In Nicaragua, following the arrest of four presidential pre-candidates and the detention of business leader Jose Adan Aguerri, the productive sector demands the release of political prisoners and advocates for the government to commit itself to grant all democratic guarantees.
Following the arrest of Cristiana Chamorro, Arturo Cruz, Felix Maradiaga Blandon and Juan Sebastian Chamorro, there are now four presidential pre-candidates who have been imprisoned by Nicaraguan authorities.
After more than a year of not flying to the Central American country due to the health crisis, the Mexican airline confirmed that as of July 1 it will resume operations to Nicaragua.
The airline plans to cover the route between Mexico City and Managua on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flights will depart from Mexico at 9:10 a.m. and will arrive in the Nicaraguan capital at 10:55 a.m., and the departure from Managua will be at 12:00 p.m.
In the country, the business sector expects an increase in operating costs in the coming months, as a result of the expected increase in the price of electricity in the short term.
With the aim of signing agreements on economic and trade issues, Nicaraguan authorities visited Iran, but for Nicaraguan businessmen there is no possibility of "developing markets with that country.”
Ortega's regime seeks to strengthen its relations with Iran, since it recently sent to the National Assembly for approval, the "Agreement for the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments between Nicaragua and the Islamic Republic of Iran."
A simpler scheme for importing materials is one of the new features included in the new regulations announced to facilitate procedures for free zone companies.
The leaders of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) announced that the new technical circular for free zone companies will be in effect from February 1, and includes, among other things, adjustments to the time and costs incurred by companies when transporting goods.
During the 2015-16 harvest the sugar industry expects to upload to the national grid between 85 and 90 MW of energy, about 22 MW more than in the previous harvest.
The National Committee of Sugar Producers of Nicaragua (CNPA by its initials in Spanish) plans to increase the energy it uploads to the national system through the four mills operating in the country, explained Jose Adan Aguerri, president of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) .
More workers who speak a second language are needed in order to continue growing in terms of attracting investment.
The arrival of international companies engaged in outsourcing services shows an upward trend in Nicaragua, but the main obstacle to greater growth is the lack of potential employees who speak and write two languages.
TreviGroup will be visiting the country to meet with business leaders and government officials to evaluate business opportunities in the project of the Grand Canal and other construction areas.
TreviGroup construction company will meet with representatives of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP); the Nicaraguan Chamber of Construction (CNC) and government officials in order to find out about and evaluate participating in the construction of the Grand Canal and other construction opportunities in the country.
An agreement has been made to postpone until May 25 the effectiveness of various lists of tax breaks for the purchase of raw materials in order to work on a single document and add new products.
At a meeting between representatives of the government and the private sector it was agreed to extend the validity of the lists for tax exemptions in order to negotiate within that period the inclusion of other products and the creation of a single document. It was also agreed to remove fines for importers starting from 1 April.
The Under Secretary of Commerce in the United States sees no need for renewal of preferential tariff arrangements, which up to now have favored Nicaragua's textile industry.
Statements by the senior official of the Obama administration fell like a bucket of cold water over textile entrepreneurs, who claim that without the renewal of TPL, production costs will increase by up to 40%.
The government will control 95% of the 20 tons of red beans that have been authorized for duty-free purchase from any country which is a member of the World Trade Organization.
The remaining 5% will be distributed "... on a first come, first serve basis, until the available volume of each quota runs out," says ministerial agreement 025-2014 as reported by Laprensa.com.ni .
A controversial clause which invalidated the right to deduct anticipated monthly minimum payments in settlement of income tax has been removed from the declaration form.
After receiving criticism from the private sector and experts claiming that the amendment violated the tax law, the Directorate General of Revenue (DGI) has removed from the tax form the check box that did not recognize the right of deduction of anticipated minimum monthly payments in settlement of income tax (IR).
The Government has abolished the regulations of the Tax Coalition Law which created new taxes and fiscal measures.
Jose Adam Aguerri, head of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise announced that the regulations on the Tax Coalition Law will be canceled by the Government of the country.
"President Daniel Ortega signed an order repealing the controversial decree 06-2014 containing the regulations.
Through this move, transfers by private and state employers to the Nicaraguan Institute of Social Security will increase by $26 million.
This was announced José Adán Aguerri, president of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (Cosep). Of that $27 million, $6 million will be provided by state enterprises and the rest by private companies.
"This increase in the employer contribution is something that has been established in the negotiations we have had with the government," said the chief of Cosep.
The American Chamber of Commerce of Nicaragua has rejected the amendments to the Constitution proposed by the Nicaraguan government.
This is the result of a survey carried out by AmCham among its members in order to find out its position on the proposal to reform the constitution of Nicaragua. 75.6% of respondents asserted that the initiative will affect the business climate in the country.