Honduras’ debts to construction sector seen being paid off this year

The Honduran government’s debt with construction firms is likely to be settled this year and pave the way for an increased number of works in 2023, according to the head of local civil engineering association (CICH).

The infrastructure and transport ministry (SIT) has started the process of paying off the debts and offered to complete it by year-end, CICH president Jorge Paz told BNamericas.

According to the latest available figure, in July the government owed more than US$60mn to companies that had won tenders and contracts during the previous Juan Orlando Hernández administration.

Honduras has been implementing projects to reinforce Tegucigalpa’s water system, including the construction of the Jiniguare dam and several refurbishment works, but tenders have been delayed in part due to the lack of funding.

Investment in the infrastructure sector will be reactivated next year as a result of the settlement of the debts, said Paz.