Honduras explores tax relief and biodiesel investment

Honduras is exploring new economic strategies to boost domestic production and energy independence. Eduardo Facussé Salomón, former president of the CCIC, has proposed eliminating the 15% sales tax (ISV) on Honduran-made products. He argues this measure would allow national producers to compete more effectively against imported goods and help protect local jobs.

In a separate development, the Honduran government is negotiating with the Brazilian biofuel company Be8 to establish a biodiesel processing plant. Following meetings between President Nasry Asfura and Be8 CEO Erasmo Carlos Battistella, officials are working to define the legal and technical requirements for the project.

The initiative aims to utilize soybean cultivation, with projections suggesting the potential for 200,000 hectares of crops and the creation of approximately 100,000 direct permanent jobs in the agricultural sector. The project also seeks to reduce reliance on imported hydrocarbons through a proposed 5% biodiesel blend in the national fuel supply.