1. ¿Por qué se eligió una empresa en Panamá para las operaciones de los terrenos?

Se eligió una empresa extranjera, independientemente del país, para la seguridad y protección de los inversores en una época en la que los índices de criminalidad eran muy altos en Honduras. Como referencia, podemos mencionar que los homicidios en 2006 alcanzaron los 3.118, en comparación con 1995, cuando estaban en 1.534. Esto significa que en 11 años estos delitos prácticamente se duplicaron en el país, obligando a muchos a tomar las medidas de seguridad correspondientes. Al mismo tiempo, es importante tener en cuenta que, entre 2007 y 2008, Honduras sufrió un aumento de más del 2.500% en los secuestros.

2. ¿Para qué se utilizó el dinero de las sociedades?

El dinero recibido por Tito Asfura, tras la venta de sus tierras, fue utilizado inmediatamente para pagar la deuda original con el Banco del País que había adquirido para trabajar las tierras. Posteriormente, los nuevos propietarios de Karlane, a través de Inversiones Río Grande en Honduras, invirtieron, durante 10 años, en el desarrollo del Parque Empresarial Periférico.

3. ¿Por qué Tito Asfura fue dueño de la sociedad?

La empresa se creó con el propósito de gestionar con seguridad la compra de los terrenos de Tito Asfura y de los vecinos, tanto para los vendedores como para los accionistas. Una vez que Tito Asfura convence a los vecinos de la venta de sus propiedades, la sociedad que entonces es propietaria de los terrenos pasa a manos de los promotores, cumpliendo el propósito inicial. Poco después de la transacción, Tito Asfura sale de la sociedad y los inversores se hacen cargo del desarrollo del Parque Empresarial Periférico. Tito Asfura mantuvo y ha mantenido siempre una relación estrictamente profesional con los grupos de interés.

4. ¿Sigue vigente la sociedad? ¿Por qué?

Sí. La empresa aún existe y tiene un inventario de 24 mil v2. Sin embargo, Tito Asfura no forma parte de la empresa y no tiene ninguna relación con ella desde 2007, más allá de la contratación de los servicios de su constructora para la nivelación de los terrenos necesarios para el Parque Empresarial Periférico.

5. ¿Al ser accionista de una sociedad offshore quiere decir que Tito Asfura ha participado de actividades irregulares?

No. La breve participación de Tito Asfura como accionista de la empresa Karlane fue completamente legal y sus operaciones completamente legítimas. Además, Tito Asfura no recibió ningún beneficio monetario, ya que posteriormente, cuando se vendió la empresa con los terrenos el dinero recibido se utilizó inmediatamente para pagar la deuda con el Banco del País. Asimismo, se pagaron todos los impuestos correspondientes en Honduras.

6. ¿Karlane declaró los ingresos económicos de sus operaciones en Honduras?

Sí. Las operaciones de Karlane en Honduras han sido gestionadas por la empresa Inversiones Río Grande, que en todo momento ha contribuido con los impuestos exigidos por la ley al Estado hondureño, además de cumplir con absolutamente todas las leyes nacionales vigentes.

7. ¿Qué tiene que ver este caso con la investigación en los últimos tres años de la justicia hondureña por posibles casos de corrupción por parte Tito Asfura?

No hay ninguna relación. Por un lado, la investigación que llevaron a cabo las autoridades correspondientes en relación con los asuntos asociados al mandato de Tito Asfura como alcalde se cerró por falta de pruebas que demostraran irregularidades. Y, por otro lado, sin relación alguna, la breve participación de Tito Asfura en Karlane fue completamente legal, legítima y transparente.

8. ¿Permite la ley hondureña que un regidor, como lo era Tito Asfura en 2007, forme parte de una sociedad, cualquiera que sea, como Karlane?

