Ball Horticultural to Invest US$15 Million in Hydroponic Project in Nicaragua

    WASHINGTON, DC, September 30, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Ball Horticultural, a U.S. company and one of the leaders in ornamental plant cuttings and seed production in the world, recently announced it will develop a US$15 million hydroponic project in Nicaragua through its subsidiary company Las Limas, S.A. This company, which will become the first major floriculture project with the latest technology in the country, will create approximately 900 jobs, of which nearly 80 percent will be women.

Las Limas, S.A. will have a total area of 97.4 acres, with a construction of 164,000 square meters in 11 greenhouses in the department of Esteli. Its installations will also include offices, a packaging area, cold rooms, water storage tanks, laboratories, a parking area and a water re-utilization system.

"The corporation analyzed various countries before deciding to invest in Nicaragua, and some of the factors that came to our attention and encouraged our decision to invest in this country were its investment climate, legal securities, the weather of Estelí, citizen safety and the high productivity of the Nicaraguan labor force", commented Roberto Lara, Special Projects Manager of Ball Horticultural.

The company will produce plant cuttings in its first phase and, once concluded with construction, will also produce seeds, both under the hydroponic system, a method used to cultivate plants with mineral solutions instead of agricultural soil.

"We are pleased to announce the investment of Ball Horticultural in the country, a company of international prestige that will significantly contribute to the diversification of the agribusiness sector of Nicaragua. This is a company that does not only have a gender equality focus, but will also implement advanced technology in modern nurseries and responsible production practices", commented the Presidential Delegate for Investments, General Alvaro Baltodano.

Currently, the company produces seeds and seedlings for worldwide distribution through its farms in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Chile, United States, Portugal and China.

Ball Horticultural, founded in 1905, has its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. It is currently operating in over 20 countries through its subsidiaries and joint ventures, including Ball FloraPlant and PanAmerican Seed Company. It works as a breeder, producer and wholesale distributor of ornamental plants. The company, along with its subsidiaries, offers plants, seeds and seedlings to farmers, retailers, landscapers, and nursery operators. Some of its wholesale customers include renowned chains such as Home Depot and Wal-Mart.

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. For further information, please contact us at (505) 2270-6400 or http://www.pronicaragua.org.

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