BLP’s summary of the most important regional news and opportunities offers an overview of the economic, social, and political landscape of Central America at just a click away.
Costa Rica Makes Headway in a Pioneering Digital Trade Partnership
Costa Rica submitted its instrument of accession to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), marking a decisive step toward completing its accession process. The submission took place in New Zealand, the Agreement’s depositary, culminating a technical and inter-institutional process that began in December 2022. For the country, this accession represents a strategic opportunity, given that services already account for 46% of total exports, with nearly half of those conducted through digital channels. The Minister of Foreign Trade emphasized that the agreement will facilitate cross-border e-commerce, data protection, and collaboration on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. This accession will strengthen Costa Rica’s cooperation with New Zealand, Singapore, Chile, and South Korea, consolidating the country’s position as a reliable partner in paperless trade, cybersecurity, and digital identity, and opening new investment opportunities in the digital economy.
Costa Rica Sets Its Sights on South America to Attract New Travelers
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute launched a strategy to position the country as a leading destination for sustainable tourism among travelers from Argentina and Chile, highlighting its biodiversity, culture, and cuisine. The 2026–2027 Comprehensive Annual Strategic Plan will drive promotional efforts targeting travel agents, wholesalers, the media, and influencers during the second half of the year. As part of this initiative, a group of Argentine influencers is touring iconic destinations such as the Central Market, Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Tortuguero, and La Fortuna de San Carlos. During the first half of 2026, 18,956 Argentine tourists visited the country, a 5.5% increase over the previous year, while 9,664 visitors arrived from Chile, in line with the same period in 2025. Tourism remains one of Costa Rica’s main economic drivers, and this commitment to diversifying markets strengthens investment opportunities in the country’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
Costa Rica Launches Its Largest Solar Energy Project to Date
Coopeguanacaste began construction of the Abangares Photovoltaic Solar Project, which will become the largest solar park in Costa Rica with a capacity of 70 megawatts, through a US$72.6 million investment developed in partnership with the Costa Rican Electricity Institute. The project, located in Colorado de Abangares, will begin operations in December 2027 and will triple the cooperative’s current solar generation capacity, which already successfully operates three parks in the province of Guanacaste. The work will transform a cattle ranch into a field of 119,028 solar panels, avoiding the emission of 54,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year and supplying clean energy to some 18,000 homes in the area. During its construction phase, the project will generate 670 direct jobs and 250 indirect jobs, contributing to local economic recovery. This investment reinforces Costa Rica’s leadership in renewable energy and strengthens the technical and financial soundness of Costa Rican cooperativism as a driver of strategic infrastructure.
Golfito Is Positioning Itself as the New Engine of Development for Costa Rica’s South Pacific Region
Golfito is moving forward with a series of strategic projects that strengthen the region’s infrastructure, tourism, and connectivity, led by Marina Bahía Golfito in coordination with public institutions, academia, and the private sector. As part of the first investment under Law 10715, community infrastructure and port logistics projects will be developed, including a new public road, a strategic connection to the INCOP pier, and a new port authority office—all financed with private funds totaling US$2.2 million, which will be donated to the government. In the tourism sector, Expo Golfo Dulce 2026 will bring together national and international buyers from August 19 to 22, consolidating Golfito’s status as the host of a key regional event. The region is also making progress in authorizing private international flights and developing an Ocean Research Center in partnership with the UCR and Seakeepers, which aims to position Golfo Dulce as a leader in marine conservation. These joint initiatives strengthen the South Pacific as a new hub for investment in sustainable tourism, logistics, and scientific innovation for Costa Rica.
Costa Rica Has a Strong Economy with a Significant Supply of Foreign Currency
The Central Bank of Costa Rica purchased US$2.466 million on the foreign exchange market during the first 137 trading sessions of the year to meet the needs of the public sector, the third-highest figure on record for the institution. According to the most recent Monetary Policy Report, this abundance of foreign currency is primarily due to foreign direct investment inflows and the sustained growth of exports from professional, scientific, and technical activities, as well as from free trade zones. This momentum has also contributed to a decline in the exchange rate, which closed at ¢450.81 on Monex, well below the ¢499.81 recorded a year ago. The Central Bank emphasized that this relative availability of foreign currency reflects the strength of the export sector and investor confidence in the country. This trend confirms Costa Rica’s status as an attractive economy for foreign investment, supported by a constantly expanding services sector and free trade zones.
