SuKarne Inaugurates Livestock Facilities in Managua With Planned Investment of US$ 100 Million

MANAGUA, Nicaragua. May 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In the presence of Nicaraguan President, Comandante Daniel Ortega Saavedra, accompanied by Jesus Vizcarra Calderon, chairman of the Board of Directors of Grupo Viz / SuKarne, the facilities of Unidad Industrial de Ganaderia Integral Nicaragua, S.A. (GINSA) were inaugurated today, in SuKarne’s first investment in livestock outside Mexico, in the first large-scale, intensive cattle fattening enterprise in Nicaragua.

Also in attendance were Mexico's Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Nutrition, Francisco Javier Mayorga Castaneda; Mexico's ambassador to Nicaragua, Raul Lopez Lira; Doctor Everardo Gonzalez, Coordinator General of Livestock, as well as federal deputies Oscar Lara, Alfredo Villegas and Rolando Zubia.

In this initial phase, SuKarne's investment includes ten feed storage centers strategically located for direct feeding of livestock, and as part of its infrastructure, it will be equipped with fattening corrals for a permanent inventory of 50 thousand head of cattle.  

Grupo Viz / SuKarne's investment in GINSA of US$ 100 million includes a slaughterhouse and boning plant that will operate under the same strict quality standards as all its plants in Mexico do, guaranteeing food safety and product harmlessness.  

Jesus Vizcarra explained that "this project has been financed from its initial phases by the world's largest livestock bank, Rabobank of Holland, in collaboration with the Corporacion Latinoamericana de Desarrollo de Agronegocios (LAAD), and for its future growth it has already secured additional pre-authorized lines of credit from the Inter-American Development Bank and the Mexican bank, Inbursa".

Vizcarra Calderon, who emphasized the contribution of Mexican investment in the development and growth of Nicaragua's livestock sector, noted that "today we visualize for the next ten years a vigorous resurgence of Nicaraguan livestock activity," and expressed the commitment that "we will make every effort to help get it started," together with the Nicaraguans.  

He underscored the importance of genetic improvement of the national herd, getting better revenues for cattle growers, strengthening the productive chain, fostering production of grains and fodder, and contributing to job creation.  

"Mexico and Nicaragua are bound together by brotherhood and friendship between our two peoples," added Calderon, "because we have so much in common, such as the importance which our economies assign to the food production chain, and the fact that both nations have been working on comprehensive livestock development to improve the lives of rural producers."  

In this regard, local news reports state that in Nicaraguan government circles it has been divulged that this enterprise constitutes the largest investment ever made in the country's livestock sector; that it has thus become one of the country's largest employers creating one thousand direct jobs in Nicaragua, and it is also estimated that 20,000 local cattle farmers will benefit by having a local purchaser, while participating in an extensive program of grain and fodder production.  

Calderon also affirmed that SuKarne is a solid company coming from very humble beginnings, that, thanks to unswerving effort, has grown without ceasing; and that this year it will have nearly US$ 2 billion in billing; that "we are one of the main producers of animal protein in Mexico, and we export to more than 10 countries, consolidating our position as leaders of the beef production chain, and with a growing share of the pork and chicken markets."  

• SuKarne, founded more than 40 years ago, is now one of the largest companies in Mexico, and one of the most outstanding in the production and sale of animal protein at the global level.  At present, the companies of Jesus Vizcarra Calderon (Grupo Viz / SuKarne and Agrovizion), generate more than 6,000 direct jobs, reaching some 40 thousand customers, and have operations with companies in 18 countries, while their productive chain includes more than 80,000 agricultural and livestock suppliers.  In addition to being the biggest producer, importer and seller in Mexico, at the same time SuKarne accounts for 76% of all meat exports coming from Mexico, and is the main provider of self-service stores.  

SOURCE SuKarne S.A. de C.V.