[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1134, 260], "category": "Text", "text": "among key actors limit the efficiency of public infrastructure investment. The resulting decline in infrastructure quality restricts the expansion of the private sector and diminishes its capacity to generate more and better jobs. Paradoxically, in the last few years, the Guatemalan Congress has been reluctant to approve loans with international financial institutions for public investments."}, {"bbox": [96, 284, 1134, 659], "category": "Text", "text": "**According to the Staff Report for the 2023 Article IV consultation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the country should continue to build on the achievements made in economic policy.** The Guatemalan economy continued to show resilience in 2022, with growth exceeding its potential. Macroeconomic and financial stability was preserved despite an unfavourable global context. Large remittance inflows and vibrant bank credit to the private sector have played an important role in sustaining solid private consumption. Besides, large levels of international reserves persist. Stability was also the result of prudent monetary and fiscal policies. Inflationary pressures in Guatemala continued, hence the need to further strengthen the operationalisation of the inflation targeting framework and ensure swift action to accelerate the implementation of the pro-growth structural agenda. Addressing gaps in infrastructure, education, and health, improving governance, and the fight against corruption remain of the first order. Reforms are not only needed to attract foreign direct investment, but to secure sustainable and inclusive growth. The report acknowledged Guatemala's efforts on data transparency and digitalisation to address perceptions of weak legal protection, high legal uncertainty, weak governance, and crime (albeit it has declined in the past years). However it pointed out that more is needed to be done, to promote the country's development prospects."}, {"bbox": [96, 681, 1134, 1056], "category": "Text", "text": "**President Arevalo's Government Plan 2024-2028 emphasizes eliminating all manifestations of corruption and increasing the efficiency and accountability of public finances.** The Government Plan includes responsible and comprehensive management of public finances. In this context, the plan prioritizes bolstering e-government mechanisms to enhance the efficiency of public services and combat corruption, with a particular focus on taxation and accountability. This strategy is in line with Guatemala's \"National Digital Plan 2021-2026\", which prioritizes digital transformation in governance and e-government initiatives. Some efforts are related to rationalizing administrative burdens for citizens and businesses by streamlining processes; and implementing single-service chains or one-stop shops to simplify and integrate processes across different organizations. As well as to enhancing transparency and accountability by providing public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms; and ensuring public access to information and protecting data privacy in accordance with national laws and international agreements. Other efforts aim to develop institutions that are effective, transparent, and accountable at all levels; strengthen the capacity of government employees and citizens to use and benefit from digital innovations; increase transparency in investment and public spending on digital transformation; and implement smart and integrated procurement mechanisms through digital solutions."}, {"bbox": [85, 1128, 321, 1159], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [96, 1175, 529, 1227], "category": "Text", "text": "Short problem analysis:\n\n**Digital transformation readiness in Guatemala:**"}, {"bbox": [96, 1255, 1134, 1443], "category": "Text", "text": "**The most frequently mentioned challenge in Guatemala is related to digital infrastructure:** 87 percent of households use mobile phones but only half use the internet, and only 4 percent of internet users enjoy a broadband internet connection. Compared to other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Guatemala has the largest gender digital gap, especially in rural areas and even more so among indigenous peoples. A study of six countries in the region carried out by the AIDB⁷ (Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay and Peru) found that cost is the greatest barrier for women to adopt digital technologies. Just one gigabyte of mobile data costs 4 percent of the average monthly income in Guatemala."}, {"bbox": [85, 1573, 1132, 1629], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁷ Agüero, Aileen; Bustelo, Monserrat; Viollaz, Mariana. (March 2020): Inequalities in the digital world?: Gender gaps in the use of ICT. Available here: http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0002235"}, {"bbox": [1027, 1678, 1143, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 8 of 38"}]