The Investment Promotion & Trade Section (IPTS) of the Embassy of Honduras in Washington D.C.

The Investment Promotion & Trade Section (IPTS) has the mission of establishing a unit in which a plan of investment promotion can be integrated to other institutions that work in Honduras to this end, and in that framework, a system for the efficient guidance of investment and commercial requests has been established.

The section is in charge of promoting the sectors with potential that are most determinant to attract foreign investment, as well as guiding investors to the adecuate organizations in Honduras that can help/aide with the development of their projects. Together with other organizations in Honduras, the preparation of trade missions has also been considered aiming to have positive results for our country. Also, implementation of several projects that serve the purpose of investment promotion are responsibilities of this department.

In the trade area the IPTS serves as providor/ distributor of information about trade, regulations, chamber of commerce, associations and general statistical and commercial information of Honduras. Also, it provides guides of sources/contacts/procedures for the import and export activities, both in Honduras and United States.

- Information on import/export procedures and sources
- New FDA regulations for imports in the US
- Investment in Honduras
- Export Directory of Honduras
- Trade Missions
- Export to USA
- Trade Shows in USA
- Honduran businesses and professionals in the USA
- Links of interest



INFORMATION ON PROCEDURES AND SOURCES ( IMPORT AND EXPORT)
Fact Info Sheets

- Imports in Honduras
- Requirements to import/exports of vegetable and animal products in Honduras
- Import of pets to Honduras (document in Spanish)
- Imports of automobiles in Honduras
- Import Tariffs in Honduras
- Import and distribution companies in Honduras
- Import process in USA

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The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act 2000 (Bioterrorism Act) require that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) take actions to protect the US food chain supply. Following this order, the FDA has published the Regulations for Registration of Food Facilities and the Prior Notice of Imported Food Shipment.

By December 12, 2003, all facilities that manufacture/processes, pack or hold food for consumption in the US (domestic or foreign) should be registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). You can access the Registration of Food Facilities online system in www.access.fda.gov.

Also, in December 12, 2003, the Prior Notice of Imported Food Shipment system will begin to work, this Prior Notice requires that FDA receives, in advance, notice of food that is going to be imported into US territory. The prior notice requires, almost, for the same information that has usually been provided by the custom brokers when the food arrives, however, the FDA will now have the information BEFORE any food arrives to a port of entry in the country.

The fact sheets on these regulations (listed below) have the main topics addressed, frequent questions and contact information in the US.

FDA Fact sheet on Registration of Food Facilities (English / Español)
www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsbtac12.html

FDA Fact sheet on Prior Notice (English / Español)
www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsbtac13.html

Information on the Bioterrorism Act - FDA web page
www.fda.gov/oc/bioterrorism/bioact.html

For guidance in Honduras you can contact:
Secretaría de Agricultura y Ganadería
Department of Agriculture and Livestock
www.sag.gob.hn
Tel:  (504) 232-5400  ext. 113 or (504) 232-7089/ 6213

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INVESTMENT IN HONDURAS

Foreign investment in Honduras is found in activities such as agro industry, tourism, mining, electricity, and manufacturing, among others.
Laws have been enforced to make the process of establishing a company by a foreign investor as easy and secure as possible.

If you need information about investing in Honduras please contact us through trade@hondurasemb.org or you can visit www.hondurasinfo.hn, this is FIDE's (Foundation for Investment and Development of Exports) website. FIDE is a specialized organization in Honduras, which provides services such as:
-Legal assistance to establish a local operation and to obtain export/tourism benefits.
-Assistance in obtaining freight quotations and negotiations with local carriers.
-Counseling on local customs and procedures

In FIDE's website you will find information such as: applicable laws, procedure to start a business in Honduras, immigration for investors, and general economic information of Honduras, among other information.

Procedure to open a business in Honduras

Applicable Laws

Incentives

If you have a particular interest in the apparel manufacturing sector you can either contact our offices or you can visit www.ahm-honduras.com, the website for the Honduran Apparel Manufacturers Association and directly contact them by email to promocion@ahm-honduras.com.

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TRADE MISSIONS

The Embassy of Honduras organizes trade missions. We work together with organizations, Chambers of Commerce and other associations to carry out these missions.
If you're interested in participating in one of these trade missions please fill out the following form and send it to trade@hondurasemb.org or fax it to  (202) 966-9751 .

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EXPORT TO USA

We use the export directories that are published by different organizations and associations in Honduras to promote Honduran export companies.

We are establishing a database at the Embassy of Honduras to register Honduran exporters. If you wish to be in our database you may send by email to trade@hondurasemb.org or by fax to (202) 966-9751 the following information about your company:

- Name
- General Manager
- Address
- Telephone
- Fax
- E-mail
- Website
- Type of export product
- HTS codes

This information will be provided, along with the other directories available, to all the US companies that contact the Embassy to find suppliers in Honduras.

The Investment Promotion and Trade Section (IPTS) can find for you a list and websites of different Chambers of Commerce in a specific State in the US to locate possible clients for your products. Also, you can find the main Chambers of Commerce by State in www.2chambers.com.

If you wish to establish a business in the US, regulations vary state by state; nevertheless, all procedures are published in the official websites of each state. The IPTS can provide the Website of the state you're interested in and the contact person in the section of international business for the state, which is the section that deals with foreign investment specifically.

For importing procedures to the US, see fact info sheet: Importing Process in USA.

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TRADE SHOWS IN USA

You can find the trade shows that are sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce, by State, Type of Event or by Industry. Click here

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HONDURAN BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE USA

In order to be able to promote Honduran businesses that are established in the US, we are establishing a directory of Honduran businesses and professionals. Please be part of our directory by filling out this form and send it by email to trade@hondurasemb.org, nortiz@hondurasemb.org, by fax to (202) 966-9751 attention to Commercial Department.

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Links of interest for Commercial and Investment Affairs

Government
Secretary of Industry and Commerce www.sic.gob.hn
Honduran Institute of Tourism www.letsgohonduras.com
National Commission of Banking and Insurance www.cnbs.gob.hn

Organizations

FIDE ( Foundation for Investment and Development of Exports) www.hondurasinfo.hn

Chamber of Commerce and Associations

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cortés www.ccic.com
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tegucigalpa www.ccit.com
American Honduran Chamber of Commerce ( AMCHAM) www.amcham.hn
National Association of Manufacturers www.andi.hn
Honduran Counsel for Private Sector www.cohep.com
Apparel Manufacturers National Association www.ahm-honduras.com
Honduran Association of Banking Institutions www.ahiba.com