Honduras Próspera v Republic of Honduras - Correspondence White & Case to Government of Honduras - 26 April 2022
Country
Year
2022
Summary
Honduras Prospers Inc. ("Honduras Prospers"), a corporation constituted under the laws of the state of Delaware, United States of America, which is developing Prospers ZEDE, a special economic development zone ("ZEDE") with locations in the Bay Islands and the Atlantida Departments, in accordance with the Constitution and Laws of Honduras.
Honduras Prospers has demonstrated and hereby reiterates its longstanding commitment to the development of Honduras. Since 2018, Honduras Prospers has invested tens of millions of dollars in Honduras and made Próspera ZEDE a strong platform for economic development.
- Prospers ZEDE will provide infrastructure needed for an international financial center, light manufacturing, high-skill employee leasing, medical tourism, and advanced energy projects.
- Prospera ZEDE has a minimum wage that is 10% to 25% higher than the national minimum wage. Hundreds of construction, maintenance, and knowledge economy jobs have already been created, and hundreds of new construction and knowledge economy jobs are anticipated in the next six to nine months with over 27,000 square meters of planned new construction.
- Prospers ZEDE has an innovative regulatory environment and the conditions for Hondurans to start businesses more easily. Nearly 100 businesses have been formed or registered to do business within Prospers ZEDE, and almost 400 individuals have become (e)Residents.
- By early 2023, Honduras Prospers will have invested nearly $100 million in Honduras, as part of a plan to invest $500 million in Honduras by 2025.
A cornerstone of Honduras Próspera's decision to invest in Honduras was the ZEDE legal framework established by Honduras, including, among other things, Articles 294, 303 and 329 of the Constitution and the Ley Organica de las Zonas de Empleo y Desarrollo Economic° that was enacted in 2013 (the "ZEDE Law"). Honduras Prospers also relied on commitments undertaken by Honduras in international treaties.
Among other guarantees in binding domestic and international instruments, Honduras undertook to maintain the legal stability of the ZEDE framework for up to fifty (50) years. Honduras Prospers relied on Honduras' specific guarantees and assurances of legal stability.
In this context, Honduras Prospers has taken note of Decrees Nos. 32-2022 and [33-2022], which provide, among other things, for the repeal of the above-mentioned provisions of the Constitution, the ZEDE Law, and other components of the ZEDE legal framework.
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Honduras Prospera welcomes constructive dialogue and invites your cooperation in relation to opportunities for Honduras. Honduras Prospera would welcome a meeting with you or anyone you may designate to discuss its significant investments in the country to date under the ZEDE legal framework and how it can further contribute to the development of Honduras in the coming decades.
All rights of Honduras Prospera Inc. under the CAFTA-DR, the Agreement for Legal Stability and Investor Protection, and any other applicable agreements or instruments are expressly reserved.
(OCR errors may be present)