De acuerdo con lo establecido en la Ley de Municipalidades de Honduras, un concejal de cualquier alcaldía del país no tiene prohibido formar parte de una empresa comercial y tener actividades privadas. Esto confirma que la breve participación de Tito Asfura en Karlane fue totalmente legal y transparente, sumado a que todas sus operaciones han estado siempre dentro del marco de la ley hondureña.

9. ¿Por qué se dice que Tito Asfura está desvinculado de Karlane y del Parque Empresarial Periférico si es ahí donde está el Plantel de Tito y es donde se celebra la navidad por parte de la alcaldía?

Debido a la buena relación entre Tito Asfura y muchas personas de toda Honduras, los actuales propietarios del terreno le han prestado, sin ningún cargo, un lote temporal para almacenar maquinaria y organizar un evento navideño en beneficio de toda la comunidad. Esto es similar a lo que se hace con el lote en el Boulevard Juan Pablo II para el Bazar de los Sábados, el Triage y, anteriormente, la Villa Navideña.

Tito Asfura – Parque Empresarial Periférico

Birth Of Parque Empresarial Periférico Project

01

In 1996, the businessman Tito Asfura sees an opportunity in creating a large-scale replica of a previously successful project he had developed near the “Texaco Milenio” gas station, which is in the peripheral ring area at the same latitude of “La Cañada” in the city of Tegucigalpa. The new project would be developed on a lot in a place called “El Aguacate”, located 1.5 kilometers from the first project.

This is how the idea for the development of the Parque Empresarial Periférico is born.

02

Around 2000, Tito begins to develop the project, but the lot purchased for the Parque Empresarial Periférico requires there be a land leveling job previous to the construction. This extends construction times and results in an economic disbalance which leaves Tito without any funds to continue with the project.

03

Around 2005, Tito, who had a debt with the bank known as Banco Del Pais, declares himself uncapable of continuing with the project and begins to look for investors.

Purchase Of Karlane

04

In 2007, three investors agree to buy the lands, with the condition that Tito procures the two neighboring lots in order to grow the Parque Empresarial Periférico project.

The investors propose creating a company to buy the three lots under the same entity.

05

In June of 2007, the investors buy the company Karlane, created in 2006 in Panama, as a tool to facilitate the purchase operation of the lands. A foreign company is chosen to ensure the physical safety of the investors during a time of high crime rates in Honduras.

The investors decide that Tito should head the company that buys the neighboring lots, to facilitate the acquisition and give them credibility in front of the other proprietors.

06

A week after the purchase of Karlane, Inversiones Río Grande S.A. is opened in Honduras, with the main purpose of managing the purchase, development, supervision and lease of the lots, and to pay the taxes owed for the project to Honduran state.

05

The investors decide that Tito should head the company that buys the neighboring lots, to facilitate the acquisition and give them credibility in front of the other proprietors.

04

In 2007, three investors agree to buy the lands, with the condition that Tito procures the two neighboring lots in order to grow the Parque Empresarial Periférico project.

The investors propose creating a company to buy the three lots under the same entity.

06

07

The purchase of the lands by Río Grande is handled in two parts: the first 190,000 v2 are bought from the company Pitchford Finance, S.A., for a value of 95 million lempiras; the second set of lands, with 151,312 v2, are bought from Grupo Beta for a value of 93 million 134 thousand 750 lempiras.

08

All operations by Karlane have been realized through Inversiones Río Grande, a company which, at every moment, has paid the corresponding taxes in Honduras. This is evidenced through the Electronic Certificate of Fiscal Solvency (Certificado Electrónico de Solvencia Fiscal) attached below, and issued by the Income Management Service (SAR) of Honduras, which shows the company does not have any pending with the Honduran State since its beginnings.

Transfer Of The Company

09

Tito Asfuera remains in Karlane for a brief period of 5 months (from June to November of 2007). Once the negotiations for the neighboring lands are concluded, Asfura leaved the company, without having received any compensation, in kind or in cash, and without having opened a bank account during its operation.

