Gobierno de Reconciliación y Unidad Nacional
Unida Nicaragua Triunfa
DELEGATION OF NICARAGUA
AT THE COMMITTEE ON COOPERATION AND SOLIDARITY
POLICIES OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR
INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT (CIDI)
OCTOBER 22, 2019
Thank you very much Madam President.
The Delegation of Nicaragua appreciates the presentations made by Dr. Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian, Director of the Department for Social Inclusion, Mr. Richard Campbell, Head of the Tourism and Culture Section of the Department for Economic Development, and Mrs. María Cristina Rechy, Project Coordinator of the Secretariat of the Inter-American Committee on Ports, and we take note of their interventions.
In Nicaragua we have a National Human Development Plan implemented by the Government of Reconciliation and National Unity, which guarantees the effective respect of rights and freedoms and contributes to the creation of the conditions to facilitate the full advancement of all Nicaraguans in an atmosphere of peace and harmony.
This National Plan is focused on economic growth by increasing employment, reducing poverty and inequality with macroeconomic stability, sovereignty, security and integration, for the benefit of the Nicaraguan families.
From the social sphere, Human Development is much more than building capacity through an improvement of health and education; Human Development is providing and guaranteeing, from the State institutions, the necessary conditions to ensure survival, life and the effective exercise of freedoms for the full realization of the human being.
The Government of Nicaragua conceives the right to education as the cornerstone of the country's development, which ensures the construction of the Nation-State, contributes to poverty alleviation and the creation of the necessary conditions for sustainable development through literacy, as well as academic, technical, scientific and technological training for the entire population. More than 1.7 million students in primary, secondary, and technical education careers are beneficiaries of free public education.
In the same manner, professional training directly contributes to an increase in the productivity of the work force, incorporating technological innovation with the purpose of providing added value to the production and thereby strengthening our economy, especially through the economic reactivation of micro, small and medium production, as well as the promotion of friendly tourism with the preservation and conservation of nature.
The strength of the National Development Plan is evidenced in Nicaragua´s significant achievements, reflected in a sustained poverty reduction from 42.5% in 2009, to 24.9% in 2016 and extreme poverty alleviation from 14.6% in 2009, to 6.9% in 2016, as well as through a wide coverage of health and education at the national level and subsidies for electricity consumption and public transportation.
A significant effort has been made to reduce chronic malnutrition in children under the age of 5 by 46% and chronic malnutrition of children in schools between 6 and 14 years of age by 66%.
According to FAO reports, the reduction of Nicaragua´s GINI Inequality Coefficient index from 0.38 to 0.33, is an exemplary result.
Regarding road infrastructure, we have built the best roads in Central America, which will boost connectivity, trade development, the exchange of goods and services, and the development of the country's tourism industry. According to the World Economic Forum. Nicaragua is among the 5 countries with the best roads in Latin America.
Regarding the promotion of respect and life care in its different expressions, the Nicaraguan Government has been implementing the strategy for a Culture of Reconciliation, National Unity, Respect, Non-violence and Harmony among Nicaraguans, for the promotion of peace, through Reconciliation, Justice and Peace Commissions that promote a harmonious coexistence and respect between families and communities, raising awareness around the risks generated by the adoption of imported cultural patterns and foreign influences that seek to promote divisions between the population and affect its cultural heritage and traditions.
All these achievements have been possible thanks to the firm commitment of the GRUN to implement more than 40 Social Programs that have had direct impact on the improvement of the living standards, security and well-being of the Nicaraguan people.
Thank you very much Madam President.