Juliette Handal: Extortion and power costs threaten Honduran micro‑businesses

Juliette Handal, former president of the Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (Cohep), warned that extortion remains a major barrier to both national and foreign investment in Honduras. She said the practice, which affects roughly 304,000 households, forces many firms to close and undermines economic competitiveness.

Handal also linked the surge in micro‑enterprise closures to sharply higher electricity tariffs under President Nasry Asfura’s administration, noting that more than 30,000 companies could shut down in 2026, leaving up to 80,000 people unemployed. She called for a state policy to support micro, small and medium enterprises (Mipymes) and for dialogue between government and business groups to restore confidence and protect jobs.