NICARAGUA
Address of Indian Mission: EMBASSY OF INDIA, PANAMA
(Concurrent Accreditation)
No. 10325, Avenida Federico Boyd y Calle 51, Bella Vista
Post Box No. 0823-05815, Panama, Republic of Panama
Tel : 00-507-2642416, 2643043, 2648780 Fax : 00-507-2642855
GRAM : INDEMBASSY, PANAMA
E-mail : indempan@c-com.net.pa
indempan@cwpanama.net
Website: www.indempan.org
Honorary Consulate: Honorary Consulate General of India, Kilometer 31/2 North Road,
Plasticos Moodernos Managua, Nicaragua.
Tel : 00-505-2483505/2657795
Fax :00-505-2490667
1. Name of the Country: Republic of Nicaragua
2. Capital: Managua
3. Name of Provinces and Provincial Capitals:
Province Capital
Boaco Boaco
Carazo San Marcos
Chinandega Corinto
Chontales Juigalpa
Esteli Ocotal
Granada Granada
Jinotega Somoto
Leon Leon
Madriz Madriz
Managua Managua
Masaya Masaya
Matagalpa Matagalpa
Nueva Segovia Nueva Segovia
Rivas Rivas
Rio San Juan San Carlos
Zelaya – divided into two autonomous regions:
Comunidad Autonoma delAtlantic Norte (Capital: Puerto Cabezas)
Comunidad Autonoma del Atlantico Sur (Capital: Bluefields)
4. Population: 5,982,600 (2004)
5. Currency/Exchange rate as on a recent date: Cordoba
1 US $ = 15.73 Cordobas
6. Languages spoken: Spanish
7. Latitude/Longitude and time zone details 12º 15N, 86º 27W
of country:
8. Time: GMT –6 hours
9. Name of:
(i)Head of State: Enrique Bolanos
(ii) Head of Government:: -do-
(iii) Foreign Minister: Norman Caldera
10. Official Website Links:
Head of State: www.presidencia.gob.ni
Ministry of External Relations: www.cancilleria.gob.ni
Commerce and Industry Ministry: www.mific.gob.ni
11. Name, address and contact details of country’s central bank:
Dr Mario Alonso Icabalceta, President Executive
Central Bank of Nicaragua
www.bcn.gob.ni
12. Basic foreign, international trade, etc policies:
13. Membership of major multilateral and regional organizations:
The United Nations and its organizations, NAM ,G-77 etc. and Organization of American States(OAS) , SICA,SIECA, CABEI.
14. Major industries, global companies, etc.
Major Industries: Food processing, chemicals, machinery & metal products, textiles & clothing, petroleum refinery &distribution, beverages & footwear wood etc
Global Companies: Marina Puesta del Sol; Complejo Turistico Las Vegas ; Hotel Punta Teonoste; Inversiones Osorio Bustamente , Telered( Grupo America Movil) ; San Jacinto Power ; Zona Franca Industrial Los Brasiles; Arnecom ; Grupo Senika ; Mupd Nicaragua; Mil Colores ;America Movi( Privatzacion ENITEL)
15. Significant economic activities such as agriculture, mining, knowledge industries, services such as financial services, shipping, tourism, etc.
16. Global Trade and Investment
Total Imports: US $2595.1 million (2005)
Major exporting countries: USA, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Venezuela
Total Export: US $857.9 million (2005)
Major destinations of exports: USA, Germany, Canada, Costa Rica, Honduras
17. Major Universities/Scientific Institutions:
18. Important Think Tanks on Foreign Policy related issues:
19. Major Tourist attractions: Mombacho (Volcano
Granada & Leon (historic towns)
20. Major art forms/cultural traditions and venues/museums, etc.
21. Major Newspapers/Magazine/TV Channels with contact details:
Newspapers:
- DIARIO LA PRENSA Nicaragua alberto-aleman@laprensa.com.ni
2. EL NUEVO DIARIO Nicaragua ndiario@ibw.com.ni
Television Stations:
1. Canal 2 TV Noticias Nicaragua tvnoticias@canal2.com.ni
2. Canal 4 Nicaragua multinoticias@hotmail.com
3. Canal 12 Nicaragua info@nuevaya.com.ni
Radio Stations:
1. LA PRIMERISIMA Nicaragua omarpp@ibw.com.ni
2. LA RADIO YA Nicaragua info@nuevaya.com.ni
II. INDIA-NICARAGUA RELATIONS
Events/facts of particular historical and cultural significance in relations between India and that country, including date of establishment of diplomatic relations:
- Political Relations
Relations are cordial and friendly. India extended assistance to Nicaragua through a line of credit in the 1980s. The debt owed to India was written off in 2004 as part of the Paris Initiative to assist HIPCs. Nicaragua has cooperated with India at the UN and multilateral agencies voting in favour of India.
- Important Bilateral Treaties and agreements with brief notes
Declaration for the Establishment of a Mechanism for Political Cooperation and Dialogue between the Republic of India and the States of the Central American System of Integration (Multilateral)
- Bilateral Visits –
From India:
- Sh. Eduardo Falerio, MP – 1985 and 1989
- Sh. Shivraj Patil, Speaker (Lok Sabha) led a Parliamentary Delegation for IPU event – April/May 1989.
- Sh. Ram Vilas Paswan – Minister of Labour and Welfare – April 1990
From Nicaragua:
- President Daniel Ortega – 1983 (NAM Summit), 1986 (State Visit)
- Father Miguel D’Escoto de Brockman – Foreign Minister
- Ernesto Leal, Foreign Minister – March 1995
- President Arnoldo Aleman – July 2001 (Private Visit)
- Norman Caldera, Foreign Minister – as part of Central American delegation in February 2004.
