While official reports have yet to reflect the alleged financial support from China —which is said to already exceed 1 billion dollars—, the delegation led by Laureano Ortega Murillo, who visited that country in early September, signed new agreements with Chinese companies. One of these agreements grants the modernization of customs IT systems and other state entities. In addition, the delegation held “follow-up” meetings with companies that had committed to financing and building the Punta Huete International Airport and other projects.
The delegation headed by Laureano Ortega Murillo also took part in the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of “the Chinese people’s victory over Japanese aggression,” and used the visit to meet with officials from various companies in order to continue “promoting economic, trade, and cultural cooperation” with the Asian giant.
According to official reports, during the visit the delegation held meetings with representatives of the company Mobile, with which it is promoting telecommunications and IT projects. With those officials, it signed a memorandum for the Customs General Directorate (DGA) IT Systems Modernization Project, about which no further details were disclosed. The project would also include the Ministry of Finance’s systems.
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They follow up on projects in China
More than a year ago, the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship announced the start of the expansion and improvement of Punta Huete International Airport. However, reports on the execution of the General Budget of the Republic still do not show disbursements from the loans signed by CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd. (Camce) to finance and carry out these works.
The dictatorship has not explained why these projects remain stalled, especially since Nicaragua has already delivered more than 120 million dollars in advance payments, as required for the works to begin.
Now, during the trip, the Nicaraguan delegation met with officials from the company Camce to “follow up on the Punta Huete International Airport project.” They also discussed other projects that the company is supposedly set to carry out, including the construction of a deep-water port in Bluefields, the modernization of Puerto Corinto, and the construction of Liquefied Gas Storage Plants in Puerto Sandino.
Read also: China has yet to disburse loans for the Punta Huete Airport and other projects
They signed new agreements with China
Another indication that the alleged financial cooperation China has offered Nicaragua —said to already exceed 1 billion dollars— has yet to materialize is that it still does not appear in the national account reports released by the Central Bank of Nicaragua. However, officials from the dictatorship continue signing agreements with Chinese companies.
To the contracts already signed with various companies —including the Punta Airport project, the liquefied gas storage spheres, and several photovoltaic plants— last week were added the agreements the delegation signed with the company Nuctech, to “cooperate on scanner and X-ray technology projects.”
According to information published online, Nuctech is a state-owned company that provides inspection and security solutions and services, as well as scanning and detection equipment for customs, civil aviation, and transportation. Although the company is internationally recognized, it faces disrepute due to its ties to the Chinese government and military.
Read also: Ortega handed over more money than agreed to a Chinese company for Punta Huete Airport
Are they looking for scanners for customs in China?
The close ties with this company could reflect the need to replace the scanners used by some Nicaraguan customs offices to inspect incoming and outgoing goods, as complaints about their poor or non-existent functioning have been reported for several months.
In 2013, Nicaragua granted the Panamanian company Alvimer Internacional y Compañía Limitada a fifteen-year concession to operate the scanner system in customs. However, it was not until 2016 that the equipment began functioning, consistently facing criticism over contract privileges and service deficiencies. Additionally, with the concession approaching its expiration, some exporters have recently faced difficulties with their cargo because, at certain customs offices, these scanners are not operational.
According to information released by official media, the delegation also met with representatives of the company Huadian “to advance the development and construction of the Tumarín and Mojolka hydroelectric projects.”
Read also: Investment in solar energy, the other fiasco of the Ortega dictatorship in its bet on China
They continue seeking investors
It is worth recalling that in May, during another visit to China, Laureano Ortega Murillo and other officials signed an agreement with the company ZMJ/Huawei to develop a digital connectivity project; another with the China International Communications Services (CCSI) to install smart platforms at the Julia Herrera Logistics Center of Puerto Corinto; another with the company Yutong to purchase buses and cleaning machinery for municipalities; and one more with Poly Technologies to supply equipment to the Nicaraguan Army.
In addition, during that trip, they announced that they had established contact with the state-owned companies China Huadian Corporation and PowerChina to seek financing for the Tumarín and Mojolka hydroelectric projects.
Now, they again announced meetings with the company Huadian but did not provide details on the progress of the negotiations; they also confirmed approaches with the companies CITIC and Shandong to explore investment options in infrastructure.
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When will these promises materialize?
We will have to keep waiting until the progress of the works or official reports confirm the delivery of the resources that China has been promising since the resumption of diplomatic relations in December 2021, which so far have only materialized in the commercial sphere, specifically regarding Nicaragua’s purchases from that country.
The Nicaraguan delegation led by the dictators’ son, Laureano Ortega, in his capacity as presidential advisor for investments, also included Foreign Minister Valdrack Jaentschke; the Capital Market Advisor of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, Carlos Selva; the Director of Technologies of the Customs General Directorate (DGA), Eddy Artola; and Nicaragua’s ambassador to China, Ramiro Cruz.
