SAN JOSE,-- U.S. President Barack Obama is to arrive here Friday afternoon to discuss with his Central American counterparts a wide range of issues, such as public security, economic development, immigration and cooperation.Obama is here to take part in the summit of the Central American Integration System (SICA) Saturday and meet with regional businessmen,which was organized by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
SICA groups Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. The Dominican Republic is a partner member.
Costa Rican President Kaura Chinchilla, the SICA host, has said recently she expects to discuss not only drug trafficking with the U.S. president, but also cooperation on economic development and use of alternative energy sources.
Costa Rica's Press Office said in a statement that "it will always be an honor to receive President Obama" and that it expects his presence will help "reaffirm the ties of friendship and cooperation with the U.S., as well as to review the most important issues on the regional agenda."
The White House also said in a statement that Obama's attendance at the upcoming SICA summit signals his country's interest in promoting economic growth and cooperation in the region.
Obama's meeting with heads of state and government of SICA member countries offers "an important opportunity to discuss our collective efforts to promote economic growth and development in Central America and our collaboration on matters of security," the statement said.
Among the key challenges the SICA countries try to tackle are drug trafficking, illegal immigration and significant trade gaps.
Central America's annual trade with the U.S. totals some 40 billion U.S. dollars. The Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), in effect since 2006, helped boost trade between the countries.
SICA member Guatemala has said that Obama's participation in the bloc' s summit "will be a great opportunity to discuss issues related to security and bilateral trade."
El Salvador said the SICA summit will focus on general aspects of development, growth and security, as well as specific issues such as integral migration reform and the so-called Association for Growth Program signed between the United States and El Salvador in November 2011.
The presidents of Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic as well as the prime minister of Belize have confirmed their participation in the SICA summit.