6. Alejandro Arguello, Minister of Finance (April 2006---to seek investment)
4. Commercial and Economic Relations, with trade, aid and investment details.
India’s exports to Nicaragua in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 were US$5.96 million and US$11.15 million respectively, while our imports from Nicaragua during the same period fell from US$0.34 million to US$ 0.17 million.
Aid/grants etc.: A token gift of medicines in 1985, 2000 MT of wheat in 1986 followed by 20,000 MT of wheat and 1,500 MT of Jute in 1987 , emergency supplies of medicines in 1998 , and Rs 100 million grant-in –aid 1989. Government to Government credits were used to finance exports of some 200 Mahindra jeeps, some three wheelers, fabrics and medicines. UK and US NGOs and UNDP had set up a “Jaipur Foot” centre in Managua in 1990. 500 sewing machines were gifted under ITEC. In 19988, the Government of India donated medicines and medical stores worth Rs 5 lakhs to Nicaragua as a relief supplies for the victims of Hurricane Mitch.
5. S&T Relations, cooperation in other fields such as Railways, Space, IT, Biotechnology, Infrastructure, Mining, etc.
India proposes to set up an IT Training Center in Nicaragua.
6. Chairs in Universities on Indian Studies, South Asian Studies, etc., and vice versa in Indian Universities, relevant Area Studies’ Centers in the two countries.
Nil
7. Major Indian projects undertaken and other ongoing Indian projects.
Nil
8. ITEC Assistance and programmes.
Nicaragua has availed of training under the ITEC Programme.
9. Other Indian training/ assistance schemes
Nil
10. Details of Indian Credit Lines/ Official Assistance.
- India had donated US$10,000/- worth of medical supplies for victims of natural disasters.
- Repayment of Indian Credit Line of Rs.125 million was waived in March 2004.
- 18 Bajaj Three-wheelers were gifted to Nicaragua on 10th November 2005. These are being used by the National Police of Nicaragua and Ministry of Health in Managua and health centers in remote areas.
11. Cultural Troupes – Incoming & Outgoing over last few years.
12. Student Exchange Programmes, etc.
13. Any Sister City relations with India
Nil
14. Important streets, public places named after Indian leaders
15. Types of visas issued, and visa details for officials, students, business people, tourists, etc. from India.
India falls in the prior reference category. Applications must be submitted well in advance (4 to 8 weeks). Photocopies of passport, two passport-size photographs are to be submitted along with the applications. Having US visas cuts down on processing time. Persons traveling for business purposes must have an invitation letter from a local Nicaraguan company. Barring diplomatic and official passports, the current practice is to issue a visitor’s visa, usually restricted to 30 days at a time. Return or onward tickets are also required for all visa applicants. Visa fees are US $25/-.
16. Air links with India/Convenient Travel Routes.
No direct air connection with India. Air connection is either through USA/Latin America or Europe i.e. France, Germany, Netherlands etc.
17. Indian Banks
Nil
18. Addresses of branch offices of other Indian Government and Public Sector organisations, Chambers of Commerce, etc., such as Tourist Office, Export Promotion Councils, FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, etc.
Nil
19. Name, Address and contact details of Indian Culture Centres, if any.
Nil
20. Link to Embassy and Consulate websites
www.indempan.org
21. Links to local organisations dealing with India.
22. Estimated NRI/PIO population.
Not known
23. Important NRI/PIO Associations and their contact details.
Nil
24. Major Indian ethnic papers/TV channels with contact details.
Nil
25. NRIs/PIOs holding significant public offices.
Nil
B(1): MULTILATERAL/REGIONAL/SUB-REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND INITIATIVES IN WHICH INDIA IS A MEMBER
1. Name and address of Organisation: NIL
2. Name and contact details of executive head of Organisation.
3. Dates and other details of India’s progressive association/membership
4. India’s current status – full member, observer, etc.
5. Country with current Presidency of Organisation
6. Names and contact details of any Indians holding top executive positions in the Secretariat of the Organisation.
7. India’s stated position on major agenda issues of the Organisation
8. Links to related important Indian Speeches/Statements, chronologically listed.
9. Links to Indian Press Releases, and Press Releases relating to India, chronologically listed.
B(2): MAJOR MULTILATERAL/REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS WITH WHOM INDIA HAS SIGNIFICANT RELATIONS WHILE NOT BEING A MEMBER (e.g. ASEAN, EU, etc):
1. Level and nature of India’s interaction with that organisation.
SICA (Central American System of Integration) – India-SICA Group of Ministers meeting held in Tegucigalpa, Honduras – Feb. 10, 2005.
- Country with current Presidency of Organisation
Rotating Presidency: 6 months: Costa Rica (June-December 2006)
3. Country Coordinator for India, if any, along with contact details
Contact through the Rotating Presidency or through SICA Secretariat in El Salvador
4. Important Indian position papers in public domain
5. Important two-way visits, if any.
SICA Foreign Ministers and representatives visited India in February 2004 at the invitation of the External Affairs Minister.
MOS (Rao InderjitSingh) visited Honduras in February 2005 to participate in India-SICA Group of Ministers.
6. Links to related important Indian Speeches/Statements, chronologically listed.
7. Links to Indian Press Releases, and Press Releases relating to India, chronologically listed.
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