March 2008
Issue: 2008 - 2
Nica - Newsletter
Business and Economy
Business and Economy
Franco Harris Joins Team of Pittsburghers Creating Resort and Retirement Communities in Central America
Retired Football Star Attracted to ECI Development's Humanitarian Outreach; Will Lead Chartered Trip to Nicaragua in January
PITTSBURGH, PA – 6 Dec. 2007 – Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Famer Franco Harris has joined a new team – ECI Development Ltd. – founded by Pittsburghers who are building socially responsible resort and retirement communities in Central America with properties in Belize, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Harris, 57, is the owner and operator of Super Bakery Inc. of Pittsburgh, a world leader in healthy bakery products, as well as a social activist and philanthropist.
ECI Development's Gran Pacifica Resort in Nicaragua is launching a second wave of construction of beachfront residential, condominium and hotel units targeting the North American baby boom generation that's soon to retire and seek a go-to destination.
Harris's first “play” will be to host the ECI Development staff and retirement-minded individuals on a chartered trip to Managua, Nicaragua, from Jan. 10-13, 2008. “I'm anxious to see the changes in Nicaragua and experience the volcanoes, rain forests, and ocean,” said Harris. The tour will include a visit to the spectacular oceanfront beach property, tours of rain forests and volcanoes, and trips to 16th century Spanish colonial towns for shopping. Added Harris, “I'm happy to welcome and host ECI while in Nicaragua. While there, I want to learn about the culture and, best of all, during this visit we will be starting a mini-library for a local school– building it, painting it, and donating books for the shelves.”
Harris was attracted to ECI Development in part due to its socially-conscious mindset and humanitarian focus. ECI is investing in the future of Nicaragua's people by creating significant jobs in the construction, operations and supply-chain management industries throughout the resort. Gran Pacifica provides health and education benefits to the neighboring communities of Villa El Carmen , including supplies and funding for 6,000 students and 60 teachers in 12 schools in a joint-partnership with local government officials. ECI's management team has worked in Nicaraguan humanitarian circles since 1992, and has helped to create two Roberto Clemente Health Clinics in rural Nicaragua which reach thousands of under-served citizens.
Nicaragua has shaken away the ghosts of a civil war that ended in 1989, and is quickly becoming one of today's "go-to" destinations because it is easily accessible, attractive and inexpensive, meaning it's the right time for real estate development.
About the Pittsburgh Team – ECI Development co-founders Michael K. Cobb of Slippery Rock (chairman/CEO) and Joel M. Nagel of Sewickley (CFO/general counsel) met as roommates at Allegheny College in 1986. Cobb and his wife and two young daughters have been residing full time in Managua since 2002. Cobb is building strategic relationships with joint venture partners who are already rolling out a golf course and three condominium projects in Nicaragua, and is targeting future partners to include hotels, marina, spas, and other amenity and residential offerings.
Nagel, a Fulbright Scholar, Pittsburgh Business Times “Fast Tracker” and former Governor of Rotary District 7300 in Western Pennsylvania, has worked in Nicaraguan humanitarian circles for 15 years. He helped solicit donations and land to construct two Roberto Clemente Health Clinics in rural Nicaragua to serve thousands of underprivileged citizens in memory of the Pittsburgh Pirates superstar.
In the past few months, two other high level VIPs have joined the ECI Development team – former United States Ambassador John F. Maisto and construction industry veteran Martin Roberts.
Maisto is a past White House adviser for the Western Hemisphere, and who led U.S. diplomacy at the Organization of American States and the Summit of the Americas. Maisto served as ambassador to Nicaragua in the mid-1990s, and was in charge of $900 million in U.S. government aid programs, including obtaining $100 million in new economic development initiatives, benefiting hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguan citizens. He gives ECI Development a seasoned diplomatic veteran with decades of Central American experience.
Roberts has 35-plus years of management experience in residential and commercial construction and is leading day to day operations, construction and marketing of ECI's major land assets in Costa Rica, Belize and Nicaragua. Roberts previously was President/CEO of The Westchester Group, Inc., a custom home building company in Tampa, Florida for 18 years.
For more information, visit ECI Development's website at www.ecidevelopment.com .
Commerce Sub Secretary Padilla to Review CAFTA-DR Implementation and Expanded Trade Opportunities During Visits to Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica
U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Christopher A. Padilla will travel to Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica today begins a 5-day trip to review implementation of the United States-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and discuss continuing efforts to strengthen trade and investment ties with and throughout the region. Padilla will meet with senior government officials and private sector representatives, as well as visit companies that are benefiting from the agreement.