El Salvador Accelerates a Project That Will Transform Mobility in the Capital
Construction is moving forward on El Salvador’s first Aerocable, with civil engineering work on the 23 towers that will make up this first cable transport line now nearly 60% complete. The project will connect the districts of Mejicanos and San Salvador, linking the Melher factory area with the Historic Center, and preliminary work has already begun on the four stations: La Melher, University of El Salvador, Government Center, and Rubén Darío. The Minister of Public Works explained that although assembling the metal towers is quick, the underground foundation work is the most complex stage of the project. The Aerocable is part of a master mobility plan that will integrate it as a feeder system for a main mass transit corridor in the San Salvador Metropolitan Area, and the government is already studying future lines in areas such as Soyapango and El Boquerón. This type of infrastructure strengthens urban connectivity and opens up new investment opportunities in mobility and urban development in El Salvador.
El Salvador Expands Its Commitment to Cable Car Transportation with New Lines in Soyapango
El Salvador’s Ministry of Public Works and Transportation is moving forward with the design of two cable car lines for Soyapango, which would connect communities such as Las Margaritas with mass transit corridors leading to Bulevar del Ejército and the Pan-American Highway all the way to Santa Tecla. According to Minister Romeo Rodríguez, the designs are nearly complete, and the project is moving toward finalizing the documentation before the bidding process. These lines would function as feeder systems, with a capacity of up to 3,500 passengers per hour, according to studies by the Korean agency KOICA. The national cable car transportation plan also includes future lines to El Boquerón and between Los Planes de Renderos, Puerta del Diablo, and Panchimalco. Meanwhile, the first circuit between Zacamil and Cuscatlán Park—with an investment of US$130 million—remains under construction and is projected to begin operations in 2027. This expansion of the cable car system reinforces El Salvador’s commitment to modernizing its urban mobility and attracting investment in transportation infrastructure.
El Salvador Receives a Boost from the IMF, Confirming Its Economic Strength
The First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Dan Katz, highlighted the Salvadoran economy’s progress and confirmed that the organization is making steady progress in its reviews of the country’s current financial program. In December 2024, El Salvador and the IMF reached an Extended Fund Facility agreement for US$1.4 billion, aimed at strengthening fiscal and external sustainability through fiscal consolidation, strengthening international reserves, and measures to promote economic growth. The first review, completed in June 2025, rated the program’s performance as solid, with the economy continuing to grow while correcting macroeconomic imbalances. The World Bank projects growth of 3.2% for 2026, following 3.9% recorded in 2025, while the Central Reserve Bank reported GDP growth of 4.79% in the first quarter of 2026, driven by construction and mining and quarrying. This international support reinforces the confidence of markets and investors in El Salvador’s economic trajectory.
El Salvador Is Nearing a Strategic Milestone with Its New Airport in the Eastern Region
Earthwork on the Pacific International Airport in La Unión is 92% complete, according to the Autonomous Executive Port Commission. Construction, which began in January 2025, has created 3,500 jobs during this phase, and the first phase is projected to be completed by mid-2027. The project includes a passenger terminal, a 2,400-meter runway, a remote-control tower, a heliport, hangars, and security systems, with a total investment of US$386.4 million in its first phase. Once operational, the airport will facilitate access to tourist destinations such as the beaches of El Tamarindo and Las Tunas, besides helping attract investment in commerce, logistics, and airport services. According to the Ministry of Finance, this project has received the largest allocation of public investment for 2026, establishing itself as one of the most important initiatives for the economic and tourism development of eastern El Salvador.
