Russia will provide Nicaragua with $41 million for the construction of a medial center in the capital, Managua, La Voz del Sandinismo publication said citing a presidential aide.

The sides signed a respective agreement during a meeting of the Russian-Nicaraguan intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation in Moscow in January.

Guillermo Gonzalez, President Daniel Ortega's adviser for social affairs, said on Friday that the construction cost is estimated at $30 million while the remaining sum will be spent on the purchase of advanced medical equipment.

The center will occupy an area of 24,000 sq. m, and will have about 300 hospital beds. The construction will take approximately three years.

Russia will also help Nicaragua to deal with the consequences of natural disasters by providing the Latin American country with scientific equipment, public warning systems and 25 fire trucks adopted for fighting forest fires.

Bilateral ties have become stronger since Daniel Ortega returned to the post of Nicaragua’s president after the 2006 election.

In September 2008, Nicaragua followed Russia’s suit in recognizing the independence of two former Georgian republics - South Ossetia and Abkhazia.