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Considering Manufacturing in Central America? Start with the Right Country, Site, and Operating Plan.
Explore opportunities in Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala with guidance on site selection, manufacturing facilities, workforce, logistics, and the practical steps required to launch.
Speaks to automotive suppliers first, while welcoming adjacent manufacturing and business services sectors.
Featured Audio Interview
Central America’s Automotive Manufacturing Opportunity: What Global Suppliers Should Know
Guest Expert
Steve Colantuoni
President and CEO, LATAM FDI
Steve has consistently attracted investment from the automotive, electronics, aerospace, medical device, and general manufacturing industries to clients’ industrial and business facilities in Latin America. His success reflects a deep understanding of macroeconomics, industrial economics and geography, supply chain dynamics, and the factors influencing manufacturing and business location decisions.
Combining this knowledge with digital marketing expertise, Steve helps clients capture foreign direct investment through integrated online strategies. Steve is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.
The Process
From Country Comparison to Operational Launch
Four decision questions an executive team needs answered.
Where should we locate?
Compare countries and specific sites against the project’s workforce, customer, supplier, cost, and transport requirements.
What operating model fits?
Assess a dedicated facility, available industrial space, contract manufacturing, distribution, or a service operation.
What will it take to operate?
Map hiring, utilities, inbound materials, outbound freight, customs processes, and the local support network.
What happens next?
Move from an initial requirements discussion to a shortlist, introductions, site visits, and an implementation plan.
Automotive Supplier Considerations
For companies in the automotive supply chain, these topics form part of every evaluation:
Country Pathways
Three Country Pathways
Honduras
Assess manufacturing and logistics options against a company’s labor, facility, and export needs.
Who Should Investigate
Companies evaluating labor cost, facility availability, and export-oriented manufacturing.
What We Evaluate
Locations and operating models, workforce and logistics checks prior to a site visit.
El Salvador
Evaluate manufacturing space, free-zone options, and logistics support.
Who Should Investigate
Companies seeking free-zone benefits, established manufacturing infrastructure, and defined freight options.
What We Evaluate
Facility choices, free-zone eligibility, and freight plans that affect launch timing.
Guatemala
Evaluate manufacturing or business-service locations through a structured site-selection process.
Who Should Investigate
Companies assessing workforce quality, location options, and supply-chain connections.
What We Evaluate
Locations, workforce requirements, and supply-chain connections.
Capabilities
How Steve's Team Helps
Country and Site Selection
A requirements-led location shortlist.
Manufacturing Setup
Assessment of facilities, infrastructure, and possible production models.
Supply Chain and Logistics
Review of sourcing, warehousing, freight, and import/export needs.
Workforce and Support Network
Introductions to relevant local resources and review of hiring needs.
Business-Service Operations
Assessment of call center or back-office requirements where appropriate.
Why Speak with Steve?
Steve Colantuoni
Principal at LATAM FDI, specializing in site selection and foreign direct investment advisory for companies establishing manufacturing and back-office operations in Latin America. He helps executive teams assess locations, connect with regional resources, and build the operating plans needed to launch.
Steve draws on The Central American Group's regional infrastructure and presence in Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala to provide on-the-ground support throughout the evaluation and implementation process.
Free Download
Learn More About LATAM FDI Service Offerings - brochure
Get a closer look at how LATAM FDI helps companies, free zones, and industrial parks attract and evaluate foreign direct investment across Latin America, from site selection to targeted investor outreach.
PDF · 22 pages
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Briefing Series
Central America Expansion Briefings
Register for a focused country webinar to evaluate your options.
Honduras
Evaluating a Manufacturing or Logistics Operation
El Salvador
Facilities, Free Zones, and the Path to Launch
Guatemala
Site Selection for Manufacturers and Business Services
Get Started
Tell Us What You Need to Build.
We'll Help You Evaluate Where and How.
Choose your path: Schedule an Expansion Discussion for active projects, or Join a Country Webinar if you're still researching.