LatinNews Daily - 20 November 2023

* The Central American development bank (BCIE)’s board of governments has elected Costa Rica’s Ana Guissella Sánchez Maroto as the new BCIE executive president for the next five years, the first woman to hold the post. According to a BCIE press release, Sánchez, who was chosen from a final shortlist of six candidates, has over 20 years professional experience. The statement highlights that she has held posts such as regional director of strategy for regional banking group BAC Credomatic, and regional director of corporate relations of Costa Rican food and beverage company, Florida Ice & Farm Company, among other roles, and has “extensive experience in executive and management positions in economic, financial, banking, and development policy matters”. The appointment drew particular scrutiny as her predecessor, Honduras’s Dante Mossi, had come under mounting international pressure to halt funding to the Nicaraguan government led by President Daniel Ortega amid democracy and human rights concerns. The bank has approved nearly US$3.5bn in funding for initiatives in Nicaragua in recent years.