Signing of MoU among UNDP, DEVNET and the Chinese Private Sector

Nicaragua, December 2013 - DEVNET International and DEVNET China in Beijing hosted the second mission to Nicaragua in the framework of the UNDP-DEVNET program, bringing Chinese companies to visit projects in Nicaragua.

The mission started with a meeting at the UNDP offices where goals of the mission, schedules and strategy were shared.  During the visit at the UNDP offices, the team from China received rare and beautiful gifts hand-made by a famous artist in Nicaragua.  The handcrafted artwork was a Stork, which is an important symbol in both Nicaragua and China.  The bird is made of precious stone and mounted on wood that is so old it has turned into stone.

Meetings were held with the Minister of Energy and Mining and second meetings were held with the leaders of each department to discuss projects and strategies.  Information was exchanged and the different Nicaragua ministries offered the technical data and information for the projects.  After these meetings, the teams split into two groups each group visiting the sites of their projects. 

On the last day of the mission there was a meeting with UNDP, UNOPS, UNIDO, DEVNET International, DEVNET China, with the government represented by ProNicaragua and the Chinese team.  During this final day of meetings, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on projects for; (1) Hydro Electric Power Projects, (2) Gold Mining, (3) Agriculture Machinery Assembly Plant and (4) Expansion of the Shipping Port.

The goal to complete the review of the feasibility studies and information should result in contracts being signed in about 6 months, with projects starting construction by the fall of 2014.

DEVNET is already planning a third trip to take place after the Chinese New Year in 2014, for another new team of business owners and representatives to visit Nicaragua to look at several related projects.  The third trip will be looking at: agriculture, food-processing, solar energy, exports and infrastructure projects along with several other business opportunities. 

DEVNET wishes to give a special acknowledgement  to the teams of companies from China that attended the last two trips. This cooperation will help Chinese companies expand globally, while helping the people of Nicaragua build hope and dreams.