Bulletin on the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean

Transcription

1 Bulletin on the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean N 189 August 2013 Contents Venezuela to boost exports to MERCOSUR (1-2) Pacific Alliance creates free trade zone (2-3) Pacific Alliance concludes negotiations on Additional Protocol (3) Suriname assumes Pro Tempore Presidency of UNASUR (3-4) CABEI s Executive President meets with Chilean authorities (4-5) OECS achieves two years of free movement of persons (6-7) CARICOM Finance Ministers tackle growth and development (7-8) Briefs (8) -New authorities sworn in at PARLACEN -ALADI: Tools for integration Meetings on integration in September (8) Ambitious agenda to promote Central American integration (5) Central American integration makes progress (5-6) Venezuela to boost exports to MERCOSUR Taken from El Mundo, Caracas, via Google - Interview conducted by journalist Génesis M. Ortiz, for El Mundo Economía y Negocios Montevideo, 19 August.- According to the diplomat Isabel Cristina Delgado Arria, Venezuela is on track to increase non-oil exports, and a new era of trade integration is dawning with other Latin American nations. The official, appointed Ambassador of Venezuela to the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) and the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) last June, explained that actions are being promoted to permanently develop round-table discussions. They are also aimed at involving both the government and the productive sectors in the drafting of new public policies to strengthen the national production, the development of products and the quality for export. A lot is being invested in the sectors of rum, chemicals, cosmetics, radiators, cell phones, computers and a number of products you would never imagine. More satisfying is the fact that they have been warmly received abroad. Delgado Arria said that other measures will be taken to strengthen this process. In order to protect the product packaging, ports and airports of the country will be equipped with the most advanced non-invasive inspection technology. In addition, the ALBA-MERCOSUR Bicentennial Fund will be created to stimulate export. She stressed that the strategy called Venezuela exports aims to promote the sale of Venezuelan products anywhere in the world. In the first experiment in Montevideo, Uruguay, more than 150 products with quality and export capacity were traded as part of various businesses. Our country, while holding the Pro Tempore Presidency, is focused on preparing other events in Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico that will benefit us. There is certainly willingness to negotiate as never seen before, she expressed. The Latin American and Caribbean Integration Bulletin is a publication of the Permanent Secretariat of SELA which was generated within the framework of the UNESCO-SELA Convention Communications for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean of the UNESCO International Programme for the Development of Communications (IPDC). Legal deposit: pp CS183 - ISSN: Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) - Permanent Secretariat, Apartado Postal 17035, Caracas 1010-A, Venezuela - Visit SELA's Web site in Internet: - Send your comments or suggestions to SELA to: difusion@sela.org

2 The Ambassador said that the main goal as representative of Venezuela to MERCOSUR is to turn the country into an economic power that can meet their needs and compete in international markets. In his view, the accession of Venezuela to the regional integration bloc opens an important market, which requires it to change its pattern from an oil-exporting country to a more diversified economy. -What are Venezuela s export plans towards MERCOSUR? We have many plans, but we focus on all sectors that have potential and quality for export, in addition to sufficient domestic production. Our country offers a very broad market, in particular in terms of petrochemical processes, which undoubtedly are our spearhead. In addition, we have small-sized enterprises, which are already reporting production and support us in our economic development plans. -Have special economic zones been created for the installation of industries in our country? Yes. In fact, we have created creating conditions for industries in several states such as Aragua, Carabobo, Falcón, Vargas, Bolívar, Zulia and Anzoátegui to operate with a view to promoting and contributing to the development of our country. We must bear in mind that the government prioritizes the provision of foreign exchange for capital goods. -Is Venezuela expected to sign new financial agreements through the Bandes with the rest of the member countries of MERCOSUR? Yes, absolutely. Our experience in Uruguay should be replicated. We are already working on the framework for international cooperation policies. We plan to start in Bolivia, since it has an important financial space and is a country in constant growth. -Does Venezuela intend to propose new negotiations with other countries? The agenda of activities aimed at promoting relations with third parties is currently very active. In fact, President Nicolás Maduro already instructed to start negotiations for the creation of the MERCOSUR-ALBA-PETROCARIBE-CARICOM area. This would allow for the establishment of a wide industrial economic development area of great importance to all involved countries. -Recently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil pointed out that negotiations between MERCOSUR and the European Union would conclude in one year. What do think about that? Well, I never set a deadline for the conclusion of a negotiation, because it may be affected by a number of factors and the economic and political realities. However, this time the negotiation is back on course and with good prospects. Let us see what happens. It would be a great achievement for South America. Pacific Alliance creates free trade zone Taken from the EFE news agency Mexico City, 27 August.