Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06GUATEMALA49, GUATEMALA: 2006 INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06GUATEMALA49.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06GUATEMALA49 2006-01-11 22:09 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Guatemala
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 GUATEMALA 000049 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/IFD/OIA 
 
DEPT PASS TO USTR, OPIC AND EXIMBANK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EINV EFIN ETRD ELAB KTDB ECON GT OPIC EXIM
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA: 2006 INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT 
 
REF: STATE 202943 
 
Following is the 2006 Investment Climate Statement for 
Guatemala.  Report is keyed to format outlined in REFTEL. 
 
Begin text: 
 
VII.  Investment Climate 
 
A.1.  Openness to Foreign Investment 
 
The pro-business administration of President Oscar Berger took 
office in January 2004.  It has made promotion of foreign 
investment and competitiveness a priority, and ended the 
confrontation that existed between the government and the 
private sector during the previous four years. 
 
Hundreds of U.S. and other foreign firms have active 
investments in Guatemala.  Guatemala passed a foreign 
investment law in 1998 to streamline and facilitate foreign 
investment, and ratified the Central American - Dominican 
Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in 2005, which is the 
equivalent of a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).  However, 
in spite of the positive legal framework, time-consuming 
administrative procedures, bureaucratic impediments, 
inconsistent judicial decisions, and personal and product 
security concerns compromise the investment climate. 
 
There are no impediments to the formation of joint ventures or 
to the purchase of local companies by foreign investors.  The 
absence of an equities market in which shares of publicly 
traded firms are traded makes acquisitions or takeovers 
virtually impossible.  Most foreign firms operate as locally 
incorporated subsidiaries. 
 
Both domestic and foreign firms must publish their intent to 
conduct business, agree to Guatemalan legal jurisdiction, and 
register with the Ministry of Economy in order to incorporate 
formally in Guatemala.  Foreign firms are subject to 
additional, often time-consuming requirements, including 
demonstrating solvency, depositing operating capital in a 
local bank, supplying financial statements, contractually 
agreeing to fulfill all legal obligations before leaving the 
country, and appointing a Guatemalan citizen or foreign 
resident (with work permit) as legal representative.  The 
requirements are not used specifically to screen or 
discriminate against foreign companies, but the procedures can 
serve as a disincentive to investment. 
 
The Foreign Investment Law removed limitations to foreign 
ownership in domestic airlines and ground transport companies 
in January 2004.  However, some restrictions remain in sectors 
such as auditing, insurance and forestry.  For example, 
foreign insurance companies are not permitted to open branches 
in the country, but might operate as locally established 
companies.  There are no restrictions on foreign investment in 
the telecommunications and electrical power generation 
sectors. 
 
The GOG privatized a number of state-owned assets in 
industries such as power generation and distribution, 
telephone, and grain storage in the late nineties.  Upon 
taking office in January 2000, the previous administration 
indicated that it would review all previous privatizations and 
concessions, and initiated a process to review the 1999 
privatization of the telephone company.  In October 2001, the 
GOG reached an agreement with the telephone company.  The 
previous government also stated that it would unilaterally 
review all power purchase agreements, affecting the sector 
with the greatest foreign investment. 
 
The government subsequently decided not to take any action. 
In 2004, the semi-autonomous Human Rights Ombudsman 
provisionally suspended efforts by the electrical ratemaking 
authority to reduce subsidies mandated by the previous 
administration and establish a more rational rate structure, 
both of which were supported by the current administration and 
the IMF.  These politically motivated interventions into 
privatized businesses and their regulatory authorities have 
tended to erode investor confidence, despite the commitment of 
the current administration to upholding contracts and 
respecting regulatory autonomy. 
 
Subsurface minerals and petroleum are the property of the 
state.  Contracts for development are typically granted 
through production-sharing agreements which, in the past, were 
often negotiated in a non-transparent manner.  New legislation 
has resulted in a more transparent process, though the 
suspension in 2002 of a hydrocarbon exploration contract on 
environmental grounds, and without due process, raised some 
concerns among investors.  The government is planning to 
introduce new mining legislation in 2006 to encourage foreign 
investment in the sector while ensuring modern standards of 
environmental protection.  Recent violent protests against a 
major gold mining project are a reminder that mining has 
historically been a sensitive issue in Guatemala. 
Tariffs are based on the Common Duty System (SAC) of the 
Central American Common Market (CACM), which uses an eight- 
digit code based on the Harmonized Code.  In most cases, 
tariffs range between 0-15 percent. 
 
