Guatemala : Investment Climate Assessment, Volume 1

Guatemala has achieved substantial progress in improving its investment climate since 2004. Despite these achievements, Guatemala continues to face significant challenges. Guatemala's overall ease of doing business ranking is still relatively...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: World Bank
Format: Investment Climate Assessment (ICA)
Language:English
en_US
Published: Washington, DC 2012
Subjects:
GDP
ITC
TAX
WTO
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/06/10286944/guatemala-investment-climate-assessment-vol-1-2
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/7820
id okr-10986-7820
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
en_US
topic ACCESS TO CREDIT
ACCESS TO FINANCING
ACCOUNTING
AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES
AGRICULTURE
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION
AVERAGE GROWTH
AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY
BANKING SECTORS
BENCHMARK
BENCHMARKING
BENCHMARKS
BENEFICIARIES
BILATERAL TRADE
BUSINESS CLIMATE
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
CALCULATIONS
CAPITAL ACCUMULATION
CAPITAL INFLOWS
CAPITAL MARKETS
CASH TRANSFERS
COLLATERAL
COMMODITIES
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES
COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
COMPETITIVENESS
CONSUMER GOODS
CONSUMERS
CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT
CONTRIBUTION
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
CREDIT BUREAUS
CREDIT GROWTH
CREDIT LINE
CREDITOR
CREDITOR RIGHTS
CURRENCY REGULATIONS
DEBT
DEBTORS
DEFICITS
DEMAND FOR CREDIT
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
DIRECT COST
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
DOMESTIC CREDIT
DOMESTIC ECONOMIES
DOMESTIC MARKET
EARNINGS
ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC COOPERATION
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT
ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES
ENFORCEMENT POWER
EQUIPMENT
EXPENDITURE
EXPORT GROWTH
EXPORT MARKET
EXPORT MARKETS
EXPORT PERFORMANCE
EXPORTER
EXPORTERS
EXPORTS
EXPROPRIATION
EXTERNAL FINANCING
EXTERNAL TRADE
FINANCIAL BENEFITS
FINANCIAL FLOWS
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FINANCIAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE
FINANCIAL SECTOR
FINANCIAL SERVICES
FINANCIAL SITUATION
FIRM PERFORMANCE
FISCAL MANAGEMENT
FOOD PRICE
FOOD PRICES
FORECASTS
FOREIGN COMPANIES
FOREIGN CURRENCY
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
FOREIGN INVESTORS
FOREIGN MARKETS
FOREIGN PENETRATION
FREE TRADE
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS
GDP
GENERAL SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES
GOVERNANCE INDICATORS
GOVERNANCE ISSUES
GOVERNANCE REGULATION
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
GROSS VALUE
GROUP OF INVESTORS
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
HUMAN CAPITAL
ILLITERACY
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS
INSTRUMENT
INTEREST RATE
INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT
INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
INTERNATIONAL PRICES
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
INVESTING
INVESTMENT CLIMATE
INVESTMENT CLIMATE ASSESSMENT
INVESTMENT DECISIONS
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
INVESTMENT PATTERNS
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
ITC
JUDICIAL SYSTEM
JUSTICE SYSTEM
LABOR FORCE
LABOR MARKET
LABOR STANDARDS
LEGAL SYSTEM
LOAN
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
LOW TARIFFS
LOW-INCOME
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
MACROECONOMIC INSTABILITY
MACROECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
MACROECONOMIC STABILITY
MARKET ACCESS
MARKET SHARE
MEDIUM ENTERPRISE
MICRO-FINANCE
MICRO-FINANCE INSTITUTIONS
MICROFINANCE
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS
MONETARY FUND
MOVABLE COLLATERAL
OUTPUT
OUTPUTS
OUTREACH PROGRAMS
OUTSOURCING
OVERDRAFT FACILITIES
PER CAPITA INCOME
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
POTENTIAL INVESTORS
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
PRIVATE BANKS
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRIVATE PROPERTY
PRIVATIZATION
PROBABILITY
PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES
PROPERTY RIGHTS
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
RED TAPE
REGIONAL INTEGRATION
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS
REGULATORY REGIME
REINVESTMENT
REMOTE AREAS
RENEWABLE ENERGY
RISK MANAGEMENT
RULE OF LAW
SAFETY NET
SALES
SAVINGS
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
SOCIAL SECURITY
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
TARIFF SYSTEM
TAX
TAX RATES
TAX SYSTEM
TAXATION
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TELEPHONE LINES
TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY
TRADE BALANCE
TRADE BARRIERS
TRADE CREDIT
TRADE DEFICIT
TRADE REGIME
TRADITIONAL INVESTORS
TRANSPARENCY
TREATY
UNEMPLOYMENT
VALUE ADDED
VERTICAL INTEGRATION
WAGES
WEALTH
WORKING CAPITAL
WORLD DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
WORLD ECONOMY
WORLD TRADE
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
WTO
spellingShingle ACCESS TO CREDIT
ACCESS TO FINANCING
ACCOUNTING
AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES
AGRICULTURE
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION
AVERAGE GROWTH
AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY
BANKING SECTORS
BENCHMARK
BENCHMARKING
BENCHMARKS
BENEFICIARIES
BILATERAL TRADE
BUSINESS CLIMATE
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
CALCULATIONS
CAPITAL ACCUMULATION
CAPITAL INFLOWS
CAPITAL MARKETS
CASH TRANSFERS
COLLATERAL
COMMODITIES
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES
COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
COMPETITIVENESS
CONSUMER GOODS
CONSUMERS
CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT
CONTRIBUTION
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
CREDIT BUREAUS
CREDIT GROWTH
CREDIT LINE
CREDITOR
CREDITOR RIGHTS
CURRENCY REGULATIONS
DEBT
DEBTORS
DEFICITS
DEMAND FOR CREDIT
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
DIRECT COST
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
DOMESTIC CREDIT
DOMESTIC ECONOMIES
DOMESTIC MARKET
EARNINGS
ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC COOPERATION
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT
ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES
ENFORCEMENT POWER
EQUIPMENT
EXPENDITURE
EXPORT GROWTH
EXPORT MARKET
EXPORT MARKETS
EXPORT PERFORMANCE
EXPORTER
EXPORTERS
EXPORTS
EXPROPRIATION
EXTERNAL FINANCING
EXTERNAL TRADE
FINANCIAL BENEFITS
FINANCIAL FLOWS
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FINANCIAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE
FINANCIAL SECTOR
FINANCIAL SERVICES
FINANCIAL SITUATION
FIRM PERFORMANCE
FISCAL MANAGEMENT
FOOD PRICE
FOOD PRICES
FORECASTS
FOREIGN COMPANIES
FOREIGN CURRENCY
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
FOREIGN INVESTORS
FOREIGN MARKETS
FOREIGN PENETRATION
FREE TRADE
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS
GDP
GENERAL SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES
GOVERNANCE INDICATORS
GOVERNANCE ISSUES
GOVERNANCE REGULATION
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
GROSS VALUE
GROUP OF INVESTORS
GROWTH RATE
GROWTH RATES
HUMAN CAPITAL
ILLITERACY
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS
INSTRUMENT
INTEREST RATE
INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT
INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
INTERNATIONAL PRICES
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
INVESTING
INVESTMENT CLIMATE
INVESTMENT CLIMATE ASSESSMENT
INVESTMENT DECISIONS
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
INVESTMENT PATTERNS
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
ITC
JUDICIAL SYSTEM
JUSTICE SYSTEM
LABOR FORCE
LABOR MARKET
LABOR STANDARDS
LEGAL SYSTEM
LOAN
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
LOW TARIFFS
LOW-INCOME
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
MACROECONOMIC INSTABILITY
MACROECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
MACROECONOMIC STABILITY
MARKET ACCESS
MARKET SHARE
MEDIUM ENTERPRISE
MICRO-FINANCE
MICRO-FINANCE INSTITUTIONS
MICROFINANCE
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS
MONETARY FUND
MOVABLE COLLATERAL
OUTPUT
OUTPUTS
OUTREACH PROGRAMS
OUTSOURCING
OVERDRAFT FACILITIES
PER CAPITA INCOME
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
POTENTIAL INVESTORS
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
PRIVATE BANKS
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRIVATE PROPERTY
PRIVATIZATION
PROBABILITY
PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES
PROPERTY RIGHTS
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
RED TAPE
REGIONAL INTEGRATION
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS
REGULATORY REGIME
REINVESTMENT
REMOTE AREAS
RENEWABLE ENERGY
RISK MANAGEMENT
RULE OF LAW
SAFETY NET
SALES
SAVINGS
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
SOCIAL SECURITY
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
TARIFF SYSTEM
TAX
TAX RATES
TAX SYSTEM
TAXATION
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TELEPHONE LINES
TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY
TRADE BALANCE
TRADE BARRIERS
TRADE CREDIT
TRADE DEFICIT
TRADE REGIME
TRADITIONAL INVESTORS
TRANSPARENCY
TREATY
UNEMPLOYMENT
VALUE ADDED
VERTICAL INTEGRATION
WAGES
WEALTH
WORKING CAPITAL
WORLD DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
WORLD ECONOMY
WORLD TRADE
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