- The Pacific Alliance concluded almost two years of negotiations for the creation of a free trade zone that mobilizes 50% of trade in Latin America and represents 36% of regional GDP, said the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru at a press conference after a meeting held in Mexico. We are creating one of the most important regional integration areas in the world, said the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia, Sergio Díaz-Granados, when asked about the details of the agreement at a press conference. The Colombian Minister explained that 92% of tariff items will be tax-deductible once the agreement comes into force, at a date before end 2013 yet to be defined. The remaining 8% will be gradually deducted at short and medium terms. The Pacific Alliance, whose gross domestic product (GDP) exceeds US$ 2 billion, has been more effective in its trade integration process than MERCOSUR and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America (ALBA), according to its promoters. Created in April 2011 and formally established on 6 June 2012 through the signing of the Framework Agreement at Cerro Paranal, Chile, the Pacific Alliance started formal operations on 1 November /

3 After the signing of the Framework Agreement establishing the Pacific Alliance in June, members took a second major step in Mexico with the conclusion of the negotiations and the establishment of our economic and trade agreement, said the Minister Díaz-Granados, while stressing that it includes all disciplines of an economic integration agreement and therefore it represents an important milestone, These include goods, services, investment, public procurement and a sophisticated system for institutional understanding among the four partners, he added. At the press conference, the Minister of Foreign Trade of Peru, Magali Silva Velarde-Álvarez, said that the four countries have found common ground in the commercial sector in just two years of work thanks to common objectives. For his part, the Foreign Minister of Chile, Alfredo Moreno, reacted to criticism against the Pacific Alliance raised by some countries in the region, such as Brazil. It is the most ambitious maybe revolutionary agreement on integration ever, he stressed. The word integration has been present in our continent since a number of years ago, but our experience shows that we usually cannot move from theory, poetry and songs about integration to practice, Moreno said. The Chilean Minister underscored that Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru, the four member countries of the Pacific Alliance, which is expected to expand and include other nations such as Costa Rica and Panama, report high levels of growth in Latin America and the rest of the world. He explained that these four Latin American economies as a whole, which in 2012 stood at the ninth place worldwide, represent the sixth economy at the global level, because their growth rate is much higher than the average in the world. I believe that we probably are going through, as many international media have pointed out, the most enthusiastic and positive experience in terms of integration, not only in our region but also in the world, the Chilean Minister said. In addition, the Secretary of Economy of Mexico, Ildefonso Guajardo, host of the meeting, expressed satisfaction for the economic-trade agreement reached and the fact that it includes few highly sensitive products that will certainly be relegated. In this regard, he explained that those products represent less than 1.4% of total trade and will be adjusted according to different terms. In the case of the longest term, total opening is expected by the year Pacific Alliance concludes negotiations on Additional Protocol Published by the Agencia Andina, Peru Lima, 27 August.- The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the member countries making up the Pacific Alliance concluded successfully negotiations on the Additional Protocol to the Framework Agreement at a meeting held in Cancun, Mexico, on 25 and 26 August, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. Through this step in the process of building a deep integration area, which is possible thanks to the conviction of the member countries about the benefits of free trade, existing trade agreements may be expanded to include areas linked to the movement of goods, services and capital, it said. Within the framework of the Cancun meeting, at which Ministers agreed on the last points of the Additional Protocol, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eda Rivas, stressed the Pacific Alliance s vocation for integration, which is central to the success of negotiations and will lead to concrete benefits for Peru in the near future. The Ministry said that this positive development on the agenda of the Pacific Alliance is also a step closer to the commitment established by Peru, Chile, Colombia and Mexico in the Framework Agreement to promote growth, development and competitiveness of their economies, in order to achieve social inclusion and greater well-being of citizens and overcome social and economic inequalities. Suriname assumes Pro Tempore Presidency of UNASUR Taken from the UNASUR Web site Paramaribo, 30 August.- With the attendance of eight presidents, Suriname assumed the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) during the VII Ordinary Meeting of the Council of Heads of State and Government, held in Paramaribo. 3/

