Central America: A Strategic Region of the Word General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System March 2014

Member States  Belize  Republic of Costa Rica  Republic of El Salvador  Republic of Guatemala  Republic of Honduras  Republic of Nicaragua  Republic of Panamá  Dominican 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 million inhabitants US$244 billion Regional GDP

Favorable Conditions for Trade and Investment

Source: CEPAL Favorable Conditions for Trade and Investment

Source: CEPAL Favorable Conditions for Trade and Investment

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 America A 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

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

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