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LOCALTuesday 3 November 2015
In Relation to the Caribbean Region;
Experts Emphasize Integration’s Potential as a Driver of Development
-During a seminar at “The Potential of the Cen- for Economic Integration in 1991. With 56 million in- In his speech, former Gua-
ECLAC, the lessons and tral American Integra- (CABEI). habitants in its eight mem- temalan President Vinicio
challenges of the integra- tion System (SICA) in Latin In his speech, Hugo Beteta ber countries, the SICA has Cerezo explained how the
tion process carried out in America and the Caribbe- presented an overview of become a strategic con- Central American peace
Central America were ad- an,” participants analyzed the current economic and tact point with other blocs, process allowed for a re-
dressed. the lessons and challenges social situation in Central such as the Organization of gional political decision—
that the Central American America, which is marked American States (OAS) and “to put an end to the do-
ORANJESTAD/SANTIAGO - integration experience has by vulnerability to external the Caribbean Community mestic armed conflict”—
Integration is a basic com- provided to the rest of the shocks. He reminded that (CARICOM), among others, transformed into a relevant
ponent of productive trans- Latin American and Carib- even though 4% growth is he highlighted. institution for all of Central
formation and of strategies bean region. expected for this year, the Alberto Cortés stressed the America’s inhabitants: the
for growth with equality, as The seminar was inaugurat- social challenges continue importance of the environ- SICA. In this sense, the Es-
well as a necessary instru- ed by Hugo Beteta, Direc- to be imposing, consider- mental variable in all Cen- quipulas Agreements pro-
ment to promote countries’ tor of ECLAC’s Subregional ing that one in every two tral American projects and vide important lessons for
development, authorities Headquarters in Mexico, Central Americans is poor enumerated the challeng- the whole region, he said.
and experts from various who welcomed those in and one in every four is in- es that must be addressed, “The story of the end of do-
nations agreed while gath- attendance on behalf of digent. “Integration must such as the weakening of mestic armed conflicts in
ered at the headquarters the institution’s Executive have a substantial role if we the public sector and of the Central America is a good
of the Economic Commis- Secretary, Alicia Bárcena. want the region to have its State’s regulatory capacity example of how integra-
sion for Latin America and Also present at the open- own voice on the world as well as problems related tion can work. We have
the Caribbean (ECLAC) in ing session were Vinicio stage. In that sense, the to transparency, corruption legal and representative
Santiago, Chile, during a Cerezo, former President of road traversed by Central and safety that recently institutions, and a develop-
high-level seminar. Guatemala and President America offers very impor- surfaced and have under- ment bank. All of this could
At the gathering entitled of the Esquipulas Founda- tant lessons,” Beteta said. mined the credibility of in- constitute a new develop-
tion; Víctor Manuel Valle, El Ambassador Valle made stitutions. ment model for the region
Salvador’s Ambassador to a presentation in which “This is a critical time to re- (…) The potential that we
Chile in its role as holder of he reviewed the main think what can be done Latin Americans have in
the SICA pro tempore presi- milestones of the Central with integration so that it terms of taking action to-
dency; and Alberto Cortés, American integration pro- truly fuels economic growth gether is truly impressive,”
Director for Costa Rica of cess, which culminated in in the region,” the CABEI Cerezo said. More informa-
the Central American Bank the creation of the SICA representative stated. tion at www.cepal.org.q
