An increase in the rates for telecommunications services and its dollarization would generate market distortions and jeopardize the viability of investments in the sector.
From a statement issued by the Superior Council of Private Enterprise:
Last week we had again to inform and denounce to the public the approval of a unilateral administrative decision by Telcor.
The Ortega administration has attended to the demands of the real estate sector and sent to the Assembly a bill to lower electricity rates for consumers of more than 150 KW.
Finally the Nicaraguan government has responded to the request made by the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) and sent to the National Assembly regarding a bill which establishes a reduction in the electricity rates for residential and other sectors that consume more than 150 KW.
Employers say the country is losing competitiveness compared to the rest of the region as it has not seen downward adjustments in electricity rates.
Already there have been several talks with government on reducing energy prices, but still no response has been received from the requests of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP).
Cosep's President Jose Adan Aguerri told Elnuevodiario.com.ni that "...
The private sector will be asking the government to implement a differentiated rate for electricity companies in order to avoid losing competitiveness against the rest of the region.
In light of the governments refusal to reduce electricity rates, the private sector has proposed the creation of a lower differentiated rate for users who consume more than 150 Kw / h per month, which are mostly companies.
A company producing polyethylene products has closed part of its operation in Costa Rica due to the high cost of production in the country and transferred its factory which is now operating in Nicaragua.
The high costs that firms have to incur to produce competitively in the country is the main reason behind the partial closure of the Yanber company's operations in Costa Rica and its transfer to Nicaragua.
The Tax Authority of Guatemala has denied the existence of a consensus among Central American countries to implement a unified charge.
The Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) of Guatemala denied that there is a consensus among countries to implement a one-time charge for reviewing scanned merchandise flowing through the region, as announced by the Directorate General of Customs of El Salvador.
The group of countries that Costa Rica, Panama and others in the region want to join, will next week sign in the immediate elimination of tariffs on 92% of trade goods.
The protocol on tax relief for 92% of goods traded between the countries of the Pacific Alliance will be signed next week at a summit to be held at Cartagena de Indias, confirmed the Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos.
If Asian countries like Malaysia and Vietnam get access for their textiles to the U.S. under the same conditions granted in the DR-CAFTA, the Central American textile sector will be at risk.
The Salvadoran Chamber of Textiles, Clothing and Free Zones (CAMTEX), warns of the risk posed to the sector if the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) comes into effect.