MANAGUA – The governments of Brazil and Nicaragua last week agreed to a series of cooperation agreements related to the generation of hydroelectric energy and the production of biofuels, plans that will be formally signed into existence by both countries’ Presidents later this year.
According to Valdrack Jaentschke, Nicaragua’s secretary for economic relations for the Foreign Ministry, the agreement with Brazil will also include the possible purchase of 1,000 new Brazilian-made Marcopolo and Mercedes Benz buses for Nicaragua.
Half of those new buses, bought on favorable terms over a five-year period, would be for Managua and the other half for inter-departmental transportation.
The joint commission also studied the possibility of a $2 million investment for transportation on the Caribbean coast and the development of seven industrial parks in Nicaragua, in areas of light manufacturing, agro-industry and auto parts.
Brazil also mentioned the possibility of funding a feasibility study for piping water from Lake Nicaragua to Managua to be treated for drinking water.
Much of the early goodwill and cooperation agreements between the two countries were outlined only in broad strokes and will be subject to follow-up meetings.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva might visit Nicaragua in August, according to a Brazilian government official.