10

In November of 2007, Tito dissociates from the company with the three lots of land, and the investors take charge, from that moment on, of the development of the Parque Empresarial Periférico. Immediately, Tito uses the money he receives from the sale of his lands to pay for the original debt with the bank Banco del País, mentioned previously and which Tito had acquired to work his lands in 1996.

11

Tito’s construction company is hired by the investors to continue to work on the leveling of the land.

Development Of The Parque Empresarial

12

Over the course of 10 years, there is a total investment of 175 million lempiras.

13

Until 2018, Karlane, through Inversiones Río Grande in Honduras, manages the development of the project.

Development Of The Parque Empresarial

13

Until 2018, Karlane, through Inversiones Río Grande in Honduras, manages the development of the project.

12

Over the course of 10 years, there is a total investment of 175 million lempiras.

14

The Parque Empresarial Periférico consists in 353,576 v2 of urbanized land, located in Tegucigalpa’s peripheric ring, developed for the sale of lots intended for the construction of warehouses.

15

During construction, the project generated approximately 250 jobs. Today it has more than 40 shops and establishments. With the Parque Empresarial Periférico in full operation, more than 1000 jobs are generated a year.

16

Today, the only ties Tito Asfuera maintains with the Parque Empresarial Periférico are:

“Plantel de Tito”: A lot which is used as facilities where he keeps his construction machinery.
Disposition of another vacant lot where the municipality of Tegucigalpa builds its Christmas Town every year.

Questions & Answers

1. Why was a company in Panama chosen for the operation of the lands?

A foreign company was chosen, independently of the country, for the security and protection of investors during a time when criminal rates were very high in Honduras. As a reference, we can mention that homicides in 2006 reached 3,118, compared to 1995 when they were at 1,534. This means that in 11 years these crimes practically doubled in the country, forcing many to take the corresponding measures of security.

At the same time, it’s important to take into account that, between 2007 and 2008, Honduras underwent a more than 2,500% increase in kidnappings.

2. What was the money from the company used for?

The money received by Tito Asfura, after the sale of his lands, was immediately used to pay the original debt with the bank Banco del País which he had acquired to work the land. After, the new proprietors of Karlane, through Inversiones Río Grande in Honduras, invested, during 10 years, in the development of the Parque Empresarial Periférico.

3. Why was Tito Asfura owner of the company?

The company was created with the purpose of safely managing the purchase of Tito Asfura’s and the neighbor’s lands, for both sellers and shareholders. Once Tito Asfura convinces the neighbors of selling their property, the company that then owns the lands is passed on to the developers, fulfilling the initial purpose. Soon after the transaction, Tito Asfura is taken out of the company and the investors take charge of the development of the Parque Empresarial Periférico. Tito Asfura kept and has always maintained a strictly professional relationship with the stakeholder groups.

4. Is the company still active? Why?

Yes. The company still exists and has an inventory of 24 thousand v2. Nevertheless, Tito Asfura is not part of the company and has not had any relationship with it since 2007, other than the hiring of his construction company’s services for the leveling of the lands required for the Parque Empresarial Periférico.

5. Does being a shareholder of an offshore company mean that Tito Asfura has participated in irregular activities?

No. The brief participation of Tito Asfura as shareholder of the company Karlane was completely legal and its operations completely legitimate. In addition, Tito Asfura did not receive any monetary benefits, since later on, when the company with the land was sold the money received was used immediately to pay the debt with the bank Banco del País. Likewise, all the corresponding income taxes were paid in Honduras.

6. Did Karlane declare income taxes for its operations in Honduras?

Yes. Karlane’s operations in Honduras have been managed by the company Inversiones Río Grande, which at all times has contributed the taxes required by the law to the Honduran state, in addition to complying with absolutely all current national laws.

7. What does this case have to do with the investigation led by the Honduran justice system, in the last three years, for possible cases of corruption by Tito Asfura?

