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

Central America Basic Data For 2013

54 million inhabitants

US$244 billion Regional GDP

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

Central AmericaA strategic location

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

Favorable Conditions for Trade and Investment

Favorable Conditions for Trade and Investment

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

www.sica.int