Guatemalan exports currently enjoy preferential access to the 
U.S. market through the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), the 
Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) and the 
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).  CAFTA, when 
implemented in early 2006, will expand these benefits and 
provide additional access and guarantees for U.S. investment, 
services, and intellectual property rights.  Current programs, 
together with favorable agricultural conditions, have allowed 
nontraditional agricultural exports such as cut flowers, 
seasonal fruits and vegetables, to grow rapidly over the last 
decade.  Textile and apparel assembly activities have grown as 
a result of CBI enhancement in October 2000.  However, rising 
labor costs relative to the Far East and Central American 
neighbors, high electricity costs, an overvalued local 
currency, and the WTO-mandated lifting of quotas in January 
2005 have affected the sector's competitiveness. 
Implementation of CAFTA, which broadens rules of origin and 
provides a tariff preference in the U.S. market with respect 
to Asia, will be critical for the sector. 
 
A.2.  Conversion and Transfer Policies 
 
The rights to hold private property and to engage in business 
activities are specifically recognized by the Guatemalan 
Constitution.  Foreign private entities can establish, acquire 
and dispose freely of virtually any type of business interest, 
with the exceptions of insurance, auditing and forestry as 
noted above.  Guatemala's foreign investment law and CAFTA 
commitments protect the investor's right to remit profits and 
repatriate capital.   There are no restrictions on converting 
or transferring funds associated with an investment (or any 
other licit activity) into a freely usable currency at a 
market-clearing rate.  U.S. dollars are freely available and 
easy to obtain within the Guatemalan banking system.  There 
are no legal constraints on the quantity of remittances or any 
other capital flows, and there have been no reports of unusual 
delays in the remittance of investment returns. 
 
The Law of Free Negotiation of Currencies allows Guatemalan 
banks to offer different types of foreign currency-denominated 
accounts.  In practice, the dollar is the only foreign 
currency used with any frequency.  Some banks offer "pay 
through" dollar-denominated accounts in which the depositor 
makes deposits and withdrawals at a local bank with the actual 
account maintained on behalf of the depositor in an offshore 
bank. 
 
Capital can be transferred from Guatemala to any other 
jurisdiction without restriction.  Guatemalan firms have been 
active investors in Central America, the Dominican Republic, 
and South Florida, but not elsewhere. 
 
A.3.  Expropriation and Compensation 
 
The Constitution prohibits expropriation except in cases of 
eminent domain, national interest, or social benefit.  The 
foreign investment law requires advance compensation in cases 
of expropriation. 
 
A.4.  Dispute Settlement 
 
Resolution of business disputes through Guatemala's judicial 
system is time-consuming and unreliable.  Civil cases can take 
as long as a decade to resolve.  Corruption in the judiciary 
is not uncommon. 
 
The Government of Guatemala has signed the United Nations 
Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral 
Awards (New York Convention) as well as the Interamerican 
Convention on International Commercial Arbitration (Panama 
Convention).  In addition, Guatemala has signed the Convention 
on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and 
Nationals of other States (ICSID), which was approved by the 
Guatemalan Congress in 1996 but has not been ratified by the 
Executive Branch.  The foreign investment law permits 
international arbitration or alternative resolution of 
disputes, if agreed by the parties. 
 
Guatemalan procedures for enforcing agreements do not differ 
significantly from those of the United States.  Guatemala's 
Arbitration Law of 1995 is based on the UNCITRAL Model Law for 
International Commercial Arbitration.  Therefore, Guatemalan 
regulations applicable to these matters are fully in line with 
the New York Convention.  Default awards and arbitral 
agreements can be fully enforced in Guatemala.   In addition, 
CAFTA includes a dispute resolution mechanism that provides an 
alternative to Guatemala's problematic judicial system. 
 