WTO
World Bank
Guatemala : Investment Climate Assessment, Volume 1
geographic_facet Latin America & Caribbean
America
Central America
Guatemala
description Guatemala has achieved substantial progress in improving its investment climate since 2004. Despite these achievements, Guatemala continues to face significant challenges. Guatemala's overall ease of doing business ranking is still relatively low-114th out of 178 countries, and it falls well behind the rankings of comparator countries such as El Salvador (69), Nicaragua (93), and Panama (65). Economic growth in Guatemala over the past 25 years has been very modest, even by Latin American standards. Productivity and export growth has been disappointing. The Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) brings new opportunities as well as competitive pressures. To be competitive, Guatemala needs to aggressively tackle reforms in three main areas: infrastructure, governance, and access to finance. Reforms in these areas, as well as other targeted initiatives, will better position Guatemala to take advantage of CAFTA. The Government should also build on what has been working in trade promotion. Road, port, and airport quality could all be improved, with private sector participation playing a key role. Electricity subsidies should be targeted in a more efficient manner and the social tariff system should be reconsidered. More effective mechanisms to promote investments in renewable energy should be adopted. Guatemala should continue reforming its regulation of private business activity-especially in firm registration, construction permits, and tax and customs administration. The government should attack corruption directly. Concerted, long-term effort is needed to strengthen contract enforcement and the judiciary. To lower crime, the strategy should be to emphasize preventive measures and support greater police enforcement. The growth of commercially oriented microfinance institutions (MFIs) should be promoted through an adequate regulatory and supervisory framework. Accounting and auditing practices, financial information infrastructure, and regulatory norms for movable collateral should be strengthened.
format Economic & Sector Work :: Investment Climate Assessment (ICA)
author World Bank
author_facet World Bank
author_sort World Bank
title Guatemala : Investment Climate Assessment, Volume 1
title_short Guatemala : Investment Climate Assessment, Volume 1
title_full Guatemala : Investment Climate Assessment, Volume 1
title_fullStr Guatemala : Investment Climate Assessment, Volume 1
title_full_unstemmed Guatemala : Investment Climate Assessment, Volume 1
title_sort guatemala : investment climate assessment, volume 1
publisher Washington, DC
publishDate 2012
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/06/10286944/guatemala-investment-climate-assessment-vol-1-2
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/7820
_version_ 1764402962935840768
spelling okr-10986-78202021-04-23T14:02:35Z Guatemala : Investment Climate Assessment, Volume 1 World Bank ACCESS TO CREDIT ACCESS TO FINANCING ACCOUNTING AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AGRICULTURE ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION AVERAGE GROWTH AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY BANKING SECTORS BENCHMARK BENCHMARKING BENCHMARKS BENEFICIARIES BILATERAL TRADE BUSINESS CLIMATE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CALCULATIONS CAPITAL ACCUMULATION CAPITAL INFLOWS CAPITAL MARKETS CASH TRANSFERS COLLATERAL COMMODITIES COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES COMPETITIVENESS CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMERS CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT CONTRIBUTION CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CREDIT BUREAUS CREDIT GROWTH CREDIT LINE CREDITOR CREDITOR RIGHTS CURRENCY REGULATIONS DEBT DEBTORS DEFICITS DEMAND FOR CREDIT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY DIRECT COST DISPUTE RESOLUTION DOMESTIC CREDIT DOMESTIC ECONOMIES DOMESTIC MARKET EARNINGS ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ECONOMIC COOPERATION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC INTEGRATION ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES ENFORCEMENT POWER EQUIPMENT EXPENDITURE EXPORT GROWTH EXPORT MARKET EXPORT MARKETS EXPORT PERFORMANCE EXPORTER EXPORTERS EXPORTS EXPROPRIATION EXTERNAL FINANCING EXTERNAL TRADE FINANCIAL BENEFITS FINANCIAL FLOWS FINANCIAL INFORMATION FINANCIAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCIAL SECTOR FINANCIAL SERVICES FINANCIAL SITUATION FIRM PERFORMANCE FISCAL MANAGEMENT FOOD PRICE FOOD PRICES FORECASTS FOREIGN COMPANIES FOREIGN CURRENCY FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT FOREIGN EXCHANGE FOREIGN INVESTORS FOREIGN MARKETS