• The India and Central American Integration System (Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana, or SICA) virtual dialogue on India-SICA cooperation was held on June 18. 

• The current Pro-Tempore Presidency of SICA lies with Costa Rica and will be handed over to Panama later this year.

Key points of the meeting:

• India underlined that the relationship with SICA is built on a strong foundation of mutual respect, shared values of democracy and sustainable development, and strong commitment to South-South cooperation. 

• India has actively supported a number of initiatives in this region through its development cooperation programmes, including the ITEC capacity-building platform, Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), and the dedicated SME grant programme.

• The representatives from SICA Secretariat and the SICA Member countries appreciated India’s proactive role in fostering global South-South cooperation. 

• They mentioned that the India SICA cooperation will deepen further through sustained political dialogue and regional cooperation initiatives. 

• Main areas of cooperation were identified as food and nutritional security, health, connectivity, agriculture, digital transformation, energy, trade and investment. 

Central American Integration System (SICA)

• The Central American Integration System (Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana, or SICA) is the institutional framework for Central American Regional Integration.

• It was established on December 13, 1991, by the signing of the Protocol to the Charter of the Organization of Central American States (ODECA) or Tegucigalpa Protocol, which amended the Charter of ODECA, signed in Panama on December 12, 1962, and formally came into operation on February 1, 1993.

• It was created by the States of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. Belize and the Dominican Republic subsequently joined as full members in 2000 and 2013, respectively. 

• Its fundamental objective is to promote policy integration in Central America and position it as a region of peace, freedom, democracy, and development.

• SICA’s General Secretariat headquarters is located in El Salvador.

• The SICA initiative was widely supported by the United Nations General Assembly with the Tegucigalpa Protocol being duly registered with the UN. 

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