MOSCOW, November 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has signed a directive on the opening of a Russian trade mission in Nicaragua.

The announcement was posted on the government website on Wednesday.

Nicaragua is a major exporter of coffee, nuts and tobacco to Russia. Russia's main exports to Nicaragua are machinery, equipment and chemicals.

Bilateral ties between the countries got a boost last year when Nicaragua became the first country to join Russia in recognizing the independence of the former Georgian republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

In July this year Russia and Nicaragua signed a deal to introduce visa-free travel regime for their citizens as well as a memorandum of understanding between Nicaragua's Petronic and a consortium of Russian oil companies on cooperation on oil and energy projects.

Nicaragua also plans to supply 12,000 metric tons of beef and pork products to Russia annually from 2010.