A.5.  Performance Requirements/Incentives 
 
Guatemala does not impose performance, purchase or export 
requirements other than those normally associated with free 
trade zones and duty drawback programs.  There are no 
conditions on locations in specific geographic areas or on the 
percentage of local content in production. 
 
Guatemala eliminated remaining trade-related investment 
restrictions with the 1998 foreign investment law and became 
compliant with WTO obligations stemming from the Agreement on 
Trade Related Investment Measures (TRIMS).  Guatemala sent its 
notification of TRIMS compliance to the WTO in 1999. 
 
Investment incentives are specified in law and are available, 
with few exceptions, to both foreign and Guatemalan investors 
without discrimination. 
 
The major Guatemalan incentive program, the Law for the 
Promotion and Development of Export Activities and Drawback, 
is aimed mainly at "maquiladoras" - garment manufacturing or 
assembly operations for which over half of production inputs 
and components are imported and the completed products are 
exported.  Incentives include exemption of duties and value- 
added taxes on imports of machinery and a one-year suspension 
of duties and value-added taxes, which can be extended to a 
second year, on each import of production inputs and packing 
material.  Taxes are then waived when the goods are re- 
exported.  Some investors claimed that significant payments 
were demanded by officials of the previous administration in 
order to process tax waivers or value added tax rebates, but 
this situation has reportedly improved.  Investors in this 
sector are also granted a 10-year income tax exemption, and 
are also exempt from the Temporary and Extraordinary Tax to 
Support the Peace Agreements (IETAP), Guatemala's alternative 
minimum tax on either net assets or gross income, during the 
10-year income tax exemption period.  The income tax exemption 
will be eliminated on December 31, 2009. 
 
Property owners who engage in reforestation activities may 
qualify for government incentives through the National 
Institute of Forests (INAB). 
 
A.6.  Right to Private Ownership And Establishment 
 
The right to hold private property and to engage in business 
activity is recognized in the Guatemalan Constitution.  The 
foreign investment law specifically notes that foreign 
investors enjoy the same rights of use, benefit, and ownership 
of property as afforded Guatemalans.  These rights are subject 
only to the limitations imposed by the Guatemalan 
Constitution.  Foreigners are prohibited from owning land 
immediately adjacent to rivers, oceans and international 
borders. 
 
A.7.  Protection of Property Rights 
 
Land invasions by squatters have become common in rural areas, 
and it can be difficult to obtain and enforce eviction 
notices, as land title is often clouded.  The police has 
tended to avoid actions against squatters that could provoke 
violence.  The government has stepped up its efforts to 
enforce property rights where title is clear, and some 
incidents have led to violence and deaths. 
 
Mortgages are available for both home and business purchasers, 
though in practice, few banks offer loans for residential real 
estate for longer than five-year terms. 
 
The legal system is accessible to foreigners and does not 
discriminate on the surface.  However, in practice, it favors 
a "home team" accustomed to maneuvering a case through the 
process, and corruption is common.  Foreign investors should 
seek reliable local counsel early in the investment process. 
 
Regarding intellectual property rights (IPR), Guatemala 
belongs to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World 
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).  It is also a 
signatory to the Paris Convention, Bern Convention, Rome 
Convention, Phonograms Convention, and the Nairobi Treaty. 
Guatemala has ratified the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and the 
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT). 
The Guatemalan Congress passed legislation in August 2000 to 
bring the country's intellectual property rights laws into 
compliance with the WTO's TRIPS agreement.  This legislation 
was modified in 2003 to provide pharmaceutical test data 
protection more consistent with international practice. 
However, legislation in December 2004 effectively removed data 
protection for pharmaceutical products and agricultural 
chemicals.  After a tough internal debate, in February 2005 
Congress restored data protection in an effort to comply with 
CAFTA commitments.  The Attorney General appointed a special 
prosecutor devoted to IPR violations in May 2001 in an effort 
to improve the government's enforcement actions, but 
successful prosecution of violators is rare.  High piracy 
rates remain a concern, with the piracy rate for software 
applications, as reported by the Business Software Alliance, 
increasing from 77 percent in 2003 to 78 percent in 2004. 
 
