Building fairer futures for farmers through partnership and shared prosperity
The Hague, 14 October 2025 – The Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Mr. Carlos J. Argüello Gómez, Alternate Governor of the CFC for Nicaragua and Ambassador of the Republic of Nicaragua to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss matters of mutual interest and to explore new avenues for deepening cooperation between Nicaragua and the CFC.
Ambassador Belal presented an overview of the CFC’s ongoing initiatives and the growing demand for its services worldwide. He highlighted the Fund’s tangible results on the ground in improving livelihoods and building resilience across commodity-dependent developing countries. Emphasizing the urgency of collective action, Ambassador Belal reiterated that eradicating poverty and achieving sustainability in commodity value chains require global solidarity and shared responsibility.
He expressed deep appreciation to Ambassador Argüello for his active engagement and long-standing support for the CFC, noting Nicaragua’s constructive contributions to advancing the Fund’s mission. Ambassador Belal underlined Nicaragua’s potential to strengthen agricultural value chains, enabling farmers to capture a greater share of value and contribute more robustly to national economic transformation.
A central theme of the discussion was the Humanizing Value Chains (HVC) initiative—CFC’s flagship effort to address structural inequities in global trade by ensuring transparency, equitable income distribution, and inclusive growth. Ambassador Belal noted that the recent endorsement of the initiative by Peru represents growing international momentum to “humanize” global markets and deliver dignity and fairness to producers worldwide.
Ambassador Argüello warmly welcomed Ambassador Belal’s visit and reaffirmed Nicaragua’s strong commitment to the CFC’s mandate. He commended the Fund’s work in promoting inclusive and sustainable development, while emphasizing Nicaragua’s ambition to attract innovation, investment, and technology that can enhance productivity and sustainability across its commodity sectors.
In closing, both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening collaboration in support of smallholders and farmers—those who stand at the heart of every sustainable value chain. Ambassador Belal encouraged Nicaragua to continue its leadership as a global commodity nation, inspiring collective efforts toward fairer and more human-centered trade systems.
For media inquiries, please contact:
[CFC Media Relations Team]
[Email: managing.director@common-fund.org]
[Phone: +31 20 575 4949]