Equal treatment to local and foreign investors;

Transcription

1 Nicaragua A. Definitions and sources of data The Foreign Investment Law of Nicaragua defines foreign direct investment (FDI) as: investments made by the transfer of foreign capital to Nicaragua, and by extension, investment from abroad regardless of the nationality or legal residence of the investor. The foreign investment law offers the following guarantees to foreign investors: Equal treatment to local and foreign investors; Transfer of funds abroad: foreign investors are guaranteed to enjoy an expedited transfer of funds abroad, and conversion to foreign currency though the local banking system. After three years, the initial investment can be repatriated as well; and Protection of property and safety: Nicaraguan law recognizes and guarantees the rights of the national and foreign investor, the protection of their property and the right to the free disposition of assets, capital and profits. Over the last ten years, Nicaragua has privatized a large share of its old state-owned monopolies and opened many industries to FDI. In almost all industries, foreign investors can participate. Two sectors are exclusively reserved for the Government of Nicaragua: electric power transmission and distribution, while old age pensions from the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute remain under government control. Foreign investors have to deal only with a few country specific laws. For instance Nicaragua s labour code states that 75 per cent of employees (excluding management posts) in affiliates of foreign transnational corporations (TNCs) must be Nicaraguans. To boost FDI in the tourism industry, the Government has created the Tourism Incentive Law, which came into effect on 21 June This law offers several incentive programmes (e.g. tax incentives and tax exemptions). Tax exemptions under the law take into consideration the sales tax, the income tax and the property tax. Tax exemptions can last up to 10 years and can even cover 100 per cent of the income tax. On 17 December 2003 Nicaragua and three other Central American states (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, while Costa Rica followed later in 2004) signed a free trade agreement with the United States, the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Before CAFTA, these five Central American states were already joined together by another trade agreement, CACM (Central American Common Market). CAFTA will most likely boost export-oriented FDI in Nicaragua.

2 B. Statistics on FDI and the operations of TNCs

3 Table 1. Summary of FDI Variable Inward Outward 1. FDI flows, (annual average) FDI flows as a percentage of GFCF, (annual average) FDI stock, FDI stock as a percentage of GDP, Sources : Based on tables 3a and 4 and UNCTAD, FDI/TNC database. Note: Data for 2003 are estimates.

4 Table 3a. FDI flows, by type of investment, Year Equity Inward investment Intracompany Reinvested earnings loans Total Equity Outward investment Intracompany Reinvested earnings loans Total Sources: UNCTAD, FDI/TNC database. FDI inflows are based on information from Central Bank of Nicaragua for ; International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments CD ROM, June 2003, for 1989; the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Development Assistance Committee, International Development Statistics On-line Databases, February 2003, for 1990 and UNCTAD estimates. For FDI outflows, data are based on the World Bank, World Development Indicators 2003 CD- ROM, for 1993 and UNCTAD estimates.

5 Table 3b. FDI flows, by type of investment, Year Equity Inward investment Reinvested Other Total Equity earnings Outward investment Reinvested Other earnings Total Source: Inward and outward flow data were retrieved from the balance-of-payments tape of the International Monetary Fund in January 2004.

6 Table 4. FDI stock, by type of investment, Year Equity Inward investment Intracompany Reinvested earnings loans Total Equity Outward investment Intracompany Reinvested earnings loans Total Sources: UNCTAD, FDI/TNC database. Note: Instocks are an accumulation of inflows since Outstocks are an accumulation of outflows since 1993.

7 Table 5. FDI flows in the host economy, by industry, Sector / industry Total Primary Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing Forestry and Fishing Fishing, operation of fish hatcheries and fish farms Mining, quarrying and petroleum Mining and quarrying Secondary Tertiary Electricity, gas and water Construction Trade Transport, storage and communications Post and communications Finance Source : Economic Division, Central Bank of Nicaragua. Notes: Trade includes hotels, restaurants, commercial centers and others. Data for 1999 are estimates and include $110 million invested in electrical plants from Enron Enterprise and $11 million invested in the capitalization of BANIC. Data for 2000 are estimates and include $115 million invested in the privatization of Enel-distribution acquired by empresa Unión Fenosa, and $11 million as capital reallocation from banks in the completion of the new financial regulations.

