Honduras has a basis for Investment

SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS

The creation of seven laws which guarantee legal certainty and investment support are proof that Honduras is ready to open its doors to development…

Investors from 75 countries representing some 400 companies participating from yesterday’s “Honduras is open for business” (Honduras open for business) that continues today in the halls of Expocentro in San Pedro Sula.  At nine o’clock opened the biggest economic event of Honduran history that would make foreign firms entering the country.

The event was attended by the President of Guatemala, Álvaro Colom, the secretary of the International Trade Administration United States, Francisco J. Sanchez, the Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, and the President of the Arab Bank, Victor Nasri Malham.  He was also yesterday, and today will be speaker, former President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, and economics expert journalist Alberto Padilla, who moderated the panel with the lecturers.

Mario Canahuati Chancellor opened the event by inviting employers to enjoy the wonderful culture and natural resources the country offers.  Canahuati is the officer who organized the event, supported by the diplomatic corps has taken the momentum of foreign investment as part of their responsibilities.

After being welcomed in an audience which gathered some 1,400 employers, the Chancellor was accompanied by other ministers to the main stage. Were the head of Tourism, Nelly Jerez, Jacobo Regalado of Agriculture, Miguel Pastor of Public Works, Security Oscar Alvarez, the forestry director Trinidad and Roberto Martinez Suazo, manager of the Enee. With them came the designated Bográn Marie Antoinette. The officials made a brief presentation to attract investors interested in each capital projects waiting to be executed.

In his speech, the Minister of Public Works, Transportation and Housing, Miguel Pastor, said the country’s infrastructure sector has over a thousand kilometers of road network that can be franchised.  He added that the private sector’s installed capacity is important since it has the necessary legal certainty to develop projects and work can now be made through the Law of Public-Private Partnerships is extremely attractive to invest in the country.

Security Minister Oscar Alvarez said that the National Police is undergoing a re-engineering that will enable the country to reduce the impunity with the support of other institutions of the justice sector and the public prosecutor and the Supreme Court.

According to Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Jacobo Regalado, the agribusiness sector, the country is ready to seize the global context of a favorable price for food production, since Honduras has more than 350,000 hectares of irrigation potential to develop a production capacity interesting.

Legal Justification
The National Congress President, Juan Orlando Hernandez noted the adoption of the five laws that promote and protect national and foreign investment in the country: Hourly Employment Act, the Rural Employment of Foreign Employment, the Public-Private Partnership, the Renewable Energy Contracts, cities and the latest models on the Promotion and Protection of Investment, which yesterday was signed by President Wolf.

Country of opportunities
President Porfirio Lobo Sosa sent a message of hope to investors and assured them of legal certainty to have the confidence to invest.

“Your presence creates new expectations for each investment that comes to Honduras creates new employment opportunities. Each investment made means better living conditions for the Hondurans, which is why I invite you to come.  We will win both, “said the President to 1.400 investors gathered in the auditorium of Expocentro.

The President of Guatemala, Álvaro Colom, a special guest and gave faith of Honduras entrepreneurship and human quality of Hondurans. ”I met entrepreneurship Honduras for three years, it is easy to make friends and build relationships in Honduras.”

Colom reiterated her support for the government headed by Lobo Sosa for the prompt return to the Organization of American States and the normalization of relations with the world. ”I’m sure this event will give the expected results. Every dollar invested in Central strengthens the region. Succeed in this business opening Honduras “he said.

In the afternoon, investors visited the rooms of situations in the secretariats of Honduras to see the project proposals.

Lectures continue today
If the opening was masterful, the closure is with a flourish. Day two of the investment forum “Honduras is open for business” will continue with large stakes.

The speakers today will be the Deputy Minister Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan, Chung Sheng Lin, economist and member of the Stanford Center for International Development, Paul Romer and former President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe. All after their presentations, participate in a talk to discuss about the present and the future investment and economic development in Latin America.

At noon, from 12.30 pm to 1.00 pm, will be the closing ceremony led by President Porfirio Lobo. In the evening there will be a closing cocktail in the Arab Honduran Social Club. The talks and thematic meetings will also continue today. ”It is a country with a wonderful combination of wealth”  The effort of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will pay off.

After he received a standing ovation for the great work done by organizing the “Honduras is open for business”, Foreign Minister Mario Canahuati investors greeted the present, detailing his message the opportunities and benefits offered by the country in energy, agribusiness, infrastructure production, global services, textile, processing, forestry and tourism.

“Today, with great pride, Honduras opened its doors to the world to expose a country with a wonderful combination of culture, talents and natural wealth that makes us unique in the world,” he told the crowds who attended the biggest event of investment the country.

The chancellor said the government of President Porfirio Lobo Sosa recognizes that eradicating poverty, developing economy and private investment laws are required to deliver important public-private partnerships that make it more flexible labor market.

“Honduras is in a prime location in central America with a modern infrastructure to meet the demands of world trade. We are the only country in the area that has four modern airports and shortly fifth international airport in the strategic valley of Comayagua, a wonderful meeting point in the corridor that connects the Pacific and the Atlantic, “he said.

The chancellor noted that the National Investment Promotion provides important new laws that allow public-private partnerships and new programs that more flexible labor market. He stressed that this week Congress passed the new Investment Law.

05/05/1911 – Updated: 06/05/1911 2:11 a.m. – Tatiana Paz: tatiana.paz @ laprensa.hn

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