IX.  BUSINESS TRAVEL

-    HOW TO GET TO NICARAGUA

Nicaragua is located in the middle of the Central American isthmus and is
accessible from the U.S. via daily air service from Miami, Houston, and
Los Angeles.  From Miami, the following airlines serve Nicaragua:
American, Aviateca, Lacsa, Iberia, Nica, and Taca; from Houston:  -

Continental, Lacsa, Taca, and Aviateca; and, from Los Angeles:  Aviateca
and Lacsa.

-    BUSINESS CUSTOMS

Business customs are informal.  The use of coats and ties or business
suits is rare.  Delays are common in the start of scheduled appointments,
and flexibility in business travel is recommended.  Business lunches are
lengthy, and most Nicaraguan executives are unavailable between 12:00
noon and 2:00 p.m.

Informal dress (open collar shirts and slacks for men; dresses or skirts
and blouses for women) is appropriate for all meetings.  Long-sleeve
dress shirts are recommended for evening business events.

-    TRAVEL ADVISORY AND VISAS

No Department of State travel advisory is in effect for Nicaragua at
present.  However, travelers are encouraged to check with their travel
agent or contact the Department of State at (202) 647-6575 prior to
initiating travel to obtain the latest consular information sheet
concerning Nicaragua.  U.S. citizens do not need to obtain a visa for
visits of less than 30 days.  Tourists cards are required and may be
obtained upon entry for $5.00.  Visas are required for stays of 30 days or
greater and individuals wishing to establish themselves in the country
must request a resident visa from the Office of Immigration.  There is a
departure tax of $12.00.

-    HOLIDAYS

The following holidays are observed in Nicaragua:

     New Year's Day                January 1
     Holy Thursday                 April 13
     Good Friday                   April 14
     Labor Day                     May 1
     Sandinista Revolution Day     July 19
     Festival of Santo Domingo     August 1
     Battle of San Jacinto         September 14
     Independence Day              September 15
     Immaculate Conception Day     December 8
     Christmas Day                 December 25

-    BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE

Transportation:   Nicaragua has a highway network of 9,550 miles,
consisting of 1,000 miles of paved highways, 1,750 miles of paved roads,
3,200 miles of all season unpaved roads and 3,400 miles of dry season
unpaved roads.

Managua's Cesar Augusto Sandino International Airport is located 7 miles
from the capital city and handles all international passenger and cargo
to and from Nicaragua.

Language:  The official language of Nicaragua is Spanish, but English is
widely spoken in business and government circles.

Telephone Communications:  Nicaragua's communication system
(telephone, telex, telefax, etc) is presently being updated with the
installation of fiber optic technology.  Approximately one out of 110
households in Nicaragua has a telephone line.  Public phones are just
beginning to operate all over the country.  Cellular phones are now
available in Nicaragua with coverage over the entire Pacific Coast.
Approximate cost per minute is USD 0.40 cents.  Communications with the
U.S. are readily available; AT&T, Sprint, and MCI maintain direct line
service to the U.S.

It is anticipated that in October 1994, 40 percent of the telephone
operation of the state-owned telecommunication company (TELCOR) will
be privatized.

Housing and Hotels:  The following three hotels in Managua cater to the
international business traveler:

          Hotel Camino Real             Tel: (505-2) 631410
          Hotel Intercontinental        Tel: (505-2) 286991
          Hotel Las Mercedes            Tel: (505-2) 631715

Approximate cost for a single room in any of these hotels is USD 120.00
per night.

There are no first-class apartment buildings in Nicaragua.  There is an
ample supply of houses for rent, but rental costs are high, from USD 750
to USD 2,000 for a 3-bedroom house in safe neighborhoods.

Food:  Several restaurants in Managua offer first-class international and
continental cuisine.  Outside of the capital, the local diet consists of
chicken, beef, fish, rice, beans, plantains and potatoes.

Health:  Health conditions in Nicaragua are improving, although it
remains a tropical country with the presence of such diseases as cholera,
malaria and dengue fever.  Most international visitors to the capital are
not at risk, although it is recommended that sanitary practices be
carefully followed, particularly outside of Managua.

Typhoid, polio, tetanus, diphtheria and gamma globulin are recommended
vaccinations prior to leaving the U.S., particularly if the visit is to be
for any length of time.

There are two reasonably well-equipped private hospitals in Managua,
and a number of physicians are U.S. trained and speak English.  There is
an ample supply of most commonly-used medications.