There is no relationship. On the one hand, the investigation that was carried out by the corresponding authorities related to issues associated with Tito Asfura’s term as mayor was closed due to a lack of evidence that demonstrated irregularities. And, on the other hand, without any connection, Tito Asfura’s brief involvement in Karlane was completely legal, legitimate and transparent.

8. Does Honduran law allow a councilman, such as Tito Asfura in 2007, to be a part of a company, whichever it is, like Karlane?

In accordance with the provisions of the Honduran Municipalities Law, a councilman of any mayoralty in the country is not prohibited from being a part of a commercial company and having private activities. This confirms that Tito Asfura’s brief involvement in Karlane was completely legal and transparent, added to the fact that all its operations have always been within the framework of Honduran law.

9. Why is it said that Tito Asfura is not involved with Karlane and the Parque Empresarial Periférico if that is where Tito’s “Plantel” with his machinery is and where Christmas celebration by the mayor’s office are held?

Due to the good relationship between Tito Asfura and many people throughout Honduras, the current owners of the land have lent him, without any charge, a temporary lot to store machinery and organize a Christmas event for the benefit of the entire community. This is similar to what is done with the lot in Boulevard Juan Pablo II for the Saturday Bazaar, Triage and, previously, the Christmas Village.

Biography

Nasry (Tito) Asfura was born and raised in Tegucigalpa, to parents Juan Nasry Asfura and Gloria Zablah. Today, he lives in the city with his wife Lizzeth and his three daughters, and is known by local Hondurans for his leadership, charisma, honesty, and dedication.

As a public servant, he has always put transparency at the forefront. Both in carrying out his administrative work and in the management of public finances, he has focused on the principles of honesty, efficiency and the good use of resources for the benefit of the community, and has always been committed to WORKING — BUILDING — SERVING, which has allowed him to build administrative trust and credibility in both public and private institutions, at a national level and with international organizations.

He served as councilor for the Municipal Corporation of the Central District between 2006-2009, was elected Deputy to the National Congress by the department of Francisco Morazán between 2010-2014, and was appointed by the Executive Power as Minister of the Honduran Social Investment Fund (FHIS) during 2010-2012. In 2014, he was elected Mayor of the Municipality of the Central District, the Capital of Honduras- a role in which he performs today, after his re-election in 2018.

Since then, he has reduced the internal debt of the AMDC, promoted the development of the city, the road network and infrastructure with own funds or tax collection, dealt with the water and sanitation compliance policies (SANAA) when executing the municipalization processes , by promoting the construction of dams, reservoirs, wells and supply tanks in neighborhoods and villages. He promoted the creation of jobs for the small-business community and implemented programs for the prevention and identification of risk areas, with the support of KFW from Germany.

As an engineer and having run his own construction company for 37 years, he knows how important infrastructure is for the development of cities and the well-being of citizens. For this reason, among other important works and social development programs that he has carried out, there are also projects such as the paving with hydraulic concrete of more than 400 linear kilometers throughout the city.

As mayor, Asfura has also focused on building a bridge between Honduras and the international community. He was appointed member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Municipalities of Honduras (AMONH), and internationally he was elected as vice president of the Regional Executive Committee (RexCom) of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean of ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) from the year 2017. He has served as vice president of the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities (UCCI), Central American region, Mexico and the Caribbean, and as a member representative of the Executive Bureau of the Union of Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), since 2019 .

He was recently elected president of the Coalition of Cities of the Americas for Climate Change (CC35), where he has led programs and policies to consolidate the position of local and regional governments at the global level.
With the participation in the steering committees of networks of Municipalities such as UCCI, UCLG, CC35 and ICLEI, he has promoted bringing together all international organizations in the same vision, in the performance of local governments that promote the Paris Agreements, demonstrating the commitment to achieve adaptation and mitigation against the effects of climate change, to create a more sustainable Honduras and world.