A.8.  Transparency of the Regulatory System 
 
Bureaucratic hurdles are common for both domestic and foreign 
companies.  Regulations often contain few explicit criteria 
for government administrators, resulting in ambiguous 
requirements that are applied inconsistently or retroactively 
by different government agencies.  The administration that 
assumed power in early 2004 has repeatedly expressed its 
intention to improve matters, and its initial results have 
been promising.  In March 2004, the new administration made 
mandatory the use of an internet-based electronic system that 
is open to the public to publicize Guatemala's procurement 
needs, which is improving transparency in the government 
procurement process. 
 
The creation of the semi-autonomous Superintendent of Tax 
Administration (SAT) in 1999 was expected to improve customs 
procedures, but results under the previous administration were 
at best disappointing, leading international donors to suspend 
their assistance.  The new government has begun implementing a 
more systematic and professional approach, focusing more on 
advance processing of electronic documentation and less on 
random inspections.  Additionally, corrupt customs officials 
are being systematically weeded out.  Guatemala officially 
implemented in its domestic legislation the WTO Customs 
Valuation Agreement on August 10, 2004.  Public participation 
in the promulgation of regulations is rare, and there is no 
consistent legislative oversight of administrative rule 
making. 
 
A.9.  Efficient Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment 
 
Guatemala's capital markets are weak and inefficient, though 
some consolidation and restructuring have begun as the result 
of financial reforms legislated in the past few years. 
Guatemala's 25 commercial banks have an estimated $11 billion 
in assets among them.  The five largest banks control about 62 
percent of total assets.  In addition, there are about 17 
private non-bank financial institutions, which perform 
primarily investment banking and medium and long-term lending, 
and six exchange houses.  The Superintendent of Banks (SIB) is 
charged with regulating the financial services industry. 
 
Previous banking regulations and practices provided banks and 
other financial services providers wide latitude in valuing 
assets and evaluating the performance and quality of those 
assets.  In April 2002, the Guatemalan Congress passed a 
package of financial sector regulatory reforms that have 
increased the scope of regulation and supervision and brought 
local practices more in line with international standards. 
The reforms include a new Banking and Financial Groups Law, a 
Financial Supervision Law and the Central Bank Law.  The laws 
should encourage further consolidation of the banking system 
into a smaller number of stronger banks. 
 
According to the new Banking and Financial Groups Law, groups 
of affiliated credit card, insurance, finance, commercial 
banking, leasing, and related companies must issue 
consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with 
uniform, generally accepted accounting standards.  These 
groups are then each subject to audit and supervision on a 
consolidated basis.  This is forcing banks to include non- 
performing assets they used to park offshore in their 
calculation of loan loss provisions and capital adequacy 
ratios.  The new calculations, in turn, are forcing a number 
of banks to seek new capital, buyers, or mergers with stronger 
banks.  As of December 2004, the Superintendence of Banks had 
approved the establishment of 14 financial groups, 11 of which 
include licensed offshore banks. 
 
The Guatemalan Congress passed strong anti-money laundering 
legislation in December 2001, and Guatemalan authorities 
developed an aggressive plan to prevent use of its financial 
system by money launderers, enacting regulations to control 
offshore activities and establishing a Financial Intelligence 
Unit.  The recent progress in money laundering and bank 
regulatory reform led to Guatemala's removal from the 
Financial Action Task Force's list of non-cooperating 
countries in the fight against money laundering in July 2004. 
 
There are two principal commercial exchanges that deal almost 
exclusively in commercial paper and government bonds.  There 
is no market in publicly traded equities.  Borrowers face real 
interest rates of up to 53 percent.  Foreign investors are 
reported to be active participants in financial markets and 
are large holders of government debt.  Foreigners rarely rely 
on the local credit market to finance investments. 
 
A.10.  Political Violence 
 
The Guatemalan government and the guerrillas of the Guatemalan 
National Revolutionary Unity (URNG) signed an Accord for a 
Firm and Lasting Peace on December 29, 1996, ending the 36- 
year internal armed conflict.  Political violence, which was 
already much reduced from the worst years of that conflict 
(1979-1984), decreased to even lower levels after the 
demobilization of guerrilla forces and civilian defense 
patrols, and a dramatic reduction in the size and role of 
Guatemala's regular army.  Resumption of large-scale armed 
political conflict appears highly unlikely, though there are 
occasional incidents of violence associated with organized 
land invasions, protests against mining, and the like. 
 
