In the midst of Nicaragua's delicate economic situation, the government has announced that the 5.2% increase in the minimum wage agreed in March will come into effect on September 1.
Official media reported that the National Minimum Wage Commission ratified the agreements reached in March 2018, and from September 1 the new salaries will enter into force.
The government reported that the Inter-American Development Bank has approved a $20 million loan to finance renewable energy projects managed by small and medium enterprises.
Vice President Rosario Murillo told government media that "... the IDB gave no objection to Banco de la Producción (Banpro) who will give loans to small and medium-sized renewable energy companies," this is reported by Iván Acosta, Minister of Finance, who in turn received the note from Francisco Mayorga who represents us at the IDB."
A group of entrepreneurs from Canada will be visiting the country to explore business opportunities in different areas and present an investment plan for renewable energy.
The Ortega administration explained that the businessmen will meet with their counterparts from the local tourism sector and the Nicaraguan Tourism Institute.
The consortium made up of the Italian company Astaldi and the Spanish company Edutrade is preparing to start construction and equipping of a new hospital in Chinandega, Nicaragua, in the next few days.
The estimated time for the construction of the new hospital is two and a half years.The hospital center will have 300 beds, operating rooms, clinics, intensive care area, cardiology, pediatrics and internal medicine, among other things.
The Ortega administration has announced that with a loan of $238 million from the BCIE, some 194 kilometers of road sections will be renovated in different areas of the country.
Vice-president Rosario Murillo stated that the project " ... which will be carried out starting from next year, includes construction of 194 kilometers in hydraulic concrete and paving stones in six stretches of roads distributed throughout the country."
The Nicaraguan government has announced that the visa exemption applies to Nicaraguans who visit the Asian nation for a maximum term of 90 days.
The news was released by Vice President Murillo, who explained that all you have to have is a current passport and round trip tickets in order to enter Taiwan.
"...El Nuevo Diario tried to obtain the version from the Embassy of Taiwan, however the communication department stated that so far no official statement has been released.Unofficially it is known that the new measure is already in force."
The Ortega administration has announced that a donation from the Dutch government will finance part of the construction and equipment of a new hospital in the North Caribbean.
Representatives from the Nicaraguan government explained that the donation is €18.7 million, approximately $21 million.
Elnuevodiario.com.ni reports that "...Rosario Murillo, through official media, explained that"... that donation will be added to aloan of $53 milliongranted by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) to finance construction of this new hospital in the North Caribbean. Execution of this project is planned to be carried out in three years, according to the loan contract."
The government has announced that with funding from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency four bridges will be built on the Caribbean coast, with a completion date of 2022.
The Ortega administration explained that $49 million relates to a loan signed with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and another $10 million will be provided by the state.The bridges will be built on the Caribbean coast, in the areas of Prinzapolka, Labu, Lisawe and Mulukukú.
Vice president Rosario Murillo gave details on 10 new projects to be executed in the next six months for free zones dedicated to different productive activities.
The 10 projects announced are:
1- Call Center in Managua DMF, 102 direct jobs, 2.7 million investment. 2- OOQIA S.A.
The vast majority of nicaraguans intend to vote for the re-election of the current President, Daniel Ortega, which would ensure the continuity of the current policies used to run the country.
EDITORIAL
Confirming what has been published by other pollsters,M & R Consultoresnotes that the results of its seventh national survey put the clear favorite to win the presidential election as Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo, who accordingtothis survey now have 66.3% of the vote. The nearest contender has only 8% of the vote, while the so-called hidden vote is 20.6%.
The Ortega administration has announced that using financing from the CABEI a 52 kilometer hydraulic concrete highway will be built from Laguna de Perlas and Kukra Hill, in the Caribbean.
According to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the loan from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) will be for $65 million and will be used for construction of the road.
Entrepreneurs and specialists are convening an international conference of agricultural productivity on May 24 and 25 in Nicaragua.
The aims of the Congress is to share experiences that contribute to improving the growth of agricultural activity. Exhibitors from national universities will be taking part along with specialists from local and international private companies, said the Coordinator for Communication and Citizenship Advice, Rosario Murillo to Elnuevodiario.com.ni.
In August representatives of the tourism sector in the Caribbean will gather together in Managua to discuss issues related to the promotion of sustainable tourism.
Elnuevodiario.com.ni reports that "...At that meeting, bringing together representatives of the tourism sector in the Caribbean countries, themes and projects related to sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean Sea will be discussed, said the coordinator of the Communication and Citizenship Council, Rosario Murillo. "
Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo relayed the presidential decision to declare mining in Rancho Grande unviable, and cancel exploration in the area.
The mining concession was obtained by the Canadian company Nueva Esperanza in 2005 and two years ago another Canadian company B2Gold took over the project, which still was in the exploration stage, but without any earthworks having been carried out.
Authorities at the Ministry of Health in Nicaragua have strengthened health checks at the border with Honduras due to the presence of paralytic bovine rabies in the department of Lempira.
Although health authorities have assured that the outbreak now poses no risk to Nicaragua, preventive measures are being implemented such as " ...Controls focusing on 100% of notifications of animals, domestic or wild, suspected of having rabies.