Nicaragua with second highest improvement in the Latin Business Index

May 11, 2011 - PRLog -- Nicaragua improved two positions in the 2011 Latin Business Index published by the Latin Business Chronicle compared to 2010. The sixth edition of the index broadly measures the climate for business in 18 countries in Latin America.

Nicaragua was the country with the second highest improvement in the Latin American region in this year’s index, surpassed only by Argentina, which improved four positions.

The index focuses on five categories using a methodology revised from 2010 including the country’s macro environment, which takes into account GDP growth in 2009, 2010, estimated 2011 and forecast 2012, and percent inflation for those years. It also considers the country’s corporate environment, access to capital for entrepreneurs, ease of doing business and economic freedom. Other indicators include globalization and competitiveness, infrastructure level and political environment.

The new methodology adds several new subcategories, including tax and labor environment, judicial independence and intellectual property rights.

Additionally, other prestigious international studies, such as the the 2011 Doing Business Report, published by the World Bank, ranked Nicaragua as the top location in Central America in starting a business, investor protection, and closing a business. According to the reports, the country also improved in the following categories: ease of doing business, registering property, paying taxes, trading across borders and enforcing contracts.

Recently, Nicaragua has shown positive figures in key economic indicators that highlight the country as an ideal investment destination and will contribute in meeting the Government’s expectations of attracting over US$1,000 in foreign direct investment during 2011, a growth of 104.6 percent when compared to 2010 results.

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PRONicaragua is the Nicaraguan Investment Promotion Agency, established in 2002. It is a non-profit, public-private institution whose mission is to generate economic growth and job creation in Nicaragua by attracting high-quality foreign direct investment. The agency provides complimentary support services to qualified investors seeking investment opportunities in our country.