Competitiveness
Guatemala
has
12
current
trade
agreements, through which it generates
84.2% of the country’s exports.
The commercial assistance in the foreign
trade processes has allowed for the
conditions to improve; for example, we
can mention some success stories like the
Unique Window for Exports (VUPE, in
Spanish) that improves the processes to
obtain export permits and in coordination
with the involved institutions, allows
these transactions to be more efficient
while reducing their costs.
It’s important to mention that from a few
years back, efforts to improve the inspections
of goods at the ports, airports and land
borders with the institutions involved have
been a challenge. That is why in July 2016,
an Inter-Institutional Convention for Joint
Inspections was achieved with signatures
from the Tax Administration, Ministry
of the Interior, Ministry of Agriculture,
Livestock and Food, ports and airports, in
order to prepare protocols specific to all.
As of March 2017, they implemented Joint
Inspections at the Quetzal Port as a pilot
16
GUATEMALABEYONDEXPECTATIONS .com
project, and at the International La Aurora
Airport, which will improve inspection
times and costs, improving the facilitation
of trade and competitiveness in the country. 4%
Business Climate
Guatemala
continues
improving
in
competitiveness, as shown by the indicators
for Doing Business from the World Bank in
2017, when Guatemala occupied the position
88 out of 190 countries, improving on the
indicators for electricity (19), credit (16),
cross border trade (77), property registry (74)
and construction permit management (89). Top 10
In the Global Competitiveness Index
2016-2017, the World Economic Forum,
the country was placed in position 78
of 140, highlighting its strength in the
financial market (18), the goods market
(48), business sophistication level (49) and
macroeconomic stability (57).
At a general level, the country’s evaluation
is over the world average as to economic
freedom, where it occupies the position 74
of 180 countries according The Heritage
Foundation, which supports it as an
attractive place for investment.
74
Inflation in 2016 that establishes
Guatemala among the countries
which levels are stable and controlled
Of Latin America in the Global
Competitiveness Index and
Doing Business
Position that Guatemala occupies in
the index for Commercial Facilitation
from the Heritage Foundation