While political violence is much reduced, Guatemala is 
experiencing a post-conflict wave of common crime, including 
kidnapping, car-jacking and robberies of banks and armored 
cars.  Personal security from crime was a major campaign issue 
in the 2003 general elections and remains a widespread 
concern, according to public opinion surveys.  Violence is 
sufficiently widespread in Guatemala that it is often 
impossible to tell whether crimes, including murders, are 
motivated by politics, interpersonal conflicts, organized 
crime activities, or are simply the result of random violence. 
Foreigners are not singled out as the targets of crime but, 
like Guatemalans, must remain watchful.  Large firms report 
that security, including security of shipments, adds as much 
as 25 percent to the variable cost of doing business in 
Guatemala. 
 
Guatemala has a border dispute with Belize, and territorial 
sea disputes with Belize and Honduras.  It remains committed 
to resolving these disputes through diplomatic means.  Talks 
with Belize under the auspices of the Organization of American 
States (OAS) have stalled.  Honduras is participating in the 
Guatemala-Belize discussions leading to resolution of its 
maritime dispute with Guatemala. 
 
A.11.  Corruption 
 
Though bribery is illegal under the penal code, corruption is 
a serious problem that companies may encounter at many levels. 
Guatemala's score on the 2005 Transparency International's 
Corruption Perceptions Index was 2.5 points, which reflects 
the perception of severe corruption problems.  Investors have 
historically found corruption most pervasive in customs 
transactions, particularly at ports and borders away from the 
capital.  Guatemala ratified the Inter-American Convention 
against corruption in July 2001, but has not implemented all 
of its provisions, such as criminalizing illicit enrichment. 
However, enrichment related to narcotics trafficking activity 
is now illegal.  The new administration has taken measures to 
reverse the increase in government corruption under the 
previous administration, but consolidating institutional 
reform remains slow.  Former President Portillo, Vice 
President Reyes and several senior officials who served during 
the previous administration are under investigation for their 
role in corruption scandals, and the former Superintendent of 
Tax Administration and Minister of Interior are in jail 
pending trial. The former Comptroller General was recently 
found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 17 years in prison, and 
the former Minister of Finance was released after spending one 
year in prison.  Guatemala signed the UN Convention against 
Corruption in December 2003, but it has not been ratified. 
 
B.  Bilateral Investment Agreements 
 
Guatemala has signed bilateral investment agreements with 
Argentina, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, South 
Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the Czech Republic, 
and The Netherlands.  CAFTA contains a chapter on investment 
similar to a Bilateral Investment Treaty with the U.S.  Aside 
from CAFTA Guatemala has also signed bilaterally or in 
conjunction with other Central American countries, free trade 
agreements with Chile, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan 
and is currently negotiating with Canada and Panama. 
 
C.  OPIC and Other Investment Insurance Programs 
 
Guatemala ratified the Multilateral Investment Guarantee 
Agreement (MIGA) in 1996.  The Overseas Private Investment 
Corporation (OPIC) is active in Guatemala, providing both 
insurance and investment financing.  Obtaining Foreign 
Government Approval (FGA) for OPIC applicants has generally 
been very fast.  For more information on OPIC programs, U.S. 
investors should contact OPIC headquarters in Washington, D.C. 
at tel. (202) 336-8799. 
 
D.  Labor 
 
The Ministry of Labor oversees a tripartite committee that 
makes recommendations for increases in the minimum wage.  In 
the event that agreement is not reached in the tripartite 
commission, the Government may decree such increases based on 
recommendations of the Labor Minister.  This occurred in late 
2005, when the President raised the wage by 10%.  Including a 
mandatory monthly bonus for salaried workers, the increase 
brings the agricultural minimum wage to 53.8 quetzales (about 
$6.90), and the wage for non-agricultural work to 55 quetzales 
(about $7.05). 
 
