Central Bank of Nicaragua president reports 2024 growth of 3.5–4% and sets a 2025 forecast of 3–4% while reviewing córdoba payment implementation

In a televised interview, Central Bank of Nicaragua President Ovidio Reyes presented preliminary macroeconomic results for 2024 and the bank’s projections for 2025, and discussed how firms are adapting to the central bank’s provisions on payments in the national currency, the córdoba. Preliminary 2024 estimates put GDP growth at 3.5–4%, inflation at 2.8%, unemployment at 2–3%, and international reserves at over USD 6,000 million, alongside fiscal savings of more than NIO 5,000 million and “stable and sound” financial accounts. Reyes attributed recent growth to factors including export performance, continued consolidation in the financial sector with rising deposits and credit, fiscal consolidation alongside higher spending and investment, a dynamic entrepreneurial sector, and economic policies including exchange rate policy. For 2025, the central bank projects GDP growth of 3–4%, inflation of 2.5–3.5%, and unemployment of around 3%, with a public sector surplus envisaged in the national budget, foreign direct investment of USD 2,500–3,000 million, and credit and deposits growth of 10–12%. On córdoba payments, Reyes said most companies and businesses have implemented the measure across sectors including telecommunications, retail, schools and healthcare providers, while noting consumer complaints that some banks and businesses apply inappropriate exchange rates for córdoba payments, which the central bank will assess to address.