A second evaluation to know the balance of the main macroeconomic indicators, such as public indebtedness and business climate, as well as the political situation, among other issues, will be carried out by the US agency Standar & Poor´s (S&P). The first mission in 2025 was carried out by Fitch last January and gave its report in February.
The technical team scheduled meetings with the government authorities, members of the economic cabinet, representatives of the organized private sector and analysts, between March 17 to 21.
Álvaro González Ricci, president of the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat), declared that it is a mission that regularly visits the country, and will hold meetings with the Ministry of Finance, Economics, Business Chambers, “and come to follow the recommendations made known in the previous evaluations.”
On the expectations of the visit, some change in the perspective that currently maintains S&P, to locate a step to reach the investment grade will be expected.
“It has been complying with all the conditions between the external and internal, so that the different qualifiers have made observations, is that it has to do a greater effort in the quality of spending, accountability, such as improving the GDP per capita, structural reforms and all this is being given,” said the president of the Central Banking.
In any case, it would be expected that S&P verify in what had been raised and to go on the right path.
He recalled that the main challenge is that the current budget of income and expenses can be executed to improve urgent infrastructure issues such as roads and rural roads, ports, airports, without leaving behind social issues such as education and health.
On February 7, the Fitch Ratings risk rating agency improved Guatemala’s perspective by passing it from stable to positive and in its evaluation said that there are advances in the government agenda, but governance challenges persist.
In May, the arrival of a mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to examine chapter IV and for the second semester the visit of the Moody´s Investors Service agency would be expected.