4 In his opening speech, the President of the Republic of Peru, Ollanta Humala, stressed the need to advance towards the unity of our peoples and highlighted the efforts made by his government in the one-year exercise of the Pro Tempore Presidency of the organization. The Secretary-General of UNASUR, Alí Rodríguez Araque, rendered accounts of his work, highlighting as a major achievement the consensus reached among the Member States on the recognition of the available natural resources in the region as a central element for South American development. The Secretary recalled that South America s wealth in natural and human resources is sufficient to drive the economic and social prosperity of the Union. In addition, Rodríguez Araque underscored the creation of the Centre for Communication and Information (CCI), located at the General Secretariat s headquarters in Quito. Its purpose is to offer a technological platform that improves internal communications and optimize the search and availability of information, which is essential for any decision-making process within the framework of objectives and possibilities of the organization. This Centre operates a real-time interactive room for videoconferencing among the various authorities of UNASUR. It is equipped with state-of-the-art technology donated by PDVSA-Ecuador, the investment of which was to a large extent assumed by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The Secretary-General also mentioned other achievements, such as: the launch of the Fund for Common Initiatives of UNASUR; the presentation of UNASUR s Political Guidelines for Relations with Third Parties; the Advanced Cooperation Activities; the Organizational Structure that will drive in a short time the achievement of objectives of the General Secretariat, as provided in Article 10 of the Constitutive Treaty of UNASUR; in addition to other accomplishments in the administrative and budgetary management. For his part, the President of the Republic of Suriname, Desiré Delano Bouterse, stressed the importance of the one-year exercise of the Pro Tempore Presidency for his country and for the region. The president proposed the drafting of legislation for establishing an institute that will permit exploitation and export of natural resources while protecting the environment. During the Meeting of Heads of State and Government of UNASUR, participants saw two videos: one concerning the new venue for the General Secretariat of UNASUR, to be opened next year at the Middle of the World City in the proximity of Quito; and a computer animation video of the venue of the Parliament of UNASUR, to be located in the city of Cochabamba, with an approximate investment of US$ 60 million. Another relevant issue dealt with at this meeting was the situation of the Syrian Arab Republic. Presidents urged for dialogue and peace in view of the humanitarian and war crisis confronting this nation. The delegates congratulated Rodríguez Araque for his excellent performance as Secretary-General of UNASUR during the period Within a month, the twelve Member States of the organization are expected to decide who will replace the current Secretary-General, as another step towards South American growth and identity. CABEI s Executive President meets with Chilean authorities Taken from the CABEI Web site Tegucigalpa, 20 August.- The Executive President of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), Dr. Nick Rischbieth, met with government authorities of Chile as part of the efforts to extend and deepen the bank s relations as the financial agent of the Central American region with high-profile South American nations, among them, the Republic of Chile. Dr. Rischbieth presented the projects and initiatives the development bank of the Central American people is pushing forward, and described CABEI's competitive advantages in the region, where it stands out as the financial institution with the highest leadership and credibility, with a 50-year experience in the region. The Executive President held talks with Chile's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfredo Moreno Charme, and also met with Julio Dittborn Cordua, Undersecretary of Finance. He took the opportunity to make relevant contacts with Ambassadors from the Central American countries accredited to the South American nation. In a presentation to them, he explained the progress of projects promoted by CABEI and of the institutional strategy entitled Competitiveness with integration and development, launched in In an intense agenda, Dr. Rischbieth expressed the decisive will and commitment of his management team to work for the well-being of the Central American people. 4/