“Since implementation in 2006, CAFTA-DR has supported jobs and boosted exports in both the United States and Central America,” said Padilla. “Within one year of CAFTA-DR coming into force, the United States went from a trade deficit to a trade surplus with our CAFTA-DR partners. Moreover, the agreement has been critical to strengthening good governance, rule of law, and transparency in the region.”
During meetings with Honduran, Nicaraguan, and Costa Rican government officials, Padilla plans to stress the need to build on the successes of CAFTA-DR, as well as tackle the related challenges. Padilla also intends to tour companies that are benefiting from U.S. exports to the region and visit U.S. companies that are helping to improve the lives of people across the region through investment, job creation, and social welfare projects.
“CAFTA-DR is an example of how free trade agreements can boost U.S. exports and also improve the quality of life for our partners in the Western Hemisphere,” said Padilla. “Last week I visited companies in the United States, large and small, that have seen their exports to Central America grow since the implementation of CAFTA-DR. On this trip, I will see how those exports are being used in Central America. The remarkable success of CAFTA shows why the Congress should act on the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement. Just as CAFTA has worked for America, free trade with Colombia would boost exports, promote investment, and support democracy in one of our closest allies in the Hemisphere.”
The United States posted a surplus in trade in goods with the CAFTA-DR region in 2007 — almost $3.7 billion, up from a $1 billion surplus in 2006. U.S. exports in 2007 to the five countries that have implemented the CAFTA-DR (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic) grew 15.4% from 2006. U.S. exports in 2007 to the five countries were at record levels: U.S. exports reached $22.4 billion to all the CAFTA-DR countries, up 14.4% from the previous year.
Last year, trade with countries with which the United States has FTAs was significantly greater than their relative share of the global economy. Although comprising 7.5% of global GDP, not including the United States, those FTA countries accounted for more than 42% of U.S. exports.
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Sitel Expands Global Footprint to Managua, Nicaragua
Wednesday February 13
BPO Leader's Expansion Illustrates Growing Demand for Latin America-Based Customer Support Services
NASHVILLE, TN--(MARKET WIRE)--Feb 13, 2008 -- Sitel, a leading global business process outsourcing (BPO) provider, today announced it will open a customer care facility in Managua, Nicaragua in April 2008. Sitel's new multi-channel contact center will strengthen the Company's ability to provide high-quality, multilingual customer care and technical support solutions to leading companies worldwide. The 14,747-square-foot facility located at Torre Invercasa No. II, Frente al Colegio La Salle, is expected to staff more than 250 associates with the capacity for an additional 180 seats. Sitel's recent expansion to Nicaragua demonstrates growing demand among Sitel clients for Latin America-based contact center support.
"Latin America is a key part of the growing near-shore horizon to support English and Spanish bilingual customers in North America," said Dave Garner, CEO of Sitel. "Nicaragua offers a talented bilingual workforce to support our clients. We're proud to expand Sitel's presence in the region."
Latin America is becoming the world's next BPO hot spot due to the region's unique ability to offer dynamic, multilingual contact center services for a wide range of global markets. Driving market forces include:
- U.S. companies seeking BPO services in close proximity and time zone, as well as workforces with a similar business culture and strong English-and Spanish-speaking skills;
- Spanish language companies looking to global sourcing options for affordable customer support services and skilled Spanish-speaking customer care agents; and
- Global businesses looking to diversify beyond the confines of the traditional sourcing markets such as the Philippines and India, which are feeling the pressure of maturing competition for skilled labor.
For more information, please visit Sitel online to read the white paper "Latin America: The Next India?" Additionally, Sitel offers a podcast by the same title featuring commentary by global outsourcing expert and Datamonitor Analyst Peter Ryan.
"As a rapidly emerging BPO center, Latin America offers a logical and affordable choice for businesses looking to outsource their customer care," said Ryan. "The factors driving market growth in this part of the world include the availability of a skilled labor pool and the liberalization of domestic economies. Companies, including Sitel, with Latin America-based operations offer their clients a competitive advantage."
