Shestakov on intensifying co-operation with Nicaragua

The main goal of interaction between the Republic of Belarus and the states of Latin America, alongside solid and new financial relations, which are the basis of our interaction, is the growth of our mutual trade – as stated by Belarus’ Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Shestakov, answering questions from deputies after his speech in the House of Representatives of the bill approving the agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua on the mutual abolition of visa requirements

“We have experience of mutual trade with Nicaragua during the Soviet Union, when large-scale assistance was provided to the current government of Daniel Ortega. This good tradition continues to this day, of course, in smaller volumes. At the same time, over the past 7-8 years, we have supplied over 700 Belarus-made tractors and a large amount of MAZ equipment to Nicaragua, despite the fact that it is not a very large market and state,” said Yevgeny Shestakov.

According to him, mutual trade received a new impulse in 2023.

“We exchanged visits at the level of foreign ministers during which we signed of a range of agreements. Many issues were settled regarding the resumption of the activities of the commission on trade-economic co-operation, which has not been held since 2015. This year, we held it for the first time,” noted Belarus’ Deputy Foreign Minister.

He also announced that contracts had already been concluded with Belarusian enterprises for the supply of equipment to Nicaragua: worth $1m with MAZ and worth $100m with Amkodor. The official also recalled that the possibility of Belarus’ participation in strategic projects is being discussed, planned for implementation in Nicaragua, “This is, first of all, the construction of a canal alternative to Panama, enabling vessels to pass from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean through Nicaragua. These are issues of long-term planning. The most important is that this interaction occurs, and I hope that, compared to last year, we will exceed several times the volumes achieved last year and will expand in the future.”