IO Podcast|Episode 10
In April 2022, the Honduran Congress repealed the law that created the Zones of Economic Development and Employment (ZEDEs). The measure has raised doubts about the state of the ongoing ZEDEs and future investments in the country. In this podcast episode, Nicholas C. Dranias—the general counsel at Honduras Próspera Inc.—and Humberto N. Macias—the deputy general counsel at Honduras Próspera Inc. and the chief executive officer of the Próspera Arbitration Center LLC—provide us with their insights. International agreements and investment security contracts guarantee that Próspera, the first Honduran ZEDE launched in 2020, will operate for 50 more years.
The development platform has attracted over $80 million in investment in two years. Próspera has become an attractive capital destination for foreigners and Hondurans. In light of recent events, more Honduran businessmen and investors see Próspera as a fiscal shelter. For Dranias and Macias, policies of the newly elected administration lean ideological and will become more balanced as officials realize how ZEDEs are contributing to the Honduran economy. Dranias and Macias expect to find mutually beneficial solutions with the government to promote economic growth for Hondurans.
Recommended Links
- Visit Próspera Honduras’s website.
- Follow Nicholas Dranias on LinkedIn, and read his background here.
- Follow Humberto Macias on LinkedIn.
- “Why Honduras Failed to Establish ZEDEs,” by Paz Gómez, Impunity Observer.
- “First Startup City Revives Honduran ZEDEs,” by Paz Gómez, Econ Americas.