About Sitel
Sitel is a global Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) leader. The company meets clients' customer care and transaction processing needs through 67,000 associates in 27 countries. Sitel provides world-class solutions from on-shore, nearshore and offshore locations across 155+ facilities throughout North America, South America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. The company's award-winning services provide clients with the strategic insight, scale and diversity of offerings to ensure the best return on their customer investment. The company is privately held and majority owned by Canadian diversified company, Onex Corporation. For more information, please visit www.sitel.com.
New Wave announces management and geologist for Nicaraguan property
www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/newstex
Friday February 22, 11:13 am ET
TORONTO, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Wave Mobile Inc. (OTC: NWWV.PK - News) is pleased to announce it is in the final stages of signing employee agreements with key management personnel that will co-ordinate and oversee all aspects of its mining operations in Nicaragua. Glen Hodgson, a noted mining geologist and Mr. Mohamed Sankar, a businessman entrepreneur, have agreed to take over the responsibilities of Director of Exploration and Development and Operations Manager respectively. Mr. Mohamed Sankar and Mr. Glen Hodgson bring a combined mining and business experience in excess of sixty years, and are well suited for their respective positions.
Each is well versed with the local business environment and practices and fluent in the local language. Contracts and compensation should be completed in the next few days.
In addition, the Company is in final negotiations with local mining lawyers and engineers to complete its mandate of assembling a highly experienced mining team in order to effectively and efficiently operate its mining projects.
The company is very pleased to date that it has retained some of the best qualified personal in Nicaragua to join the board. It speaks highly of the potential of the properties that have been acquired and further to the potential of the ones that have been identified in and around our La Curva gold property.
Key details about Mr. Hudgson and Mr. Sankar are as follows:
Mr. Moe Sankar has obtained the rights to secure a gold mining operation on The La Curva gold property. Mr. Sankar, a resident of Canada, will be the Company's main operating manager of the mine in Nicaragua and will be on-site and hands on in the setting up and running the on-going operations of the mine. Mr. Sankar has in excess of fifteen years experience in the Central American region, meeting and understanding how these gold deposits are mined and exploited. In addition, Mr. Sankar has met with the necessary officials in the Central Government of Nicaragua to obtain any federal permission required to exploit and export the gold ore reserves mined on the La Curva gold property.
Mr. Glen Hodgson is a top geologist in Nicaragua, having been in charge of granting all the mining rights to individuals and companies for exploration and exploitation in Nicaragua for the Ministry of Mining of the Central Government of Nicaragua. Mr. Glen Hodgson is recently retired and has formed his own private consulting Company with other geologists and mining engineers/consultants to assist mining companies in testing and quantifying gold and other mineral deposits on their properties. Mr. Glen Hodgson and his Company will review all matters of exploiting the La Curva property as consultant to the company and will direct the Company's overall mining operations.
Furthermore, Mr. Glen Hodgson and his Company will perform further tests on the La Curva gold properties to quantify the amount of gold reserves present on the property, as well as secure further properties that contain gold reserves for future acquisition/joint venture and exploitation.
The property has a terrestrial expansion of approximately 2,000 acres and is located in Bonanza, a mining district that forms part of the world famous Golden Triangle of Nicaragua. The District of Bonanza has been a major contributor to the gold production in Nicaragua.
This property known as "La Curva" borders the "Hemco Nicaraguan Concession", which has been a profitable gold producer for years. La Curva has never been exploited commercially but artisan and diggings performed by local miners indicate superficial gold deposits in various areas of the property. Existing assay results for the District of Bonanza indicate that 60% of all its land area contains economically exploitable gold reserves.
The Company expects to issue further news on this significant opportunity shortly. New Wave currently has 237,000,000 shares outstanding now that its acquisition of Playstar Corporation shares is complete and filed with the NASD. The transfer agent is Transfer Online of Portland, Oregon. New Wave would like to state that the company will not be reorganizing the share structure through a consolidation.
This press release contains “forward looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended, and is subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties associated with an emerging company. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors discussed in New Wave Mobile reports that will be on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Loan Signing for Limon Ciudad Puerto
The World Bank to Finance 72, 5 millions
www.elfinancierocr.com
27/02/2008 02:00 PM
Editorial Office
President Oscar Arias confirmed this morning that for the first time in several years, the province of Limón will be a priority to the country.
The President and Finance Ministry officials signed with the World Bank a $72.5 millions loan agreement to finance the reactivation of Limón and supporting the port modernization.
In a press release, the Government announced the amount will be completed with fund counterpart of $7.5 millions to total $80 millions.