El Salvador Secures Key Funding to Modernize Its Road Network
The Central American Bank for Economic Integration and the Government of El Salvador signed a US$155 million loan agreement for a road infrastructure and urban mobility program. The funds will finance the widening to four lanes of a seven-kilometer stretch of highway between Atiquizaya and Ahuachapán, including bike lanes, sidewalks, pedestrian bridges, and road safety improvements. The agreement also covers the design and construction of the northern corridor of the San Salvador Metropolitan Area’s ring road, as well as a 7.4-kilometer expressway that will connect Los Planes de Renderos with the highway to Comalapa and Ejército Boulevard. CABEI emphasized that these projects will help alleviate traffic in the capital, improve regional connectivity, and facilitate trade. The Legislative Assembly already authorized this financing in June, marking a key step toward more sustainable and competitive urban development in El Salvador.
Guatemala Launches a Megaproject Aimed at Redefining the Logistics Landscape of the Americas
The Guatemalan Interoceanic Consortium (CIGSA) began construction of the Guatemalan Interoceanic Corridor with the unveiling of the San Jorge International Logistics Center in Puerto Barrios, Izabal—the first component of a 372-kilometer logistics platform that will connect the Atlantic and Pacific via rail freight transport. The development encompasses more than 22 million square meters designated for port terminals, a cargo airport, industrial parks, and energy infrastructure, and its unveiling drew more than 400 attendees, including investors from Guatemala, El Salvador, the United States, Spain, and England. This is a 100% privately funded project, developed over 25 years through voluntary agreements with more than 3,500 landowning families, and recognized by the Guatemalan government as being in the public interest and of national importance. The corridor aims to complement the Panama Canal by offering a multimodal logistics alternative for trade between Asia and the Americas. If developed as planned, this initiative could establish itself as a key platform for attracting industrial and logistics investment to Guatemala and the entire Northern Triangle.
British Financing Drives a Historic Leap Forward for Guatemala’s Mobility
The United Kingdom will provide up to 5,000 million pounds sterling (US$6,750 million) to finance infrastructure projects in Guatemala, with priority given to the MetroRiel mass transit system, according to a bilateral agreement signed on July 9. The funding will be channeled through the British export credit agency UK Export Finance, as part of a strategic partnership with the Infrastructure Exports: UK consortium to structure the planning of the rail projects. MetroRiel is one of thirteen infrastructure projects prioritized by the Arévalo de León administration to modernize connectivity in the metropolitan region, which is home to more than five million people. The British ambassador emphasized that large-scale projects require strong institutions and good governance, while the Guatemalan president highlighted the technical support this agreement provides to the project. This large-scale financing reinforces international confidence in Guatemala and strengthens investment opportunities in the country’s infrastructure and urban mobility.
Guatemala Strengthens Its Financial Safeguards with a Law That Boosts Its International Competitiveness
The Guatemalan Congress approved Decree 15-2026, the new Comprehensive Law Against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, which modernizes a regulatory framework that had fallen behind by more than two decades and adapts it to the digital age, including mobile transfers and crypto-assets. The country’s leading business chambers, such as CACIF, AGEXPORT, and AmCham, described the measure as a strategic decision that strengthens institutional frameworks and bolsters the confidence of international investors and trading partners. The legislation is key in preparation for the Financial Action Task Force’s evaluation scheduled for 2027, helping to avoid the risk of Guatemala being placed on “gray lists,” which would affect correspondent banking and the flow of remittances—equivalent to 20% of GDP. The law also introduces, for the first time, a regulatory framework for virtual asset service providers, bringing order to a rapidly expanding technology sector. This regulatory advancement reinforces Guatemala’s position as a secure, transparent, and competitive trading partner for international investment.
Honduras Takes a Key Step Toward Gaining the Trust of International Investors
Honduras formalized its re-entry into the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) by depositing its instrument of ratification with the World Bank, sending one of the most significant signals to markets regarding its commitment to legal certainty for foreign investment. With this step, the country will once again become a member state as of August 16, 2026, regaining access to the primary international mechanism for resolving disputes between investors and states. This accession is seen as a key indicator for infrastructure funds and multinational companies, reducing the perceived risk in capital-intensive sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and telecommunications. This decision coincides with a warming of relations between Honduras and the United States, as well as with the country’s interest in positioning itself in the growing regional competition to attract nearshoring projects. This return to ICSID strengthens Honduras’s institutional framework and serves as a strategic move to enhance its appeal relative to other investment destinations in Central America.