The legal workday is 8 hours and the workweek is 48 hours; a 
tradition of longer hours remains in place in certain sectors. 
These limits do not apply to domestic workers.  For day shift 
workers, the standard 6-day workweek is 44 hours; for night 
shift workers, it is 36 hours; for swing shift workers, it is 
42 hours.  Time-and-a-half pay is required for overtime work. 
The Labor Code requires a weekly paid rest period of at least 
24 hours.  Trade union leaders and human rights groups charge 
that employers sometimes force workers to work overtime 
without legally-mandated premium pay.  Labor inspectors 
reported uncovering numerous instances of such abuses, but the 
lack of strong fines or regulatory sanctions, as well as 
inefficiencies in the labor court system and enforcement of 
court orders, inhibit adequate enforcement of the law. 
 
The Constitution guarantees the right of workers to unionize 
and to strike (Article 102 paragraph (q), and Article 104); 
the Constitution also commits the state to supporting and 
protecting collective bargaining and to respecting the 
stipulations of international labor conventions (Article 106). 
However, the rate of unionization is very low.  According to 
Labor Ministry statistics, 56,000 people -- approximately 3 
percent of the country's formal labor sector -- were union 
members in 2003, the last year reported. 
 
Managers of Guatemalan companies must be either Guatemalan 
citizens or resident aliens with work permits.  The labor code 
specifies employer responsibilities regarding working 
conditions, especially health and safety standards, benefits, 
severance pay, and bonuses.  Employers are legally required to 
pay bonuses equivalent to one month's salary in July and 
December.  The law establishes a two-month probationary period 
for new employees.  If dismissed at any time after completing 
this two-month period of employment, employees receive 
separation pay equal to one month's pay for each year worked. 
Employers are required to make a 12.67 percent contribution 
for social security.  Mandatory benefits, bonuses, and 
employer contributions can add up to over 60 percent of an 
employee's base pay.  Many workers, especially in agriculture, 
do not receive the full compensation package mandated in the 
labor law and in practice many labor rights are not well- 
enforced. 
 
The estimated 1.8 million individuals in the formal sector 
workforce are augmented by at least three million more who 
work in the informal sector, including those who are too young 
for formal sector employment.  In rural areas in particular, 
child labor remains a serious problem in certain industries. 
The availability of a large, unskilled and inexpensive labor 
force has led many employers, such as construction and 
agricultural firms, to use labor-intensive production methods. 
Over a quarter of the overall workforce is illiterate.  In 
developed urban areas however, education levels are much 
higher, and a workforce with the skills necessary to staff a 
growing service sector has emerged.  Even so, highly capable 
technical and managerial workers remain in short supply, with 
secondary and tertiary education focused on social science 
careers. 
USTR closed its review of worker rights in Guatemala at the 
conclusion of the 2003 annual review of the Generalized System 
of Preferences as a result of positive steps taken by the 
government in conjunction with the recently concluded U.S. 
Central American FTA, which includes binding labor provisions. 
E.  Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports 
 
Guatemalan law permits the establishment of free trade zones. 
Currently, there are twenty-two authorized, with twelve in 
operation.  Commercial activities and apparel assembly 
operations are the common beneficiaries of Guatemala's free 
trade and "maquiladora" laws. 
 
F.  Foreign Direct Investment Statistics 
 
There is no reliable data on foreign direct investment. 
 
Major U.S. companies, including investors: 
 (representative, but not a complete listing) 
 
ACS 
American Cyanamid Co 
Avon products 
Cargill 
Citibank 
Coastal Power 
Colgate Palmolive 
Constellation Power 
Exxon 
Gillette 
Kellogg Co 
Kimberly Clark Corp 
Levi Strauss & Co 
Marriott Hotels 
3M 
Phillip Morris Inc. 
Proctor and Gamble 
Railroad Development Corporation 
Ralston Purina 
Sabritas-Frito Lay 
Teco Power Services 
Texaco 
Warner Lambert 
Xerox 
 
Other major foreign investors: 
 
Barcelo Hotel 
BD Centroamericana 
Bimbo de C.A. 
Cindal-Nestle 
Elektra 
Ericsson de Guatemala 
Shell Oil 
Siemens 
Telefonica de Espana 
Telmex 
Union Fenosa 
 
End text. 
 
 
DERHAM