Post on 26-Dec-2015
Central America: A Strategic Region of the Word
General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System
March 2014
Member States
BelizeRepublic of Costa Rica
Republic of El SalvadorRepublic of GuatemalaRepublic of Honduras Republic of NicaraguaRepublic of PanamáDominican Republic
Observer
Mexico Republic of Argentina Republic of Chile Federative Republic of Brasil Perú United States of America Haiti Ecuador Uruguay Colombia
Republic of China (Taiwán) Kingdom of Spain Federal Republic of Alemania Italy Japan Australia France State of Vatican United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northerm Ireland Republic of Korea
Regional Observers Extraregional Observers
Favorable Conditions for Trade and Investment
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
130.5 143.0162.4
182.4 182.6203.5
227.5244.7
Gross Domestic ProductCurrent Prices, billions of U.S. $
Source: CEPAL
Source: CEPAL
Favorable Conditions for Trade and Investment
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
9,492 10,35212,227
14,77312,626
14,919
18,94821,187
Total Exports Goodsmillions of U.S. $
Source: CEPAL
Favorable Conditions for Trade and Investment
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
$3,978 $4,549
$5,424
$6,614
$5,351 $5,981
$7,218 $7,474
Intraregional Exportsmillions of U.S. $
All our countries belong to SICA
We address the world with a single voice
We have a regional strategy for sustainable development for different areas
We are engaged in a process towards a customs union
We are an integrated region:
Favorable Conditions for Trade and Investment
Political stability
Dynamic economic growth
Wide diversity of natural resources
Trade openness and liberalization
Foreign exchange rate and inflation stability
Free trade zone
Favorable Conditions for Trade and Investment
Members of CAFTA DR and AdA.
The third largest trade partner with the U.S.A in Latin America
Our trade exchange with the U.S.A. is larger than that of Argentina, Chile and the Russian Federation
International Financial Centers. Banking Networks. Insurance and Re-insurance systems
Interoceanic Canal facilitates communication and transportation between Europe and Asia
Favorable Conditions for Trade and Investment
Regional roads and telecommunications systems
Interconnected electrical grid system
Ample Water and Mineral Resources
Ports facilities on both Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
Favorable Conditions for Trade and Investment
Regional Development Bank (CABEI) finances and promotes regional development projects
Integrated administrative services for investment and export
A dynamic economic integration process
Favorable Conditions for Trade and Investment
A Region of Opportunities
Investment promotion and protection agreements
Air transportation agreements
Ongoing government enterprise and public services privatization process
We require capital, technology, private and public consulting services, raw materials, modern machinery and equipment
Tourism in Central America
Archaeology: Mayan, Toltec, Olmec and others
Pre-colonial
Colonial
Indigenous and Afro-American cultures
The second world largest coral reef formations
White, black and colored beaches
Active volcanoes
Lakes, rivers and fishing
Adventure
Eco-tourism
Twelve World Heritage Sites
We act as an integrated region in the following international conventions: wetlands(RAMSAR), species trade, plants and animals (CITES), climatic change, international waste transportation (Basil), biodiversity, and in defining regional environmental policies
We manage, in a coordinated manner, the two most relevant marine ecosystems of the region: The Gulfs of Honduras and Fonseca
We are implementing the first world coral reef management scheme, undertaken jointly by four countries
Central America Environment
Having 1% of the world´s territory, the Central American region holds 10% of the world´s biodiversity
Central America Environment
Central America Environment
Middle-America Biological Corridor
First regional natural resources management scheme to promote the world´s sustainable development
Tourism Natural resources and cultural
heritage Agribusiness with added value
Central America as a platform for sustainable and competitive world class production
Clothing and textiles Increased resources
productivity Manufacture of electronic parts
and services related to computer and software products
World Class Potential Clusters
This is Central America in Development
A Dynamic region moving towards its Integration
Offering opportunities an resources to the whole Word in a strategic geographical location
Central America