Honduras Strengthens Its Economic Stability with New Measures and an Upward Revision to Remittance Forecasts
The Central Bank of Honduras announced new measures to curb inflation, which stood at 5.83% year-over-year in June, while revising its remittance growth forecast for 2026 upward from 3.5% to 7.5%. Starting in August, the central bank will increase the amounts offered in securities auctions and the reverse repo rate to absorb liquidity, complementing previous measures that have already reduced the money supply growth rate from 16.5% to 11%. BCH President Roberto Lagos projected that inflation will stabilize around 4%, within the institutional tolerance range. The new remittance estimate could exceed US$13,100 million in 2026, after reaching US$12,297.3 million in 2025. The country also recorded 1.2% GDP growth in the first quarter, above the Central American average, driven by private consumption, public investment, and exports. This active management of monetary policy reinforces confidence in Honduras’s economic stability and its attractiveness to investment.
Honduras Boosts Its Exports with a Strong Performance in Coffee and Bananas
Honduras’s exports of goods reached US$5,803.2 million during the first five months of 2026, driven by a 12% increase in general merchandise, according to the Central Bank of Honduras. Coffee remained the leading export product, generating US$1,674.9 million thanks to production recovery that increased export volume by 24.6%, while the United States solidified its position as the top destination. Bananas also performed strongly, with exports totaling US$207.5 million and growth of 31.6%, driven by the expansion of cultivated areas and increased investment in production infrastructure. Other dynamic sectors included materials recycling, with 65.2% growth, and gold exports, which rose 51.6% due to higher international prices. This export performance confirms Honduras’s productive diversification and reinforces its appeal as a reliable trading partner for the region.
Nicaragua Confirms Its Commercial Vitality with Heavy Weekly Port Traffic
Nicaragua recorded the arrival of 115,893 metric tons of international cargo via eleven ships last week, according to the National Port Authority. Eight vessels arrived at the Port of Corinto, carrying animal feed, motorcycles, vehicles, cement, and fertilizers from countries such as China, Belgium, Egypt, Mexico, South Korea, Argentina, and Brazil. At the same time, the country exported 1,061 containers of sugar, coffee, bananas, and edible oils to markets such as Great Britain, Germany, Australia, and Japan, demonstrating the diversity of its trading partners. Tourist ports also saw strong activity during the long weekend, with more than 36,800 visitors enjoying destinations such as Ometepe, Granada, and San Juan del Sur. This steady flow of international trade and tourism activity reaffirms Nicaragua’s port connectivity as a key driver of its economy and its logistics investment opportunities.
BLP INSIGHT
What Should Companies Consider Regarding Guatemala’s New Comprehensive Anti-Money Laundering Law?
Guatemala has modernized its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework through the enactment of a comprehensive new law. The reform introduces a risk-based approach, expands the scope of regulated entities, and strengthens corporate transparency and beneficial ownership requirements. Learn about the key changes, their impact on businesses and the steps companies should take to prepare before the new regime comes into effect.
ECONOMIC INDEX
| Country | Exchange Rate (local currency per USD) | Basic Passive Rate (local currency) | Monetary Policy Rate | Sovereign Debt | Year-on-Year Inflation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P | Moody’s | Fitch | |||||
| Costa Rica | 455.13 | 3.65% | 3.00% | BB | Ba2 | BB | -0.31% |
| El Salvador | 8.75 | 4.61% | N/A | B- | B3 | B- | 2.76% |
| Guatemala | 7.62 | 4.70% | 3.50% | BB+ | Ba1 | BB+ | 2.27% |
| Honduras | 26.75 | 6.67% | 5.75% | BB- | B1 | N/A | 5.83% |
| Nicaragua | 36.62 | 1.44% | 5.75% | B+ | B2 | B | 3.98% |
24/07/2026 | Source: secmca.org
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