Mesoamerica. Integration and Development. Project

Transcription

1 Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project June 2015

2 Who are we? 10 countries with young populations 226 million habitants Mexico México Guatemala Belice Belize Honduras Nicaragua El Salvador Panama Panamá Costa Rica Colombia Dominican República Dominicana Republic 3.65 millon km 2 A region with a strategic geographical position What do we do? We articulate different cooperation modalities to implement projects that deliver regional public goods for inclusive development and integration of the ten participating countries, with a view to improving the quality of life of citizens. 2

3 Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project Background The Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project (MIDP) was launched in 2008 by the Heads of State and Government of Colombia, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Central America during the X Summit of the Tuxtla Dialogue and Consultation Mechanism, thus becoming the technical mechanism for cooperation and integration of member countries. What is the Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project? The MIDP is a regional mechanism specialized in implementing projects that deliver regional public goods for inclusive development and integration of the 10 participating countries that share a common history and similar culture: Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Dominican Republic. The objective of the MIDP is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the region s population through projects based on sustainable development and integration through the delivery of regional public goods. Special characteristics Political dialogue: the MIDP is a high-level forum which brings together presidents to review and agree priorities for the region. Regional integration: MIDP activities always involve two or more Member Countries, thus enhancing integration and complementarity in the region. Specialization and complementarity: MIDP promotes projects in nine social and economic sectors, and supports or complements actions carried out by a range of organizations or mechanisms within the region. Leverage resources: MIDP facilitates the leverage of international aid flow for priority projects in Mesoamerica. Regional public goods: MIDP delivers regional public goods that benefit for more than one country as a consequence of coordinated action by the Governments involved. 3

4 The work of Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project The work of the MIDP targets two main pillars in nine strategic sectors: Economic Development Projects - Transport Social Development Projects - Health - Energy - Disaster risk management - Telecomunications - Environment - Trade facillitation and competitiveness - Housing - Food and Nutrition security 4

5 Projects for Economic Development 1. Transport Seeks to increase internal and external connectivity of the Mesoamerican economies to favour and enhance competitiveness through the improvement of land transport and port infrastructure and services. Main projects are: The International Network of Mesoamerican Highway (RICAM) The Mesoamerican Integration Corridor (CMI) The Regional Bridges Programme Short Sea Shipping Maritime Transport (TMCD) in Mesoamerica 5

6 2. Energy This area is the driving force behind the Mesoamerican Energy Agenda, which has four strategic work streams: Mesoamerican electricity interconnection; development of renewable or alternative sources of energy; rational and efficient use of energy and energy and climate change. The main projects in the sector are: Sistema de Interconexión Eléctrica de los Países de América Central (SIEPAC). Interconexión eléctrica México-Guatemala. Interconexión eléctrica Panamá-Colombia. Estrategia de Iluminación Eficiente en América Central. Biofuels This area encourages the use of fuels manufactured from non comestible materials, to help mitigate the effects of climate change and reactivate crops in abandoned areas. The main project is: The Mesoamerican Network for Research and Development of Biofuels (RMIDB) integrated by academia representatives from member states. 6

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8 3. Telecomunications Aims to promote a real Mesoamerican Information Society through connectivity, while using and taking advantage of information and communications technologies as tools to increase integration as well as inclusive economic and social development. The main project is: The Mesoamerican Information Highway (AMI). 4. Trade Facilitation and Competitiveness Promotes projects to facilitate trade in the region, strengthening the participation of certain sectors such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and fruit farming. The main projects are: International Transit of Goods (TIM) Increased competitiveness and support for SMEs Mesoamerican Program for Coordinated Border Management (includes Authorized Economic Operators and One-Stop Shop mechanisms) 8

9 Social projects focused on sustainable development 1. Health Aims to attend priority areas in health for the region: vaccination, nutrition, maternal health, road safety and vector-transmitted diseases, through coordination with the Mesoamerican Public-Health System (SMSP) and the Mesoamerican 2015 Health Initiative. 2. Environment Contributes to sustainable development in the region, with specific projects on climate change, sustainable competitiveness, biodiversity and forests implemented through the Mesoamerican Environmental Sustainability Strategy (EMSA). 3. Disaster risk management Seeks to strengthen capacities of national agencies for civil protection, risk management and decision-making, using a harmonized information technology platform for the analysis of threats and vulnerabilities, through: The Mesoamerican Comprehensive Risk Management Network (RM-GIR). 4. Housing The objective is to contribute to the consolidation of a longterm and sustainable market to finance low-cost housing and resolve the housing backlog in the region by offering loans for purchase or for home improvements and extensions through: The Central American Social Housing Development Program 5. Food security and nutrition Mesoamerica Against Hunger is a regional intervention implemented by FAO in order to strengthen food security and reduce hunger in vulnerable populations in the region. 9

10 How does the Mesoamerica mechanism work? The Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project has implemented innovative funding schemes for the projects it supports, including contributions from each of its Member States, funds from Mesoamerican regional agencies, traditional official development aid, south south and triangular cooperation, as well as public-private partnerships. Furthermore, MIDP has the technical support of several development and integration agencies in the region, which conform the Interagency Technical Group (GTI). 10

