Central America has an opportunity to position itself as the region of choice for nearshoring and foreign investment, resulting in job creation in the formal sector while also offering companies supply-chain resilience at a competitive cost. Having jobs in the region ensures economic opportunities for the workers, thereby reducing the immigration challenges and conflict between Central American countries and the United States. To do this, countries such as Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador will need to work in partnership with the United States to improve the rule of law, provide sustainable economic opportunities, and address infrastructure and insecurity challenges.

Juan José Daboub, Ph.D., former managing director of the World Bank and current president and CEO of The Daboub Partnership; Richard Aitkenhead, President of IDC Desarrollo Inmobiliario (Guatemala); and Lorena Maduro (YPO Honduras), CEO of Solvenza and daughter of the former president of Honduras, discuss the economic and political challenges facing Latin American countries today. Businesses have a critical role to play. Creating business opportunities, developing infrastructure and building trust in rule of law can help foster not only economic growth but also stem some of the region’s emigration to the United States.