Boosting small business outbids security plans

The countries of the Central American Integration System (Sica) pledged Saturday to promote small and medium-sized enterprises but failed to approve a Safety Secretariat.

Support for the Center for the Promotion of Micro and Small Enterprises is seen as an "effective mechanism" for the generation of employment and prevention of violence

The creation of the Secretariat of Public Safety, was one of the mandates emanating from the Summit of Presidents of Sica last June.
The creation of the secretariat was to implement regional security strategies. It has been supported by the international community, which has pledged to provide about $2 billion in funding.
The draft of the Declaration of Buenaventura, which is the agreement reached at this weekend's meeting being held at the Pacific coast resort, stressed that it was important that Central America position itself before the "international community, donors and partners" to promote entrepreneurship as an effective medium for the generation of employment and new enterprises, and the prevention of violence by facilitating the productive inclusion of young people.
It also instructs the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration to continue their advance in "deepening economic integration, the facilitation of intraregional trade, the customs union and preparing the region to take advantage of economic and trade agreements."
The Declaration, which must still be ratified by the Central American dignitaries, also urges a "renewed effort" to support the implementation of the security strategy.
It directs the Council of Planning Ministers of the Council of Economic Ministers to develop a long-term regional vision for an integration of these policies.
The group also approved a regional policy of equality and gender equity and reiterated its support for the initiative of Panama for the creation of a regional logistics center of humanitarian assistance.