The visit marked the first time a sitting WTO Director-General has visited Nicaragua and it comes in the midst of a three-country swing through Central America. The Director-General commended Nicaraguan officials for the solid economic growth the country has posted in recent years, highlighting the important role that trade plays in creating new opportunities for growth, development and job creation.

Director-General Azevêdo also congratulated Nicaragua for being the first country in Latin America to ratify the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, which came into force earlier this year.

“Nicaragua has made vital contributions to the WTO and the multilateral trading system. The country’s leadership in ratifying the Trade Facilitation Agreement has been of fundamental importance and the work Nicaragua has done in agriculture and in development have greatly enriched the discussions in Geneva,” the Director-General said.

During meetings with Orlando Solórzano, Minister of Development, Industry and Trade, and representatives from the private sector, the Director-General explained that agriculture was a vitally important issue for the majority of WTO members.

DG Azevêdo also welcomed the interest expressed by the Nicaraguan authorities in seeking ways to facilitate the participation of SMEs into the global trading system.

DG Azevêdo met with the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (which comprises various sectoral business associations), representatives from the Trade Ministry, Finance Ministry, Customs authorities, Central Bank and Nicaragua’s Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ProNicaragua).