What is particular about Quetzaltenango (Xela) for setting up an operation?

Quetzaltenango is the second urban agglomeration, with an economy of trade, services, higher education and light manufacturing; the department contributes 4.3% of GDP and grew 3.9% in real terms in 2024. The Ministry of the Economy (MINECO) relaunched its regional office as a one-stop window of services for companies. A unique feature: electricity distribution is municipal (Empresa Eléctrica Municipal de Quetzaltenango, EEMQ), with its own procedures. On building permits, a 'fast-track window' for small projects was reported, along with figures on bureaucratic burden (16 visits, ~250 documents, ~170 steps, ~Q60 thousand).