8 Table 6. FDI flows in the host economy, by geographical origin, Economy Belgium / Luxembourg Colombia France Republic of Korea United States Source : UNCTAD, FDI/TNC database. Note: Data are based on information reported by the economies listed above. Table 9. FDI flows abroad, by geographical destination, Economy Belgium / Luxembourg China Costa Rica El Salvador Sweden United States Source : UNCTAD, FDI/TNC database. Note: Data are based on information reported by the economies listed above. Table 12. FDI stock in the host economy, by geographical origin, Economy Colombia Germany Republic of Korea United States Source : UNCTAD, FDI/TNC database. Note: Data are based on information reported by the economies listed above. Table 15. FDI stock abroad, by geographical destination, Economy Colombia Czech Republic El Salvador United States Source : UNCTAD, FDI/TNC database. Note: Data are based on information reported by the economies listed above. Table 23. The number of affiliates of foreign TNCs in the host economy, by geographical origin, Economy Germany Republic of Korea United States Source : UNCTAD, FDI/TNC database. Note: Data are based on information reported by the economies listed above.

9 Tables 30,35,40,45,50,55. Assets, employment, wages and salaries, sales, value added and profits of affiliates of United States TNCs in Nicaragua, (Millions of dollars and thousands of employees) Table no. Variable Assets Employees Wages and salaries Sales Value added Profits before taxes Source : UNCTAD, FDI/TNC database. Notes: Data are based on information reported by the United States. Data for value added refer to majorityowned affiliates only.

10 Table 88. Largest affiliates of foreign TNCs in the host economy, 2002 (Millions of dollars and number) Company Home economy Industry Sales Employees A. Industrial Tabacalera Nicaraguense Sa United Kingdom Tobacco Parmalat Nicaragua SA Italy Food Esso Standard Oil, SA Ltd. United States Petroleum Kraft Foods de Nicaragua SA United States Food Industria Kativo de Nicaragua, SA Costa Rica Chemicals.. 60 Bristol-Meyers Squibb CA United States Pharmaceuticals.. 20 Tortimasa SA Mexico Food.... Laboratorios Astrazeneca United Kingdom Pharmaceuticals.... Compania Quimica Nicaraguense SA Netherlands Chemicals.... B. Tertiary Europa Motors Nicaragua, Sa Germany Automotive trade and repair 9 75 Empresa de Electricidad Distribuidora Norte SA Spain Electricity, gas and water Empresa de Electricidad Distribuidora Sur SA Spain Electricity, gas and water Union Comercial de Nicaragua Sa Trade Almacenes Siman, SA El Salvador Trade Dhl Nicaragua, SA United States Transport and storage.. 45 Productos Nestle (Nicaragua) SA Switzerland Trade.. 45 Distribuidora E Importadora Nicaraguense SA Panama Trade.. 38 Publitel Comunicaciones Sa United States Telecommunications.. 28 Transmerquin de Nicaragua Sa Costa Rica Trade.. 23 Aquatec de Nicaragua SA Guatemala Trade.. 15 Quimicos Holanda- Nicaragua, SA Germany Trade.. 15 Importadora de Sistema Centro America Guatemala Trade.. 8 Centroamerican Air Craft Distribuitors, Sa United States Trade.. 6 Servicios y Repuestos Nicaragua SA Germany Automotive trade and repair.. 5 C. Finance and Insurance Assets Employees Sources: The Banker's Almanac, 2003 (London, Reed Information Services, 2003); Thomson Analytics ( Who Owns Whom, 2003 (London, Dun and Bradstreet, 2003); and information from ECLAC.

11 C. Legal framework for FDI 1. National Framework Resolution No. 14 Ratifying the Central American Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, 9 August 1968 (effective, 19 August 1968) Source: La Gaceta, (Official Gazette), 19 August 1968 Law on Banking 1963 Amendment: Law 244, 1996 Source: The National Law Centre for Inter-American Free Trade, 24 Feb 2004 Law 314 on Banking and Finance 1999 Source: 24 Feb 2004 Decree No. 662 Income Tax, 25 November 1974 (effective, 1 January 1975) Source: Ibid., 26 November 1974 Amendment: Decree 70-90, 22 December 1990 Source: Ibid., 24 December 1990 Decree No. 521, Financial Companies and Investment, 17 September 1980 (effective, 24 September 1980) Source: Ibid., 24 September 1980 Decree No. 301, Local Branches of Foreign Insurance Companies, 15 February 1980 (effective, 18 February 1987) Source: Ibid., 18 February Decree No. 1251, Net Capital, 28 April 1983 (effective, 2 May 1983) Source: Ibid., 2 May 1983 Amendment: Decree No of 21 December 1990, (effective 24 December 1990) Source: Ibid., 24 December 1990 Law No. 129 on Minimum Wages 1991, (effective, 21 June 1991) Source: Ibid., 21 June 1991 Law No. 127 on Foreign Investment 1991, (effective 20 June 1991) Source: Ibid., 20 June 1991 Decree No. 1397, Tax Benefits for Industrial Enterprises, 8 February 1984 Source: Ibid., 8 February 1984 Executive Decree. No. 262 on Tax Reform 1987, (effective 9 May 1987) Source: Ibid., 9 May 1987 Decree No on Export Promotion 1991, (effective 26 August 1991 Source: La Gaceta, (Official Gazette), 26 August 1991 Decree No on Liberalization of Export Tax on National Products1 1991, (effective I1 February 1991) Source: Ibid., I1 February 1991

