The member countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA) held in Panama a Mechanism for Political Dialogue and Cooperation with the Republic of India at a meeting at the level of foreign ministers.
At the end of the day, a joint communiqué that highlights the work in pursuit of the expansion of trade and investment spaces, strengthening of the digital regional strategy for the development of the information and knowledge society; and the execution of a cooperation program that allows supporting the efforts of SICA in areas of connectivity, agriculture, renewable energies, information technologies, health, among others.
During the meeting, the SICA Member States recognized the role of India in terms of reimbursable financial cooperation, for which they extended the invitation to be part of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), as an extra-regional partner, which would serve to channel eventual projects.
The meeting was led by Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration of Belize, who holds the Pro Tempore Presidency of SICA; as well as by the Panamanian Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney, the Secretary General of SICA, Werner Vargas and the special guest, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of India.
Visit of S. Jaishankar, to Guyana, Panama, Colombia and the Dominican Republic
The Indian foreign minister stated that his country is interested in cooperating in four areas: green development, health, gender and digital issues, as well as recognizing the challenges faced by middle-income countries, such as Costa Rica.
Currently, India chairs the G20 group, an international forum of rulers and central bankers, whose goal is to discuss policies related to promoting international financial stability.