5 As for the private sector, he met with the President of the Chilean Confederation of Production and Commerce, the main association that groups and represents the Chilean business community. Ambitious agenda to promote Central American integration Taken from the SICA Web site San Salvador, 23 August.- During a meeting held on 21 August in San Salvador, the Secretary-General of the Central American Integration System (SG-SICA), Hugo Martínez, and the Secretary-General of the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), Mrs. Carmen Gisela Vergara, agreed on an ambitious agenda based on shared strategic vision and commitment to close collaboration as follows: -Facilitating the implementation of the partnership agreement with Europe, making some headway in fundamental issues. -Relying and working together on issues of integration, trying to reduce the technical or administrative obstacles that may affect progress of some elements on which there is already agreement among all member countries of the System, which are also members of the economic subsystem. -Promoting the rationalization of resources to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of human resources at both organizations, in order to advance in the compliance of mandates arising from SICA Summits and Councils of Ministers and avoid duplication of efforts. Both parties agreed on closer communication between the Secretariats and involvement of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the financial institution of SICA. -Standardizing, in the near future, the files of all institutions making up the System, in order to use the same nomenclature and take advantage of the wealth of available information on integration. The General Secretariat is one of SICA s regional operative bodies, created by decision of the Central American Presidents in the Tegucigalpa Protocol to the Charter of the Organization of Central American States. It supports the Secretary-General, whose functions include: representing the System in the international arena; executing or coordinating mandates emanating from the Meetings of Presidents, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Executive Committee; ensuring financial and technical cooperation for the smooth functioning of the System, and monitoring the implementation of the provisions of this Protocol. SIECA is the regional technical body, established as a legal entity, whose main function is to provide technical and administrative assistance to the Central American economic integration process of SICA. CABEI is the specialized institution of SICA. Created in 1960, it aims to promote the integration and development of the founding countries: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Later, other nations joined as non-founder members: Panama and Dominican Republic. CABEI also includes extra-regional partners, interested in establishing links with the Bank to have a regional influence and expand their international presence. They are: China (Taiwan), Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Spain. Central American integration makes progress Taken from the SICA Web site San Salvador, 26 August.- Central America concluded the first round of negotiations to shape the customs union, after five days of talks focused on the labelling of products, rules of origin, openness of tariff regimes and product composition, an official source said. That meeting was the first under the Panama s Pro Tempore Presidency of SICA, received from Costa Rica on 27 July. During its term, Costa Rica promoted the format of trade negotiations to make some headway in issues of integration, including the harmonization of technical regulations and aspects related to the customs union. This system is being taken up under the direction of Panama. The Minister of Commerce and Industry of Panama, Ricardo Quijano, said in a brief release that the round of negotiations was attended by the technical personnel of the member countries of the Central American Economic Integration Subsystem, as well as officials from SIECA. He announced that the next round of the process will be held from 7 to 11 October in 5/

6 Panama City, with the participation of Vice-Ministers of Trade. This first meeting included representatives of the Technical Group on Tariffs, Technical Group on Rules of Origin, Food and Beverages, Drugs and related products, Directors of Economic Integration and Directors of Customs. The creation of the Customs Union is a regional commitment included in the Association Agreement with the European Union, signed by the six Central American countries after Panama joined in the second half of the year. OECS achieves two years of free movement of persons Taken from the OECS Web site Castries, 6 August.- August 1st 2013 marked two years since the Heads of Government of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have declared that people of the region can move freely throughout the OECS Economic Union, which was established by the Revised Treaty of Basseterre. Through this regime, arrangements are being enhanced for OECS citizens to enjoy free movement throughout the six independent Member States of the OECS and most recently Montserrat. Speaking with the OECS News Link, the Chairman of the OECS Authority and Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. Baldwin Spencer, said the free movement of nationals is important to the development of one economic space among the OECS Member States: It is extremely important that if we are going to be integrating this region and creating a single economic space for the benefit of the people of the region, then they ought to be able to move freely up and down the OECS and it is a critical component of the Economic Union. The arrangements agreed by