Grand Canal and other strategic projects for Nicaragua: results of the China-LAC Summit

Laureano Ortega, Presidential Advisor of Nicaragua for the Promotion of Investments, Trade and International Cooperation; He was a guest at Estudio TN8 to highlight the importance of the China-LAC Business Summit, held in Managua this November 18 and 19.

«It promotes cooperation for the benefit of all peoples, with that Asian giant that is China. And it is extraordinary for us, demonstrating once again how we have been advancing at a dizzying pace, with great speed, in consolidating and strengthening bilateral relations between Nicaragua and China." indicated Laureano Ortega.

He reiterated his gratitude to the Chinese people and government, with its president Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China. Likewise, he thanked the participation of more than 250 Chinese businessmen and more than 70 delegates from Latin America and the Caribbean.

«During the flag transfer session of the summit, we handed over the flag to the vice mayor of Zhengzhou city, Henan province; and there we talk about cooperation, twinning between mayors, culture, sports and strengthening these ties"; Ortega expressed.

Projects of great impact between China and Nicaragua
Likewise, he pointed out that this summit is to continue on that path to "design and execute projects that provide benefits to Nicaraguan families, that we can create jobs, that we can promote the economic and social development of Nicaragua. And that we can project Nicaragua as the regional platform for trade and investments.

Subsequently, he spoke about the projects that were signed and that are extremely important for Nicaragua, with support from China. He indicated that this is a continuation of several projects with enormous potential already underway.

«This year we already started the construction of the new Punta Huete international airport. We have started the construction of the ENESOLAR solar plant, between ENACAL, the Ministry of Energy and CCCC in Matagalpa«; he pointed out, adding that it is part of the follow-up to the “Belt and Road” initiative.

But, emphasizing these new agreements, he highlighted that the contract is already signed between the Chinese company CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd (CAMCE) and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI), for the engineering, procurement and construction of the Bluefields port. . «We are also working with CAMCE on a design for a third expansion in the Port of Corinto»; he asserted.

Signing of agreements at the China-LAC Business Summit
«The signing of another renewable energy project was presented with the Ministry of Energy, with the CCCC company for the construction of a wind plant. The project will be starting in the first half of next year"; he referred.

Likewise, he said that another agreement signed with China is the design, formulation and construction of an intelligent logistics center with the National Port Company. This is in the San Isidro logistics center, in the Pacific of Nicaragua. This would generate automation and modernization of operations.

«In addition, with another large Chinese company, YTO Express (...) which is a large logistics services company, with headquarters in the large cities of China and around the world. They still do not have an operations center for Central America. And we talked with them (…) and they decided to carry out the design, formulation and subsequently the execution of a logistics center to serve Central America and the Caribbean from Nicaragua«; Laureano Ortega said.

Health and commerce
Likewise, he spoke of the great agreement signed with the pharmaceutical company Sinopharm, for a supply plan for the laboratories served by the INSS, for example Laboratorios Ramos, DISCARSA.

«These laboratories are going to be acquiring medicines that are going to be distributed in the Nicaraguan market, and also our objective in this agreement is to work with them on the formulation and design of a production and processing plant for these medicines to sell them in the region.» ; Indian.

Finally, he said about the other two signed projects. On the one hand, a metal recycling plant, which will be carried out by a Chinese company in the department of Masaya. And of course, the construction of a new shopping center, called Nuevo Mercado Oriental.

"They were very concrete results of specific projects that will be implemented in the coming months, and we will see some coming into operation next year"; Laureano Ortega said.

New route of the Grand Interoceanic Canal in Nicaragua
«He presented the new route that has been designed, always with the objective of mitigating environmental and social impacts to a minimum. This new route has been designed from the Bluefields port that is going to be built (...) and ends at the Port of Corinto. This route will not have to cross the Great Lake of Nicaragua, but rather goes through the north of the Lake, passing through Juigalpa, then through the Tipitapa area it enters Lake Xolotlán and then exits to the Corinto area." held.

He also said that this is a dream and historical right of the Nicaraguan people, but also a real necessity for world trade. The historic route of the Panama Canal has many limitations for the passage of merchandise; Hence the need for an alternative and Nicaragua has that alternative.

«It is the most important project in the history of our country, surely the largest and most important infrastructure project in Central America. And once built, it will allow large ships to pass (…) and provide a solution to a real problem (…) due to the long waiting times for ships, as well as the lack of water resources that Panama may have. This is a great opportunity for the people of the world to unite, for a project that is for the good of humanity." Ortega assured.

He also emphasized that the most important thing, before thinking about the Great Interoceanic Canal, is the construction of the deep-water port in Bluefields.

"The document has been signed and we hope to complete the corresponding procedures throughout the first half of 2025 and hope that in the second half of the year we will be able to take the first steps of a work that, due to its magnitude, may last about three or five years"; said the Presidential Advisor for the Promotion of Investments, Trade and International Cooperation.

Opportunities through trade with China
Finally, he pointed out that the summit also helped to address other issues related to logistics, transportation, communications and also continue to strengthen the ties that Nicaragua has with the government and people of China.

Source: TN8.tv