Nicaragua Among Most Attractive for Clean Energy Investment in Latin America

    MANAGUA, NICARAGUA, October 18, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Nicaragua is one of the three most attractive clean energy markets in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the 2013 Climatescope Report, which profiles 26 countries in the region and is published by Bloomberg New Energy Finance and the Inter-American Development Bank.

In this second edition of the Climatescope, Nicaragua not only improved its overall score from 2.13 to 2.26 (out of a total of 5.0), but also placed first in Latin America in two of the four parameters assessed: enabling framework (with a score of 2.49) and clean energy investments and climate financing (3.02). Nicaragua was ranked among the top countries thanks to the high penetration of renewable energy in its power matrix and significant flow of investment in relation to its developing economy.

In the ranking, Nicaragua placed third after Brazil and Chile, while being the only Central American country to make it among the top 10 positions.

The report also considered Nicaragua's attraction of a constant volume of clean energy finance in the past five years. Since 2006, US$1.5 billion has been invested in the country's renewable energy sector. As a result, in 2012 renewable sources represented 36 percent of Nicaragua's power matrix, with the presence of small hydro, wind, biomass and geothermal plants. The country aims to achieve a 94 percent of renewable energy generation by 2017.

The Central American launch of the 2013 Climatescope Report will take place this October 29th in Managua, Nicaragua, during the conference "Clean Energy Investment Opportunities in Central America". This regional event will be hosted by the Multilateral Investment Fund of the Inter-American Development Bank and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, along with PRONicaragua, the official investment and export promotion agency of Nicaragua, and with the support of the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service. The event will feature presentations and discussion panels on clean energy investment, as well as match-making sessions for suppliers, developers and financiers.

For more information on Nicaragua's energy sector or how to participate in the business forum "Clean Energy Investment Opportunities in Central America", contact PRONicaragua at [email protected] or visit the website www.pronicaragua.org.

PRONicaragua is the official investment and export promotion agency of the Government of Nicaragua, 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 more information visit www.pronicaragua.org or contact us at [email protected].

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