Nicaragua is benefitting from a cost advantage in most product categories, both regionally and globally.
A study entitled "Comparison of Competitiveness of the Garment Industry of Nicaragua", has been prepared by O'Rourke Group Partners, and supported by the Enterprise and Employment Programme of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in conjunction with ProNicaragua, the official investment promoter.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding a project to improve the competitiveness level of Salvadoran municipalities.
The goal is to improve municipal management in order to attract private investment.
“For 2014, the idea is to meet several indicators, such as creating 200 new companies and 5.000 new jobs among participating municipalities”, noted Laprensagrafica.com.
The US-donated resources will be used in reconstruction of bridges, roads and drainage structures.
It will also be used in roof, walls and floor repairs of schools and medical facilities, security walls, provision of school equipment, teaching materials and other supplies.
The works will help restore access to basic health services, education, and availability of adequate transport infrastructure, which are vital for economic growth in the most affected areas.
The program's goal is to contribute to the productive development of communities in the north of the capital.
A total of nine communities in Colonia Escalon will benefit from the program called "Sustainable Communities: Entrepreneurship and Employment Generation."
To implement the program, USAID has provided $ 500 thousand, Grupo Agrisal $ 125 thousand, the same amount by Fundación Meza Ayuda, FUNDEMAS $ 100 thousand and the Fondo de Iniciativas de Educación $ 250.000.
The U.S. donation will be used to expand health services.
The funds will be channeled through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Reuters article includes comments by President Porfirio Lobo, "... the resources will increase the access to maternal and child health and family planning, care to people with AIDS, decentralization and reforms in the health sector.”
Under a program to fight hunger, the U.S. Government approved $ 10 million for the country.
The program, called Feeding the Future, “will continue to support small farmers and businesses in Nicaragua to improve productivity and expand the market and trade", stated U.S. Ambassador Robert Callahan, at the presentation act.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will be responsible for managing the $ 10 million.
The country plans to increase by 42% its participation in foreign trade fairs for 2011.
Roberto Brenes, general manager of the Center for Exports and Investment in Nicaragua, said they will have cooperation from the Enterprise and Employment Program of USAID.
The manager told El Nuevo Diario, "This year we went to seven trade fairs, but next year we will add three more, which will make 10 fairs or more for the year, adding new markets (besides Central America, United States Europe) in Venezuela and Ecuador."
Rainforest Alliance and USAID have presented a new standard aimed at encouraging cattle farms to improve their environmental and social sustainability.
This standard, which forms part of the agreements established in DR-CAFTA, will help cattle farmers to implement best practices by voluntarily opting to obtain the the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ certification.
19 associations have received certificates enabling them to export to the USA by complying with international agricultural best practice standards.
The scheme promoted by Fundación Ágil and coordinated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to date has certified 48 farming groups.
"Out of all harvests, certified farms export 80% to the US and 20% to Europe.
The call center industry is finding it hard to grow, due to lack of qualified bilingual personnel.
From every 7 individuals who apply for a Call Center job, just one has an English Language level of 85% or above. The remaining 6 display a skill level of 70%.
Beatriz Peralta, Sykes general manager, told Elsalvador.com that “these deficiencies limit the growth of the industry.
The resources are earmarked for infrastructure projects and agriculture support projects.
Hugo Llorens, U.S. ambassador in Honduras, told members of the pres that they will renovate the Millennium Challenge program that expires on September 30.
One of the included projects is the expansion of the CA-5 highway.
“The U.S. diplomat commented than $20 additional million are available to support the country’s security initiatives, included in the Mérida Program”, reported Latribuna.hn.
The money will be used to recover the main urban areas of each municipality.
FISDL, the Salvadoran Found For Local Social Investment, announced that the beneficiaries will be the mayoralties of San Salvador, Zacatecoulca, Mejicanos, Olocuilta and Zaragoza.
Hector Silva, president of the Fund and former mayor of San Salvador, assured his entity is willing to assist municipalities with financial support for urban improvement.
USAID’s initiative aims to improve the country’s competitiveness and foster job creation.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will invest $11.4 million in the program, which will be executed over the next four years.
It aims to connect local producers with international buyers, and will provide training and technical assistance to small and medium companies to improve their productive capacity.
The country’s breeders signed an agreement with US-Aid to develop a program to improve the country’s dairy industry.
Called “Farmer to Farmer” (Agricultor a Agricultor), the program will be developed over the next four years.
“This program aims to connect professional U.S. farmers with Latin American ones, to identify weaknesses in the value chain, and develop projects to solve them”, reported Elnuevodiario.com.ni.
The Municipal Competitiveness Index 2009 was presented in El Salvador.
With support of USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, RTI International, in alliance with the Superior School of Economics and Business (ESEN), presented the results of their study titled: "Municipal Competitiveness 2009, El Salvador".
The study was conducted by a multidisciplinary team, composed of specialists of ESEN and RTI.