Complementary words by the Secretary General of SICA on the - PDF document

Complementary words by the Secretary General of SICA on the Presentation made by the President Pro Tempore with regard to the Central American Integration Process Ladies and Gentlemen, Most Excellent Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, Most Excellent Foreign Ministers of Central America: Following the request by the Chancellor of the Republic of Honduras and our President Pro Tempore, allow me to complement, as possible, the information provided by the Honourable Minister on the progress to date in the process of Central American integration. Among other important achievements so far in various sectors of the process, we can mention the following: 1. In the area of modernization of the regional financial sector, the Central American Monetary Council has developed, in coordination with the Superintendence of Banks and CABEI, a Macroeconomic Convergence Process through the harmonization of financial and prudential supervision legislation and policy and prudential, and in an incipient form in the establishment of a regional stock market. Also within the context of the Puebla- Panama Plan, a draft framework treaty for regional (Mesoamerican level) financial integration is in the works. 2. The Central American Bank for Economic Integration, of which the Republic of China is an extraregional partner, has continued to support the plans and projects for national and regional development, giving special support to projects that address the eradication of poverty, also funding projects to support medium, small and micro businesses. Moreover, CABEI financially supports the development of projects of the Puebla-Panama Plan. 3. The Centre for the Promotion of Micro and Small Enterprises in Central America (CEMPROMYPE) has established itself as a regional institution serving this area of great importance to the economy of the Central American countries. 4. It is important to highlight Central American Study on Transportation conducted by SIECA, which contains an assessment of the situation and proposes actions for the development of road infrastructure, air and maritime ports, and the establishment of an intermodal and multimodal transportation system. One of the major projects proposed in this study is the logistics corridor that has served as the basis in this area for the Puebla- Panama Plan. 5. Among these achievements are the institutionalization of OSPESCA into the General Secretariat of SICA, the creation of the Confederation of Central American Artisanal Fishworkers (CONFEPESCA) and the Central American Organization Aquaculture and Fishing Businesses (OECAP), the strengthening of the bureaus on fishing and aquaculture in the countries, as well the revision of the Framework Treaty on Fisheries and Aquaculture in Central America.

6. The effective integration of tourism in the region, with the participation of public and private sectors, has resulted in the adoption and registration of single Central American tourist trademark, the structuring of new tourist circuits that combine the different countries of the region and a sustained annual growth in the influx of tourists. Also, the Central American Tourism Promotion Agency (CATA) is in operation with headquarters in Madrid, Spain, and its aim is to achieve the positioning and marketing of Central America as a premium destination. 7. Policies and environmental management systems have been harmonized and common and concerted positions adopted at regional and global forums. Also worth mentioning is the strengthening and incorporation of the technical committees of the Council of Ministers of Environment. In addition, protocols on bio-security, access to genetic-biochemical resources, and associated traditional knowledge, as well as the guide of procedures of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna were submitted for ratification by the countries. Likewise, the area of environmental dialogue was strengthened, the main achievement of which was the establishment of a permanent civil society forum, as a consultative body, from which will emanate initiatives on environmental policies in the region. 8. In the field of Central American Migration Integration it is worth mentioning the work toward the creation of a single Central American passport and the initiative for the creation of the single Central American visa. 9. Within the process of institutional reform, the regional Heads of State and Government in order to promote greater transparency and orderliness within the institutions of the System, have requested that the Council of Comptrollers of the region draw up a proposal for the creation of a Regional Comptroller's Office in the context of the provisions of the Tegucigalpa Protocol and the needs of the regional institutionality. Also on the subject of regional cooperation, I wish to inform you that the Secretary General under my charge has decided to establish in the shortest term an automated international cooperation management system in Central America, which will help improve the coordination, monitoring and evaluation of regional projects and ensure greater transparency and optimization in their execution. To this end we are making international arrangements that we may be joined in in this effort. In the same spirit, I am pleased to report also that this General Secretariat is currently promoting a range of initiatives and proposals of an internal nature, which aim to give our institution greater efficiency and dynamism in the context of the mandates of the Tegucigalpa Protocol and the different presidential mandates, especially those related to achieving better results and better coordination with all secretariats and institutions of the system. Finally, I wish to thank the Chancellors for their attention especially the Chancellor of the Republic of China for the cooperation extended to the Central American integration process, hoping that in the near future this cooperation will be expanded and

strengthened. I also wish to thank the government of the Republic of China for all the kind attentions extended to me and our delegation. Thank you very much. Taipei, Republic of China, March 4, 2005