NICARAGUA: AMERICA'S COMPETITIVENESS FORUM

UNCLAS MANAGUA 000494 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/EPSC/DSILVERMAN,RSCHWARTZ COMMERCE FOR ITA/MAC/AWILSON,MSIEGELMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD ELAB SOCI OAS KSUM NU SUBJECT: NICARAGUA: AMERICA'S COMPETITIVENESS FORUM REF: A. SECSTATE 198999 ¶B. MANAGUA 0355 ¶1. (U) At the earliest opportunity after the inauguration of the new president and the seating of a new cabinet, the Ambassador met the new Minister of Trade, Industry and Development Horacio Brenes Icabalceta about attending the Americas Competitiveness Forum in Atlanta on June 11-13 (refs A and B). In follow-up to this meeting, the Ambassador supplied additional information to Minister Brenes about the forum and asked for his suggestions as to who might attend from his government. Econoff also contacted his staff, but have not yet received a response. ¶2. (SBU) We believe the situation is complicated by the fact that the Ministry of Finance has requested that all ministries and government agencies pass budgeted funding for travel and public relations to a central account to be managed by the Presidency, specifically the person of the Coordinator for Public Communications and Citizenship, First Lady Rosario Murillo. These funds appear destined for Peoples, Councils, an experiment in direct democracy. Brenes, office has inquired as to whether funding to attend the conference from the USG. We are examining whether post funds might be available. ¶3. (SBU) Post apologizes for taking longer than the time allotted, and would like to suggest that invitations be sent to the following GON officials (Note: mailing addresses in Spanish follow names and titles in English). Ministers: -- Horacio Brenes Icabalceta Minister of Trade, Industry and Development Horacio Brenes Icabalceta Ministro de Fomento, Industria y Comercio Km 6 Carretera a Masaya Managua, Nicaragua -- Jeannette Chavez Minister of Labor Jeannette Chavez Ministra del Trabajo Estado Nacional 2c Norte Alternate or Additional Minister: -- Fernando Martinez Espinoza Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Fernando Martinez Espinoza Ministro de Transportacion e Infraestructura Frente al Estado Nacional Other GON Officials: -- Roberto Bendana McEwan Executive Secretary Presidential Competitiveness Commission Roberto Bendana McEwan Secretario Ejecutivo Comision Presidencial de Competitividad Edificio Zoila, Esquina Sur Edificio Delta 1c Este, 1/2c Norte -- Julio Cesar Bendana J. Director General, Market Competition and Transparency Ministry of Trade, Industry and Development Lic. Julio Cesar Bendana J. Director General Direccion General Competencia y Transparencia de Mercados Ministerio de Fomento, Industria, y Comercio Km 6 Carretera Masaya (Edificio MIFIC) ¶4. (U) Invitations may also be sent to the following individuals who represent important organizations in the private sector. -- Cesar Zamora President American Chamber of Commerce of Nicaragua Cesar Zamora Presidente Camara de Comercio American de Nicaragua Bancentro Carretera a Masaya 1 cuadra abajo P.O. Box 2720, Managua Nicaragua -- Erwin J. Kruger President Superior Council for Private Enterprise Erwin J. Kruger Presidente Consejo Superior de la Empresa Privada Clinica Las Palmas 1c Oeste -- Jose Adan Aguerri Ch. President Chamber of Commerce of Nicaragua Jose Adan Aguerri Ch. Presidente Camara de Comercio de Nicaragua Apartado Postal 135 Edificio Aval Caro Bolonia -- Alejandro Martinez Cuenca President International Foundation for the Global Economic Challenge Alejandro Martinez Cuenca Presidente Fundacion Internacional para el Desafio Economico Global Bolonia Hospital Retiro 2 c al lago BRENNAN