Member States to give effect to the Revised Treaty of Basseterre are for persons to enter the participating Member States without hindrance and remain for an indefinite period in order to work, establish businesses, provide services or reside. There is a solid commitment among the Member States to have persons enjoy free movement throughout the OECS Economic Union. The OECS Chairman noted that participating OECS Member States are working towards ensuring that the necessary processes and mechanisms such as legal documentation are in place to firmly buttress the free movement arrangement: I have to say that everything is not fully in place in every Member State to give full and total effect to it. So that is work in progress and I think all of us will be getting there sooner rather than later, but as of now the movement of OECS nationals up and down the OECS is pretty much in place, and for all intents and purposes it is moving forward. Ms. Elma Gene Isaac heads the OECS Secretariat s Regional Integration Unit (RIU), which coordinates activities regarding the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the OECS Economic Union. Ms. Isaac noted that Member States are at different stages of implementation of the legislative and administrative requirements regarding the free movement of the OECS nationals: We have three Member States which have completed their legislative and administrative work in its entirety. We have others that are at different stages, they may need to pass one or two pieces of legislation. Ms. Isaac added that there may be a country that has not yet done the work in respect of its laws for immigration, but is facilitating the movement of OECS citizens administratively. Ms. Isaac also notes the case of two Member States in which the matter of indefinite stay regarding the free movement of OECS nationals is not yet in effect. The finalization of arrangements will naturally enhance confidence and participation, thereby reducing difficulties encountered by persons seeking to enjoy the privileges associated with the free movement of OECS nationals, as stipulated in the Revised Treaty of Basseterre, which took effect on January 21st Honourable Gaston Browne, Parliamentary Opposition Leader, was part of Antigua and Barbuda s delegation to the first official sitting of the OECS Assembly in March During the debate on the Motion on the challenges to the free movement of persons within the OECS Economic Union, he emphasized the importance of leaders being fully committed to the free movement of OECS Nationals and the advancement of the OECS integration process through the common services and the multiple sub-institutions of the OECS Authority. The Opposition leader expressed his confidence that OECS nationals want to move freely and have the will to become one people with a common destiny. 6/

7 Ambassador Ellsworth John, of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, reports that the Ambassadors of the Member States manage and report on the implementation of arrangements that sustain and enhance the value of the OECS Economic Union. Ambassador John, who also chairs the OECS Free Movement Committee, said: What we are trying to do is to be able to measure how many persons have actually moved and the impact that the movement is having on the Member States. Ambassador John opined that the people of the OECS want the free movement regime to take full effect. He has also suggested the need for the publication of statistical data that will guide persons who are keen on utilizing the free movement regime. In observance of the second year since the implementation of arrangements for the free movement of people across the OECS Economic Union, the OECS Secretariat has rolled out a video production of the first official sitting of the OECS Assembly which was held at the Assembly s headquarters on 26 March 2013 in St John s Antigua and Barbuda. The OECS was established by the Treaty of Basseterre on 18 June The nine Member States are: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands. The OECS Member States, with the exception of the British Virgin Islands, share a single currency, the Eastern Caribbean or EC dollar. Institutions of the OECS include the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority. The OECS Secretariat, the administrative arm of the regional grouping, facilitates cost-effective joint or coordinated approaches by Member States to meet the needs of the people of the region, responding to the demands of a rapidly changing international economic environment. CARICOM Finance Ministers tackle growth and development Taken from the CARICOM Web site Georgetown, 9 August.- Finance Ministers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) reviewed a range of economic and financial issues at the Fifteenth Meeting of CARICOM s Council for Finance and Planning (COFAP) in Trinidad and Tobago. The Council paid particular attention to the state of regional economies and addressed implementation issues relating to the Framework for Growth and Development, which had been the focus of attention at the recent Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government. Ministers agreed to recommend to the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government a process to carry the issues forward, including the appointment of a technical committee consisting of representatives of Member States to assist the Council in monitoring the economic situation. The Council identified priority