Business in Honduras continues to flourish and factories continue to produce high-quality exports.
BY VILMA SIERRA DE FONSECA
Over the past month, the change in government in Honduras has been in the news. The political situation is of concern to all Hondurans, and I can tell you that the business community is united in urging a peaceful and quick resolution.
Unfortunately, the normality of life in Honduras has not received much media attention. Business here continues to flourish, and people are going about their normal lives – working, relaxing, attending school, shopping, visiting friends and family, going out to eat, and so forth. In short, we are operating as usual.
Honduran factories, many in our industrial parks in Free Trade Zones, continue to produce high-quality electrical harnesses, automotive components, textiles & apparel, and many other products for export. Our call centers and other service providers are serving their regional, local and international customers.
From Puerto Cortes, our deep water, Atlantic Megaport, operating under the U.S. Container Security Initiative (CSI), shipments of manufactured and raw items are moving regularly to and from the United States and other markets. The country’s four international airports – in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Roatán, and La Ceiba – remain fully open for business.
Cruise ships continue to visit the popular Caribbean island of Roatán, just off the Honduran coast.
PERFECT POSITION
In short, Central America’s second largest country remains in perfect position for U.S. companies seeking business and investment opportunities.
Allow me to summarize Honduras’ many advantages, which include:
Young, industrious workforce comprising 2.9 million men and women, many of them engineers and technicians, who are available at competitive wages.
Articulate, bilingual employees whose second language is English.
Proximity to the United States – about two hours by plane from Miami, Atlanta, and Houston and 48 hours by cargo ship.
Puerto Cortes’ efficient customs process allowing shipments to pre-clear U.S. customs before arrival in the United States, saving time and money.
Preferential conditions for business with access to the second largest market in Latin America and to the United States through CAFTA-DR and permanent Free Trade Zone status available throughout Honduras.
Logistic Corridor or Dry Canal connecting the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, offering an alternative to shipping through the Panama Canal.
Liberalized telecommunications network, competitive mobile and international phone rates, and fiber optic lines.
Vertical integration and a full-package approach to manufacturing, allowing coordination of all aspects of production.
Year-round growing season allowing production of a wide variety of crops.
Prime tourist eco- and geo-tourist attractions – virgin white sand beaches, top-notch diving along the world’s second-largest coral reef, distinguished Maya archeology, colonial cities, tropical rainforests, and living cultures.
Numerous vocational institutes and technical high schools preparing students for professional careers and providing a rich research resource for businesses.
Finally, we invite you to come see how Honduras is doing business as usual and what we offer.
Vilma Sierra de Fonseca is the Executive President of Honduras' Foundation for Investment & Development of Exports (FIDE).
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From: Linda, USA Excellent article! I will pass it on.
From: James Padgett, Los Angeles, CA Praise God that Honduras business is going on well. Hats off to the Honduran Supreme Court and Congress for not "cowtaling" to initial pressure from US to re-install Chavez' good drinking buddy,Zelaya. Honduras needs Zelaya back in as president as much as it needs a hurricane! Continue to be storng in doing what is best for your country. Keep Honduras democratic and don't let it become a socialist leftist country like Venezueal, Cuba and Bolivia.
From: Edward, Roatan, Honduras Although the author obviously has a vested interest in promoting Honduras business, she raises a very interesting point. As a foreign resident here it is amazing how the actual day to day lives of the people in Honduras is no different than it was a year or two ago. This belies the CNN, etc reports that would make you believe there is much civil unrest. Absolutely not true. If anything everyone I see, with very few exceptions, are pleased with the removal of Zelaya and proud of their country. As a foreigner living here and knowing what really happened I have to say I too am proud of these people. The main point here is that on the mainland and here in the islands it's business as usual.
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