Regional manufacturers call for joint action on key issues

The Board of Directors of the Federation of Industrial Chambers and Associations of Central America, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico recently made a joint call for governments of the region’s countries to work effectively to reduce energy costs, promote the strengthening of the industrial sector and achieve regional integration.
The group known as FECAICA in Spanish has among its primary objectives to promote the development and regional integration. Constituted by Chambers and Industry associations in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, which joined recently, represented by the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association.
During the meeting, the group agreed to ask the region’s energy ministries to present the recommendations required by the presidents and heads of state summit held June 26, 2015, which pursued an evaluation of what is hindering market competitiveness and blocking cost reductions.
The group also agreed to ask the Central American Economic Integration Council to take into account the sensitivities of industrial products in negotiations with third-party countries, specifically those currently being developed with Korea.
FECAICA members also agreed to request the presidents of the region to continue efforts to achieve concrete progress in regional integration, which will improve the quality of life of populations, efficiency in managing regional resources, and greater growth conditions for productive sectors.