With the participation of 14 institutions and for the next five years, this credit will allow the execution of public works such as the restoration of historic buildings as well as the construction of cultural and recreational parks.
It will also allow finishing up the sewer system for the entire city, besides to public works that will prevent the Limoncito river basin from flooding.
In addition, municipal strengthening will be promoted, Mojín port terminal access will be improved and a large part of railway transportation which will permit clearance of Route 32.
The Limon Port City project is part of the Government total development strategy for the province
The loan is repayable in 15 years including a year grace period.
Government expects to solve all registered property disputes by 2011
www.nicanet.org
Prosecutor General of the Republic (PGR) Hernan Estrada hopes to resolve all 5,620 of the registered property disputes within Nicaragua during the current administration (2007 – 2012). “President [Daniel] Ortega hands out property deeds every week and will continue to do so on a massive scale [during his administration],” said Estrada. “At this rate, we expect to resolve all of the property disputes left unresolved by the previous governments” including the 562 cases involving foreign nationals, the majority, US citizens.
Estrada confirmed that the PGR is not resolving any compensation claims for property confiscated during the 1980s presented by US citizens after December 2003. Despite an agreement between the Nicaraguan and US governments that no further such claims would be accepted by the PGR, Estrada said that US citizens (in the main, Nicaraguans who left Nicaragua at the time of the 1979 revolution and became naturalized US citizens) continue to present compensation claims.
Nicaragua Government signs Loan Agreement for 47.7 million dollars with IDB
nicaragua-bid23-02-2008
Nicaraguan Government Officials and the IDB signed two Loan Agreements for 47.7 million dollars to support projects in energy and construction of popular housing.
The Ministry of Finance, Alberto Guevara, informed that one of these loans for 32.7 million dollars is to implement projects in the electric energy sector.
These funds will be also used to repair two hydroelectric plants in the northern region of Nicaragua, as part of the plans to reduce oil dependence in the electric energy generation.
The second loan is for 15 million dollars destined to the construction of 50,000 houses in different places of Nicaragua.
Both loans were signed by the IDB representative in Nicaragua, Mirna Liévano, and the Ministry of Finance, Alberto Guevara, in a neighborhood in Managua during the program “People President” presided by the sandinista ruler Daniel Ortega.
2008 Edition of Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Central America Report Offers a Wealth of Information on Trends and Developments in the Industry
www.centredaily.com
Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008
DUBLIN, Ireland — Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c84195) has announced the addition of 2008 Latin America - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband in Central America to their offering.
The Central American countries are Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, all of which are small countries with generally low GDP per capita but with considerable scope for development in all telecom sectors. This annual report offers a wealth of information on the trends and developments in fixed-line telephony, mobile telephony, Internet, broadband, digital TV, and converging media including VoIP and IPTV developments.
Subjects include:
- Key statistics and forecasts;
- Market and industry overviews;
- Government policies and regulatory issues;
- Historical information;
- Major players (fixed-line, mobile, broadband, and pay TV);
- Telecom infrastructure (national and international, fixed and wireless);
- Mobile voice and data markets;
- Internet market and VoIP;
- Broadband (DSL, cable, wireless);
- Convergence, pay TV, and developments in digital TV.
Central America is a tropical isthmus that connects North and South America, and separates the Caribbean from the Pacific. It comprises the seven republics of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The region is relatively small, extending for about 524,000km2. The land is fertile and rugged, and dominated by a string of volcanic mountain ranges.
Belize: While geographically part of Central America, Belize has much in common with its Caribbean Island neighbors. The Belizean telecom market was officially liberalized in January 2003, yet the incumbent, Belize Telecommunications (BTL), still holds a virtual monopoly. With scant competition and ineffective regulatory control, it has been able to charge exorbitant rates for its services. A controversy over VoIP is a case in point. Although both the government and the regulator declared that they wanted to move the telecom sector towards greater competition, in practice BTL lobbied against VoIP and has been able to block any possible competitors from using VoIP. BTL does, however, face competition in the mobile sector, where SpeedNet launched services in March 2005 under the brand name Smart, and succeeded in carving out about 18% of the market after only 15 months of operation.
