In La Hora of Guatemala City Manuel Rodríguez wrote that remittances from illegal Guatemalan migrants to the United States are one of the largest sources of Guatemalan income, “which results in dramatically increased buying power for a large part of the population.” 

So noted Juan José Lagorio BNAmericas of Santiago.  Colombia has approved 26.2 trillion pesos (US$13.4 billion) in funding for nine highway projects, part of a master plan to revamp and expand Latin America’s fourth largest road network. 

In El Financiero of Mexico City Rocóo Hernández Monreal wrote that Héctor López Santillana, Minister of Economic Development for the State of Guanajuato, said that conditions are good there for the creation of at least “eight clusters” in the agro-food, chemical, fashion, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, tourism, new technologies, and housing sectors that can repeat the success

El Financiero of Costa Rica reported that Massachusetts Institute of Technology is looking for innovative Central Americans.  They seek individuals under 35 years of age who have created an innovative technological solution to a problem that will have a social impact.  

La Tribuna of Tegucigalpa noted that Paraguay has joined the list of countries pursuing public-private partnerships to jump start infrastructure development, a mechanism in vogue in Latin America to overcome “bottlenecks” in the construction of roads, airports, and power grids. 

Dinero Magazine of Bogotá reported that Latin America is in the sights of big oil companies.  This renewed interest in the region comes despite “the difficult internal situations” of many countries. 

MercoPress of Montevideo noted that Brazil’s private sector is concerned about difficult times ahead, particularly regarding exports to Argentina and Venezuela, and is proposing that Mercosur trade should be done with local currencies instead of the U.S. dollar.  

Carolina Enríquez noted in El Comercio of Quito that Ecuador sees Mexico as an investment destination.  At the moment Mexico gains more from trade and investments in Ecuador, but the latter seeks to refurbish this relationship through a new agreement that will open its larger regional neighbor to more of their products and companies. 

So argued Marcelo J. García in the Buenos Aires Herald.  He pointed out that Radio journalist Andy Kustnesoff, “who generally supports the government,” pleaded repeatedly with Economy Minister Axel Kicillof during an interview to “let us avoid the Clarín, anti-Clarín debate.” 

Fernando Camacho Servin wrote in La Jornada of Mexico City that if President Enrique Peña Nieto wants to save the country, he could start with a strong defense of human rights.