11 Estructure of the mechanism The senior authority in the MIDP is the Summit of Heads of State and Government, which brings together the leaders of its 10 Member States. In addition, the mechanism is conformed by other entities: Executive Commission: formed by Presidential Commissioners from each of the Member States, who are responsible for the planning, coordination and follow-up of projects and actions. Mexico is the permanent Co-Chair of this Commission, and the Pro Tempore Chair rotates on a geographical basis among the other Member States. National Offices: each country has a national office to implement actions related to the mechanism. Executive Directorate: based in El Salvador, the directorate supports the Executive Commission to facilitate implementation of regional projects. Interagency Technical Group (GTI): supports the Executive Commission in project design, resource mobilization and definition of projects and actions. It is formed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Secretariat General of the Central American Integration System (SG-SICA), the Secretariat for Central American Economic 11 Integration (SIECA), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Promotion and Finance Commission (CPF): supports countries in the identification of innovative funding mechanisms to execute projects. The Commission is formed by the IDB, CABEI and CAF, as well as Ministries of Finance of Member States. Regional Technical Commissions: these technical commissions propose, design, approve and execute MIDP projects. They are formed by representatives of Ministries or Departments of Member States.

12 Summit of Heads of State and Government Interagency Technical Group (GTI) Executive Commission Promotion and Finance Commission (CPF) Executive Directorate National Offices Regional Technical Commissions 12

13 Achievements of the MIDP (1) Solid project portfolio Management of a solid portfolio of regional projects in 9 working sectors, which have helped to raise competitiveness in the Mesoamerican Region. Leverage of over USD $3,000 million between January 2008 and June 2015 to implement projects. Implementation of South-South and triangular cooperation for institutional capacity building in SMEs, health, environment and risk management besides other sectors. (2) Energy The Electrical Interconnection System for Central America (SIEPAC) is now fully functional. It consists of a 19,790 km 230kV power transmission line, with 28 access bays and 4,622 towers in 15 substations, crossing six countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. The project represents an investment of USD $505 million, technical cooperation of USD $6.51 million, and shared capital of USD $58.5 million, with the network owner EPR. The objective is to facilitate the exchange of electricity among countries and the consolidation of regional electricity market (MER). Promotion of electrical interconnection between Mexico, SIEPAC and Guatemala. Promotion of electrical interconnection between Colombia, SIEPAC and Panama. The Regional Electricity Market (MER) in Central America began to operate on 1 June 2013, resulting in an increase of 124.1% in electricity transactions between countries. Promotion of the Mesoamerican Strategic Business Alliance between the network owner EPR, and REDCA as managers of SIEPAC and AMI projects, respectively. Both were formed by the electricity companies of Central America and partners from outside the region (Mexico, Colombia and Spain), which have each contributed approximately USD $6.5 million to create capital of USD $58.5 million to form EPR; and in the case of REDCA, they provided USD $300,000 each, for a total capital of USD $2,700,000. This 13

14 is an innovate business scheme, in which partners from outside the region support a historic aspiration of Central American countries. An Efficient Lighting Strategy was adopted to reduce the use of incandescent bulbs in order to move towards efficient lighting (low energy consumption) in Central America, as well as reduce the consumption of electricity, CO2 emissions, and greenhouse-effect gases. This effort was promoted through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), under a scheme of South-South Cooperation. (3) Transport The highways and border-crossing infrastructure, through which 95% of goods traded in the region circulate, is being modernized to form the Mesoamerican Integration Corridor (CMI), a 3,244 km network of highways along the Pacific Coast that joins Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. 18.7% of the corridor has been completed; 7.1% is in the process of execution and 57.1% of the investment required has been financed. (4) Trade Facilitation and Competitiveness The Mesoamerican Procedure for International Transit of Goods is operating throughout nine borders, from Ciudad Hidalgo in Mexico, passing through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua to Panama. It aims to standardize and improve customs control, speed up border crossings and reduce bottlenecks. Some 90% of international transits move through the Mesoamerican Integration Corridor (CMI). (5) Telecomunications The Mesoamerican Information Highway (AMI) was inaugurated on January 29, It is an optical fiber network, which broadens access and alternatives for digital connectivity, and contributes to the reduction of the digital gap in Central America. The AMI has a OPGW fibre optics, and it is installed 50m high along the SIEPAC transmission line. 14

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16 (6) Health Cooperation projects carried out through the Mesoamerican Public Health System (SMSP) and the Mesoamerican 2015 Health Initiative. The latter currently has a fund of US$87 million to improve the public health services for the less privileged sectors in eight countries of Mesoamerican Region. Through technical cooperation to the amount of USD $600,000, the Master Plans for dengue, road safety, and renewed primary healthcare are being updated. (7) Environment Creation of three key regional instances: Forest Monitoring Centre Regional Fire Management Center Centre for Climate Services for Mesoamerica (8) Disaster risk management The Mesoamerican Comprehensive Risk Management Network (RM-GIR) is now functioning. (9) Housing A total of 633,000 low-income families in Central America have benefitted from loans for the purchase or repair of their homes, with an investment of USD $37.5 million. 16

17 Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project Proyecto Mesoamérica - Oficial Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project Proyecto Mesoamérica (Oficial)