12 Decree No on Tax Incentives for the Reactivation of the Economy 1991, (effective 9 May 1991) Source: Ibid., 9 May 1991 Decree on Export Processing Zones 1991 Source: 24 Feb 2004 Decree 37 on Export Promotion 1991 Source: Ibid Law 277 on Industrial Electricity 1998 Source: Ibid Decree No. 1308, Soil Erosion Control 1983, (effective, 31 August 1983) Source: Ibid., 31 August 1983 Decree-Law No National Commission on the Environment and Territorial Territory 1990, (effective 12 June 1990) Source: Ibid., 12 June 1990 Executive Decree No. 513, Nicaraguan Institute of Natural Resources and the Environment 1990, (effective 16 April 1990) Source: Ibid., 16 April 1990 Law 217 on Environment and Natural Resources 1996 Source: 24 Feb 2004 Law 380 on Intellectual Property Source: Ibid. 2. International Framework Nicaragua is a party to the following multilateral and regional instruments: Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property of 20 March 1883, amended and revised New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards of 10 June 1958 Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States of 18 March 1965, signed on 4 Feb 1994, effective 19 April 1995 ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, adopted on 16 November 1977 Convention Establishing the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency of 11 October 1985, signed on 30 September 1996 Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, signed, 15 April 1994 (effective, 1 January 1995) General Agreement on Trade in Services, signed, 15 April 1994 (effective, 1 January 1995) Fourth Protocol to the General Agreement on Trade in Services, 15 February 1997 Fifth Protocol to the General Agreement on Trade in Services, 12 December 1997

13 General Treaty on Central American Integration (CACM), date of signature 13 Dec 1960, Entry into Force 4 June 1961 Bilateral treaties Bilateral investment treaties for the protection and promotion of investments with Taiwan Province of China 1992, Spain 1994, Denmark 1995, United States 1995, Chile 1996, Germany 1996, United Kingdom 1996, Argentina 1998, France 1998, Switzerland 1998, El Salvador 1999, Ecuador 2000, Netherlands 2000, Czech Republic 2002 Source: UNCTAD database on BITs and DTTs

14 D. Sources of information Official 1. Banco Central de Nicaragua: 2. Ministerio de Fomento, Industria y Comercio: Secondary 1. Anonymous, Nicaragua, Institutional Investor, vol. 30, August 1996, pp Anonymous, Company and industry: Nicaragua, Country Monitor, May 3, 1995, vol. 3, No. 17, p Dijkstra, A.G., The impact of structural adjustment programs on manufacturing: lessons from Nicaragua, World Development, vol. 24, No. 3, 1996, pp Errunza, Vihang R., Financing MNC subsidiaries in Central America, Journal of International Business Studies, Fall 1979, vol. 10, Iss. 2, pp Festervand, T.A., U.S. foreign direct investment: industrial executives perceptions of emerging Central American countries as FDI destinations, International Journal of Commerce and Management, vol. 12, No. 2, 2002, pp Galindo, M., Nicaragua: a country to reconsider, Business America, vol. 115, No. 5, 1994, pp Hynds, P. et al., Nicaragua: environmental concerns grow over government plans to develop mining, forestry and fishing sectors, Latin American Institute, University of New Mexico, Lindblad, C., Market Prospects, Business Latin America, vol. 30, No. 12, 1995, pp Rodman, Kenneth A., Sanctions at bay? Hegemonic decline, multinational corporations, and U.S. economic sanctions since the pipeline case, International Organization, Winter 1995, vol. 49, Iss. 1, pp Wittering, Stewart, Privatising Central America, Communications International, February 1994, vol. 21, No. 2, pp