Phenix ready to meet trade challenges in Nicaragua 

     MANAGUA, NICARAGUA -- The Phenix Group, which has plans for development in Nicaragua, is ready to meet challenges that were presented at a recent conference for free trade in Central America, according to Rick Wojcik, president of the Florida-based company.

“We are ready to move forward with our projects,” Mr. Wojcik said, referring to his company’s announced plans to construct a petroleum pipeline and telecommunications system across Nicaragua. Mr. Wojcik made his comments in response to a speech by Grant Aldonas, U.S. Commerce Under Secretary for International Trade.

Mr. Aldonas, speaking before senior government and business leaders at the CompromisoCentroAmerica trade and investment forum in Managua on Oct. 14, called on the region’s nations to pursue economic reform. He stressed the importance of private investment to encourage the right conditions for increasing trade through the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement.

“The Phenix Group agrees,” Mr. Wojcik said, “with the primary message that the private sector must play a major role in this economic development to help lead Central America to strong economic stability. We believe The Phenix Group will be a significant part in this process.”

Mr. Aldonas said the private sector “can be a champion for change – with your governments, colleagues and customers. You, as leaders of the Central American business community, have an opportunity to encourage the enactment of sound policies that promote growth, transparency and strong institutions.”

The Free Trade Agreement is expected to gain approval by 2005, officials have stated. It is expected to significantly boost trade for Central American nations.

Mr. Wojcik pointed to the fact that U.S.-Central American trade has more than doubled since 1992 and totaled more than $20 billion last year.

“This shows that trade relations between the U.S. and Central American countries is growing positively,” Mr. Wojcik said. “The Phenix Group expects to be a part of this continuing growth.”

Gerald Leroux, CEO of Phenix Pipeline, noted that building of the petroleum pipe transport system is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of next year and be completed in the fourth quarter of 2004. The Nicaraguan government issued a license earlier this year for that project.

The telecommunications project calls for fiber optic cable to be installed along the pipeline right of way with branches to communities along the way, according to Shannon Parris, Vice President of Telecommunications for The Phenix Group. Nicaragua recently gave The Phenix Group a letter of guarantee for the telecommunications project.

     Executives of The Phenix Group attended the CompromisoCentroAmerica trade conference as guests of the Nicaraguan government, being invited by Mario Anana Sevilla, the nation’s minister of foreign investment.

     Both the pipeline and telecommunications projects were discussed at the conference, being described as “extremely valuable” to the United States and Central America because of their potential impact on the region’s trade.

     “We believe these projects are especially important because they are keys to helping build infrastructure in Nicaragua,” Mr. Wojcik said. “We are convinced that the value of these elements to the infrastructure are immeasurable.”

     Particular interest was devoted to the telecommunications project because of its expected economic importance to promote communications within Nicaragua and potentially Honduras and El Salvador, Mr. Parris said. Discussions have begun for international links, he said.

     “The telecom project would affect every business owner,” Mr. Parris said, “and they can all relate to this impact.”

     Mr. Wojcik said he was pleased with the warm reception that The Phenix Group was given at the free trade conference. “We heard over and over from businessmen of Central America and the government that our projects were very important. They kept telling us: ‘It cannot be done soon enough.’  And we are getting closer and closer to being ready for construction to begin. We think The Phenix Group is going to make a big difference in the region.”