Press Releases

U.S. Department of Commerce Good Governance Program
And
Comisión de Ética Empresarial de Nicaragua

January 24 2007

On January 24, 2007, U. S. Ambassador to Nicaragua Paul Trivelli will hand over USD 9,500 to the Comisión de Ética Empresarial de Nicaragua as part of the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration Office’s (DOC) Good Governance Program.  This program is a DOC effort to promote responsible business practices and strengthen the rule of law for business around the globe.  The Program has led to the formation of private sector coalitions and public-private sector partnerships in 11 countries in Russia, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Since 2003, the private sector in Nicaragua, working in consultation with the DOC, has formed a powerful coalition of businesses that refuse to perpetuate corrupt business and government practices.  The Comisión de Ética Empresarial, a group comprised of members from Nicaragua’s private sector and civil society, developed a Guide to Business Ethics in 2004.  Business associations, Chambers of Commerce, and individual businesses have signed on to the Guide, thereby pledging to adopt its principles, which include prohibitions on bribery.  The Guia´s signing brought together members of the private sector, the highest levels of government, and civil society and resulted in an unprecedented level of collaboration between the public and private sectors on the issue of corruption. 

The Commission is dedicated to furthering the goals of the group conducting regional outreach activities, and holding workshops which have included formal and informal training to private sector participants in business ethics and transparency.  The Commission’s work is also supported by overall U.S. mission efforts and programs to increase the private sector’s participation in the fight against corruption.

The Comisión de Ética Empresarial de Nicaragua will use this new grant of USD 9,500 to further awareness in PYMES, universities, the media, and will have a formal training by a Wharton School of Business professor, Dr. Phil Nichols.

Some of the groups participating in the Commission are:
Abogados Garcia Bodan
ACOEN
American Chamber of Commerce - Nicaragua
Ave Maria College of the Americas
Casa del Café
Consejo Superior Empresa Privada de Nicaragua (COSEP)
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit GmbH (gtz)
Esso Standard Oil S.A.
Etica y Transparencia
Fundacion Roberto Teran, Corporacion Roberto Teran
INVEREXPO
Unión Nicaragüense de la Pequeña y Mediana Empresa (unípyme)
U.S. Embassy - Managua

For more information about the program see: www.ita.doc.gov/goodgovernance
Or contact Alysia Wilson, Latin America Team Leader, alysia_wilson@ita.doc.gov, or Program Managers Sarah Cook, sarah_cook@ita.doc.gov or Kristen Mann, kristen_mann@ita.doc.gov.
For more information in Nicaragua contact Adela Torrente, Executive Director of AMCHAM at: amcham@amcham.org.ni.