FOREIGN PENETRATION FREE TRADE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS GDP GENERAL SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES GOVERNANCE INDICATORS GOVERNANCE ISSUES GOVERNANCE REGULATION GOVERNMENT REGULATION GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GROSS VALUE GROUP OF INVESTORS GROWTH RATE GROWTH RATES HUMAN CAPITAL ILLITERACY INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS INSTRUMENT INTEREST RATE INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS INTERNATIONAL MARKETS INTERNATIONAL PRICES INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS INTERNATIONAL TRADE INVESTING INVESTMENT CLIMATE INVESTMENT CLIMATE ASSESSMENT INVESTMENT DECISIONS INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES INVESTMENT PATTERNS INVESTMENT STRATEGIES ITC JUDICIAL SYSTEM JUSTICE SYSTEM LABOR FORCE LABOR MARKET LABOR STANDARDS LEGAL SYSTEM LOAN LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS LOW TARIFFS LOW-INCOME LOW-INCOME FAMILIES MACROECONOMIC INSTABILITY MACROECONOMIC PERFORMANCE MACROECONOMIC STABILITY MARKET ACCESS MARKET SHARE MEDIUM ENTERPRISE MICRO-FINANCE MICRO-FINANCE INSTITUTIONS MICROFINANCE MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS MONETARY FUND MOVABLE COLLATERAL OUTPUT OUTPUTS OUTREACH PROGRAMS OUTSOURCING OVERDRAFT FACILITIES PER CAPITA INCOME PERFORMANCE MEASURES POTENTIAL INVESTORS POVERTY ALLEVIATION PRIVATE BANKS PRIVATE INVESTMENT PRIVATE PROPERTY PRIVATIZATION PROBABILITY PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES PROPERTY RIGHTS PUBLIC EXPENDITURE RED TAPE REGIONAL INTEGRATION REGULATORY FRAMEWORK REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS REGULATORY REGIME REINVESTMENT REMOTE AREAS RENEWABLE ENERGY RISK MANAGEMENT RULE OF LAW SAFETY NET SALES SAVINGS SAVINGS ACCOUNTS SOCIAL SECURITY SUSTAINABLE GROWTH TARIFF SYSTEM TAX TAX RATES TAX SYSTEM TAXATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE LINES TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY TRADE BALANCE TRADE BARRIERS TRADE CREDIT TRADE DEFICIT TRADE REGIME TRADITIONAL INVESTORS TRANSPARENCY TREATY UNEMPLOYMENT VALUE ADDED VERTICAL INTEGRATION WAGES WEALTH WORKING CAPITAL WORLD DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS WORLD ECONOMY WORLD TRADE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION WTO Guatemala has achieved substantial progress in improving its investment climate since 2004. Despite these achievements, Guatemala continues to face significant challenges. Guatemala's overall ease of doing business ranking is still relatively low-114th out of 178 countries, and it falls well behind the rankings of comparator countries such as El Salvador (69), Nicaragua (93), and Panama (65). Economic growth in Guatemala over the past 25 years has been very modest, even by Latin American standards. Productivity and export growth has been disappointing. The Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) brings new opportunities as well as competitive pressures. To be competitive, Guatemala needs to aggressively tackle reforms in three main areas: infrastructure, governance, and access to finance. Reforms in these areas, as well as other targeted initiatives, will better position Guatemala to take advantage of CAFTA. The Government should also build on what has been working in trade promotion. Road, port, and airport quality could all be improved, with private sector participation playing a key role. Electricity subsidies should be targeted in a more efficient manner and the social tariff system should be reconsidered. More effective mechanisms to promote investments in renewable energy should be adopted. Guatemala should continue reforming its regulation of private business activity-especially in firm registration, construction permits, and tax and customs administration. The government should attack corruption directly. Concerted, long-term effort is needed to strengthen contract enforcement and the judiciary. To lower crime, the strategy should be to emphasize preventive measures and support greater police enforcement. The growth of commercially oriented microfinance institutions (MFIs) should be promoted through an adequate regulatory and supervisory framework. Accounting and auditing practices, financial information infrastructure, and regulatory norms for movable collateral should be strengthened. 2012-06-12T16:07:44Z 2012-06-12T16:07:44Z 2008-06 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/06/10286944/guatemala-investment-climate-assessment-vol-1-2 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/7820 English en_US CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank Washington, DC Economic & Sector Work :: Investment Climate Assessment (ICA) Economic & Sector Work Latin America & Caribbean America Central America Guatemala