issues such as fiscal sustainability, resource mobilization and unemployment on which there should be focus. Heads of Government had assigned the Bureau the task of moving the issue of Growth and Development forward. There was unanimous agreement that the level of integration and inter-relatedness among CARICOM economies warranted a regional solution to the current economic difficulties, which have the potential to affect even those economies which have performed well. Ministers approved the draft CARICOM Financial Services Agreement and the draft amendment to the Intra-CARICOM Double Taxation Agreement for finalization and signature by Member States. The CARICOM Financial Services Agreement will establish a regional framework for the supervision and regulation of financial entities which operate cross-border in the regional economic space, while the Intra-CARICOM Double Taxation Agreement was amended to incorporate provisions for the application of the global standard for the exchange of tax information among CARICOM Tax Administrations. The Council also reviewed the state of preparedness of Member States for accommodating the reporting procedures resulting from the United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). While the Ministers understood the importance that the United States attached to the protection of its tax base, they stressed the serious implications of compliance by CARICOM States, given the highly integrated nature of the region s financial sector. 7/

8 Ministers emphasised the importance of continuing their coordinated approach to negotiations with the United States and agreed to meet in mid-september to review the work of the CARICOM Task Force on FATCA. COFAP also agreed to appoint Dr. Alvin Hilaire, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, as the next Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Barbados-based CARICOM Development Fund (CDF). The Fund was established to provide technical and financial assistance to countries, regions and sectors which are disadvantaged due to operations of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), as well as positioning Member States to take advantage of the opportunities in the Market. Briefs New authorities sworn in at PARLACEN Managua, 30 August (LaPrensa.com.ni).- The Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) met in Nicaragua, where several issues related to integration were discussed and the Salvadoran engineer Hugo Martínez was sworn in as the new Secretary- General of SICA. Carmen Gisela Vergara, from Panama, also took the oath as Secretary-General of SIECA. Deputies of the region took the opportunity to issue resolutions on gender policy, tourism and joint development of countries making up the Central American body. The Vice-President of PARLACEN, Daniel Ortega Reyes, said three forums, focused on women, tourism and political parties, were developed and resolutions emanating from them were approved at the plenary session of PARLACEN. Ortega Reyes noted that resolutions shall be accompanied by actions, specifically in social areas, and thus contribute to the fight against poverty, drug trafficking and organized crime. As regards gender, women s rights were ratified by promoting gender equity, giving women greater participation, not considering them second-class citizens behind men and ruling out differences in their capabilities, said the Vice-President of PARLACEN. ALADI: Tools for integration Taken from the ALADI Web site The Montevideo Treaty 1980 (TM80), ALADI s legal and regulatory framework, establishes in its Article 38 that the General Secretariat shall, among other duties, propose and furnish to the country-members, in a systematic and updated manner, the statistical information and the regime for the regulation of foreign trade of the country-members to facilitate the preparations and realization of negotiations within the ambit of several mechanisms of the Association and the further utilization of respective concessions. In order to comply with this mandate, the General Secretariat created and keeps up to date a series of databases, which, besides proposing and providing information, report on the foreign trade of the countries in the region so as to facilitate the regular evaluation of the integration process and the operation of the mechanisms established in the TM80. They also make it possible for their various users to detect business opportunities. Those databases include: information on foreign trade of goods; preferences negotiated in agreements entered into on the basis of the TM80; national import tariffs; regulations of foreign trade; correlation of national nomenclature among each other (SICONA); and correlation between ALADI s nomenclature (NALADISA) and national import tariffs. At present, efforts are being made to expand the geographical coverage of the information contained in these databases, covering all Latin American and Caribbean countries, which is in line with the goal of the process of convergence of regional and subregional integration mechanisms. For the purpose of assessment, the contents of these databases are used as a source of information by national, regional and international organizations; companies; the academic community, and the general public interested in topics related to commercial relations among countries in the region. Meetings on integration in September Meeting of the Council of Ministers of PETROCARIBE Port au Prince, Haiti (6 and 7) PETROCARIBE 8/