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Belarus aims to establish trade in consumer and intermediate goods with Nicaragua. First Deputy Chairman of the National Bank Aliaksandr Yahorau said this after MAZ signed a contract to supply ambulances to the Latin American country.
“Our task now is to ensure that they see an even wider range of Belarusian goods, and not just investment goods. Investment goods tend to cause one-off spikes in trade. Our task is to ensure that we have consistently strong trade turnover with Nicaragua. There are two areas here: everyday consumer goods and intermediate goods that Belarus could supply to Nicaragua, as well as imports from Nicaragua of goods that we currently purchase from other regions. This includes fruit, seafood and other products. So, in addition to developing trade in investment goods, such as various types of machinery, the immediate task is to expand mutual trade in consumer and intermediate goods,” he said.
Yahorau also explained how the range of Belarusian exports to Nicaragua had expanded.
“We started with MAZ trucks, then Amkodor machinery was added. The range of equipment supplied by both MAZ and Amkodor subsequently expanded. It grew from municipal machinery to include equipment for the needs of other agencies in Nicaragua. This is very important because if we limit ourselves to a narrow range of products, it is impossible to develop trade over two, three, four or five years: you make a one-off equipment delivery, and then the relationship may come to a halt.
That is why we systematically demonstrated various types of equipment we produce to the Republic of Nicaragua, its ministers and leadership. We started with fire engines, and a contract for fire engines was signed this year, with the relevant financing allocated and delivery planned. Two years ago, during the visit of the prime minister of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Nicaragua, a Belarusian ambulance was presented as a gift. Our Nicaraguan colleagues used it and evaluated it for more than a year. They liked it so much that they have now proposed signing a contract to supply ambulances,” he said.
It should be noted that Yahorau met yesterday with Laureano Ortega Murillo, Minister-Advisor to the Co-Presidents on Investment, Trade and International Cooperation. During the talks, Laureano Ortega Murillo emphasized that Nicaragua was ready to grant exclusive rights to Belarusian companies on the condition that financing was provided by Belarus.