million, are some of the investments included in the 2020 National General Budget project.
Regarding the general amount of public investment included in the Fodes de las Alcaldías, the project discussed in the Assembly contemplates that by 2020 it would reach $1.243 million, an amount that would be 23% higher than that approved for 2019.
For the last quarter of 2019, Opticas Visión plans to open five stores to sell visual health products, which will be added to four others already opened by the company this year.
Not giving details of the locations of the new sales outlets that will start operating at the end of the year, company executives explained that they currently have 144 branches throughout the country.
Alejandro Giammattei, elected president of Guatemala, will propose to the authorities of the North American country that a special economic zone covering both sides of the border be developed.
Guatemala's president-elect is wasting no time, since four months after taking office, he is already making investment proposals to neighboring countries. In this case, he will do so in Mexico, where on September 20 he will meet with Lopez Obrador and will deliver a file on the issues he proposes to work on in the coming years.
In Guatemala, businessmen are asking the incoming government to create a public policy on foreign investment that incorporates issues such as fair and equitable treatment of investments, the minimum standard of treatment and the definition of arbitrariness.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country is not having its best moment, as figures from the Bank of Guatemala indicate that in 2018 the flow captured was $1.031 million, 12% less than the $1.170 million reported in 2017. See official data.
Panama and Honduras were the only two Central American countries to report increases in foreign direct investment in 2018 over the previous year, with year-on-year changes of 36% and 3%, respectively.
The growth of investments directed to Panama, which concentrated 51% of the sub-regional total, explained the increase that was reached in 2018 in Central America (9.4%), since except Panama and Honduras, the Central American countries received less Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) than in 2017, explains the report "Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2019", produced by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
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