El Gobierno de Honduras reafirmó su estrategia de atracción de inversiones extranjeras como una de las principales apuestas para impulsar la generación de empleo y fortalecer la economía nacional, con proyecciones que podrían alcanzar hasta 2 mil millones de dólares en nuevos proyectos durante los próximos años.

El ministro asesor de Promoción de Inversiones, Epaminondas Marinakys, aseguró que la administración mantiene abierta la puerta a inversionistas nacionales y extranjeros interesados en desarrollar proyectos que contribuyan al crecimiento económico y al bienestar de la población.

Según explicó el funcionario, la prioridad del Gobierno es atraer “inversiones buenas y sanas” que permitan crear empleo digno para miles de hondureños, especialmente en sectores estratégicos como energía, manufactura y parques industriales.

“Honduras busca consolidarse como un destino atractivo para el capital extranjero”, expresó Marinakys, quien destacó que en los últimos meses el país ha logrado mejorar su imagen ante potenciales inversionistas internacionales.

El funcionario indicó que una de las decisiones que ha fortalecido la confianza empresarial es la reincorporación de Honduras al Centro Internacional de Arreglo de Diferencias Relativas a Inversiones (CIADI), mecanismo internacional que brinda garantías para la resolución de conflictos entre Estados e inversionistas.

“Es una buena señal”, afirmó al referirse al impacto positivo que la medida genera en el clima de negocios y en la percepción internacional sobre la seguridad jurídica del país.

Marinakys señaló que actualmente existe interés concreto de al menos cinco empresas extranjeras en instalar operaciones en Honduras, principalmente en el sector manufacturero y en proyectos vinculados a la industria energética.

Sin embargo, advirtió que uno de los principales desafíos para concretar nuevas inversiones continúa siendo la capacidad de generación y distribución de energía eléctrica, un problema que históricamente ha afectado la competitividad del país.

“El principal reto sigue siendo el tema energético”, reconoció el funcionario, al explicar que muchas empresas evalúan la estabilidad del suministro eléctrico antes de tomar decisiones de inversión.

Para enfrentar esta situación, el Gobierno impulsa diversas alternativas orientadas a fortalecer el sistema energético nacional, entre ellas la autogeneración de energía por parte de empresas privadas y la ampliación de la red de transmisión eléctrica.

“Eso nos va a dar una gran oportunidad para resolver el problema energético del país”, sostuvo Marinakys.

Dentro de la estrategia económica, el asesor presidencial destacó además el crecimiento de los parques industriales y el interés de empresas manufactureras vinculadas al sector automotriz, particularmente en la producción de arneses.

Según explicó, Honduras ha ganado reconocimiento internacional por la calidad de la mano de obra y la eficiencia en la fabricación de componentes industriales destinados a mercados internacionales.

“Honduras ha ganado muchos premios por su altísima calidad”, señaló el funcionario al referirse al desempeño del país en ese sector productivo.

En cuanto a las proyecciones económicas para 2026, Marinakys indicó que buena parte de las inversiones previstas estará concentrada en proyectos energéticos actualmente en proceso de licitación.

Explicó que una iniciativa de generación eléctrica de aproximadamente 1,500 megavatios podría representar inversiones cercanas a los 1,500 millones de dólares, tomando como referencia un costo promedio de un millón de dólares por megavatio instalado.

“Si cada megavatio cuesta un millón de dólares, estamos hablando de mil 500 millones”, detalló.

El funcionario añadió que, sumando otros proyectos e iniciativas privadas en desarrollo, Honduras podría alcanzar inversiones cercanas a los 2 mil millones de dólares en el corto plazo.

Mientras tanto, el Gobierno insiste en que su política económica está abierta a todos los inversionistas, sin distinción de origen, siempre y cuando cumplan con las leyes nacionales y aporten al desarrollo económico del país.

“Aquí nosotros no discriminamos a nadie, siempre y cuando cumplan con las normas y las leyes del país”, concluyó Marinakys.

California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton launched a new campaign ad Saturday targeting former Biden administration official Xavier Becerra, signaling the general election fight may already be underway even as primary ballots continue to be counted.