Costa Rica: State-owned Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) and its subsidiary RACSA are the monopoly providers of virtually all telecom services except for pay TV and paging. While this situation worked in the past, it is now leading to considerable problems, such as long waiting lists for phones, poor service quality, obsolescence, and lack of investment. Although it has one of the highest fixed-line teledensity rates in Latin America, Costa Rica's mobile penetration is significantly lower than the regional average and well below what could be expected given its relatively high GDP per capita. The preliminary signing of the Dominican Republic-Central American Free-Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) in January 2004 marked a significant step for Costa Rica, as DR-CAFTA calls for the liberalization of some telecom services. But the Costa Rican population is deeply divided over DR-CAFTA, and the ratification of the agreement has been delayed, together with any liberalization plans.
El Salvador: The country's telecom market is among the most open in Central America. The government's liberal approach has allowed new technologies to flourish. Fixed-line teledensity, however, remains low. Despite growing steadily, phone lines, mainly in rural areas, are insufficient to meet local demand. Mobile telcos have capitalized on the underdeveloped fixed-line network by emphasizing their ability to offer a fast, high-quality service with nationwide coverage. At more than 42%, El Salvador's mobile penetration is lower than the Latin American average, but is remarkably high considering the country's low GDP per capita. The mobile market is served by five competing operators, and there are about three times as many mobile phones as fixed lines in service. With a budding VoIP market, and cable TV telcos permitted to provide telephony and Internet, El Salvador is a promising country for convergence strategies. Two operators already offer triple play services.
Guatemala: The largest telecom market in Central America, Guatemala has been held back by poverty, income inequality, and violence. The distribution of income in Guatemala is highly unequal, with around 75% of the population below the poverty line. The telephone system reflects this inequality, with a relatively modern network centered in Guatemala City, but one of the lowest teledensity rates in the region. Outside the capital, the rest of the country's fixed-line infrastructure is inadequate and antiquated, though much improved since the telecom sector was liberalized in 1996. Mobile telephony is the fastest growing market. There are about four times as many mobile phones as fixed lines in service. While mobile penetration is about 20% lower than the Latin American average, it is remarkably high considering that the country's GDP per capita is roughly one-half that of the region as a whole.
Honduras: One of the poorest countries in the Latin America, Honduras has one of the least developed telecom infrastructures and the fourth lowest teledensity in the region. Fixed-line telephony was officially opened to competition in December 2005. A New Telecom Law governing full liberalization, however, has been delayed due to political controversy over the role of Empresa Hondurena de Telecomunicaciones (Hondutel), the state-owned national telecom provider. Efforts to privatize the incumbent have so far failed to come to fruition, and are awaiting the New Telecom Law to be passed. Two companies compete in the mobile market: Millicom's Tigo and America Movil's Claro. Unsatisfied demand for basic telephony has driven a veritable boom in the mobile market, with annual growth rates of around 80%.
Nicaragua: With the second lowest fixed-line teledensity in Latin America (after Haiti), Nicaragua is one of a growing list of countries leapfrogging directly into mobile communications. Nicaragua's mobile phones exceed the number of fixed lines in service by almost seven to one. In fact, while Nicaragua's fixed-line teledensity is the second lowest in Latin America, its mobile penetration is the fifth lowest, surpassing Honduras, Peru, Haiti, and Cuba. Since 2004, the country's mobile market has been growing at an average annual rate of approximately 60%. Liberalization of the fixed-line market is still awaiting proper implementation, having been delayed by political and legal wrangles. America Movil's Enitel holds a virtual monopoly over the country's fixed lines. The mobile market, on the other hand, is a lively duopoly between Telefonica's Movistar and America Movil's Claro, the latter clearly in the lead with a 70% market share.
Panama: With significant telecom infrastructure, a liberalized market, and serviced by five global fiber optic cables, Panama is an attractive country for telecom investments, especially following the October 2006 decision to broaden the Panama Canal. Competition, however, is slow to develop in basic telephony, where the incumbent Cable & Wireless Panama (C&WP) is reluctant to unbundle its local network, but the long distance sector has attracted several players, leading to huge price drops, especially in international calls. During 2006, C&WP was the Panamanian public services company that incurred the most complaints. Its mobile unit, trading as +Movil, has a 50% share of the mobile market; Telefonica's Movistar has the other 50%. In the Internet market, although penetration is still low, dial-up and ADSL connections are developing at a fast pace; growth potential in this sector is excellent. The leading cable TV company, Cable Onda, has started to offer Triple Play services (converged broadband, telephony and pay TV).
Companies Mentioned:
- Belize Telecommunications Ltd
- Enitel Movil
- Movistar
- Alo PCS
- BellSouth Guatemala
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c84195.