The 55-second ad mocks Becerra’s lengthy political career and record in government, portraying the Democrat as a continuation of California’s political status quo.

The ad features silent clips of Becerra appearing on an old-fashioned TV screen while captions flash across the screen, including: «I’ve been a career politician for 36 years. Vote for me.»

Other captions reference issues likely to become central themes in the governor’s race, including homelessness, California’s high-speed rail project and Becerra’s tenure as secretary of Health and Human Services in former President Joe Biden’s administration.

HILTON, BECERRA, IN THE LEAD WITH VOTES STILL BEING COUNTED IN BATTLE FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR

The ad also attempts to tie Becerra to Gov. Gavin Newsom, ending with the message: «I’ll change nothing about how California is governed,» followed by the tagline, «Don’t watch another rerun.»

Fox News Digital reached out to the Becerra and the Hilton campaigns for comment.

The ad comes less than 24 hours after The Associated Press projected Becerra would advance to California’s November gubernatorial election to succeed the term-limited Newsom.

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As vote counting continued Saturday, Becerra led the field with 26.8% of the vote, according to AP totals. Hilton received 26.4%, while Democrat Tom Steyer had 21.1%.

Roughly 68% of ballots had been counted as of Saturday afternoon.

In a statement after the AP race call, Becerra celebrated the result and framed his campaign as a fight for California voters.

XAVIER BECERRA PRESSED ON ‘RUMORS’ HE KNEW ABOUT ERIC SWALWELL’S ALLEGED MISCONDUCT DURING CA GOVERNOR DEBATE

California gubernatorial hopefuls Xavier Becerra, left, and Steve Hilton participate in a candidate debate in San Francisco. (Laure Andrillon/AP Photo, File)

«The people of the great state of California, in the greatest nation on earth, have spoken — loudly and proudly,» Becerra said. «We will not be bought. We will not be bullied. And we are never backing down. November, here we come.»

Becerra’s campaign also said the result makes him the first Latino candidate to advance from a California gubernatorial primary to a general election, calling it a historic milestone for the state.

If elected in November, Becerra would become California’s first Latino governor since Romualdo Pacheco, who briefly served as governor in 1875.

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Becerra, a former California attorney general, served as Health and Human Services secretary during the Biden administration before launching his gubernatorial campaign.

Hilton, a former Fox News host and political commentator, has campaigned as a political outsider and agent of change, arguing California is headed in the wrong direction under Democratic leadership.

Results from Tuesday’s primary have not yet been certified.

A fisherman was killed late Saturday morning after an attack by a suspected nearly 15-foot shark off the coast of Western Australia.

The unidentified 35-year-old was spearfishing near Michaelmas Island, a protected sand cay on the Great Barrier Reef not far from the city of Albany.

The island is around 240 miles south of Perth, the state’s capital.

His was the third fatal shark attack in the country in less than a month.

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The man was brought by boat to shore, but paramedics weren’t able to revive him.

On May 24, 39-year-old Michael Jensz was killed after suffering head injuries while spearfishing along the Great Barrier Reef off the country’s northeast coast. 

A bull shark is suspected in his death.

On May 16, 38-year-old Steve Mattabonni was killed by a white shark at Rottnest Island, a popular resort in Western Australia. He was also spearfishing.

In January, a 12-year-old also died a week after he was attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbor.

A bull shark is suspected in a man’s death in Western Australia.

Australia usually averages around three shark deaths per year.

«We do see an increase in larger sharks this time of the year, particularly chasing the sardine and the salmon along the coast, which is quite normal,» commercial fisherman Gregory Sharp told the Australian Broadcasting Company Saturday.

He added that sharks also tend to attack in areas «where there’s a lot of seals, and the island area in King George Sound is renowned for seals.»

A fisherman was attacked by a suspected nearly 15-foot shark off the coast of Western Australia. (iStock)

Michaelmas Island is located in King George Sound.

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Western Australia Premier Roger Cook said in a Facebook post Saturday that he was deeply saddened to hear of this morning’s fatal shark attack in Albany. 

This is a tragedy and my thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends, as well as the first responders.»