Research and Markets Laura Wood Senior Manager Fax: +353 1 4100 980 press@researchandmarkets.com
P. Licks Puts Fair Trade Organic Nicaragua Coffee in the Spotlight
www.theopenpress.com
DATELINE: BOSTON; BROOKLINE; JAMAICA PLAIN; NEWTON CENTRE; SOMERVILLE AND WEST ROXBURY, MA
J.P. Licks, the Kosher-certified scoop shop with seven stores in and around Boston, is known for their high quality, homemade (and sometimes outrageously flavored) ice cream. But, what many don’t realize is that they are just as particular about their coffee – where it comes from, how it’s roasted and how it tastes.
With February being “Specialty Coffee Month”, J.P. Licks’ passion for coffee and commitment to coffee growers is highlighted through their limited edition offering of Fair Trade Organic (FTO) Nicaragua coffee, which comes from Promotora de Desarollo Cooperativo de las Segovias (PRODECOOP), based in the Segovia region of Northern Nicaragua and boasting of 40 cooperatives.
PRODECOOP was established in 1993 to provide assistance to its members’ families in the sustainable production and the marketing of their coffee. Their revenues from fair trade sales support many social and quality control programs including: primary and secondary school scholarships and books; a revolving social fund that assists with disaster relief, healthcare and homebuilding; an organic production program that has boosted their certified organic coffee production significantly; improved processing equipment and the creation of a quality control center to maintain their high standards.
When it comes to Fair Trade coffee, J.P. Licks insists upon several factors before partnering with a grower: fair price; environmental sustainability; fair labor conditions; direct trade; community development and organic cultivation.
“Where our coffee comes from and how it is obtained is just as important to us as how our coffee tastes. We take pride in being ‘fair’…fair with our employees, fair with our customers, and fair with the people who grow the coffee we roast,” says the enigmatic founder of J.P. Licks, Vince Petryk.
To further ensure high quality and flavor consistency in every cup of coffee, J.P. Licks insists on roasting their beans at their Jamaica Plain store and has been doing so since 1999. FTO Nicaragua is a medium roast coffee…not too dark, not too light, but just right.
Customers who enjoy a great cup of J.P. Licks coffee may also purchase their favorite blend of fresh roasted coffee beans. With coffee bean sales accounting for more than 25 percent of their business, J.P. Licks continues to meet considerable consumer demand for the best brewing beans in Boston.
J.P. Licks can be found at Coolidge Corner, Davis Square, Mission Hill, Newbury Street, Newton Centre, West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. Visit www.jplicks.com to check their store hours.
Best of Boston and Beyond
For more than 25 years, J.P. Licks has been serving homemade ice cream and other specialties in their seven Kosher-certified shops in and around Boston. Locally owned and operated, J.P. Licks has won many awards over the years for their intensely-flavored homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt. Most recently, J.P. Licks was named “Best of Boston” by Boston Magazine and also made WBZ’s “A-List” for the second year in a row. Known for their high quality, scrumptious treats and their knack for “treating people right”, J.P. Licks was named Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s “Small Business of the Year”.
In addition to their frozen creations, J.P. Licks has taken it upon them to roast their own fair trade and organic coffee beans on-site at their Jamaica Plain store, which ensures the best and the freshest, full-bodied cup of coffee around. Decadent hand-packed ice cream cakes as well as breakfast & ice cream sundae catering are also available.
Visit the website at www.jplicks.com for more information.
Nicaragua resume Free Trade Agreement talks with Canada
www.elnuevodiario.com
The Nicaraguan government said on Wednesday its readiness to resume negotiations for the signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Central America and Canada, which were suspended six years ago by discrepancies.
"We will resume the negotiations of the treaty from a regional approach which is also convenient to Canada," said Minister of Development, Industry and Trade of Nicaragua, Orlando Solorzano.
The official explained that negotiations were stopped because of some differences in the treatment to some products, mainly textiles, but now there is a willingness to accelerate the talks with more flexible positions.
Central American Country members of CA-4 Group, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, with which Canada already negotiated the first part of the agreement, participate in the negotiations. Costa Rica on its side has an FTA with Canada for five years.
Minister Solorzano said Nicaragua is interested in strengthening trade relations with Canada, where currently exports meat, seafood, mineral, rums, cereals and other agricultural and industrial products.
Nicaraguan exports to Canada increased in the last six years from 18 to 68 million, according to the government Center for Export Processes (Cetrex).
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