Overview

SICA is an international body, created by the Republics of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and Belize. The Dominican Republic has joined as an associated state. Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil are regional observers. Spain, Republic of China (Taiwan), Germany, Japan and Italy are extra-regional observers.
The main objective of SICA is to unite efforts and capacities of the countries of the Central American region in order to overcome some of the problems that hinder its development.

Historically, the Central American integration project is based on (i) the maintenance of Peace and Freedom; (ii) the consolidation of democracy and the launching of strategies that help reach development objectives, improve well-being and civil society rights, and strengthen the region as an economic block so that it successfully integrates in the international community; and (iii) the promotion of economic and social justice for Central American populations.

Specific objectives are to:

• ensure global and permanent coordination at regional level;
• prepare the decision-making initiatives for the Presidents and Council Ministries meetings;
• monitor and execute the decisions made;
• promote the full participation of civil society in the process of regional integration and communicate and inform the role of integration in sustainable development;
• encourage international cooperation with Central America as a region; and
• carry out other activities planned in the Tegucigalpa Protocol.

Statistical Activities

SICA is developing indicators for different areas of development and cooperation in the region through various initiatives:

• Trade Statistical System of Central America (SIECA)
• Regional Integrated System of Food Security and Nutrition Indicators (SIRSAN)
• Price Information System
• Monetary Statistical System

CENTROESTAD, the SICA Central American Statistical Commission
In December 2008, the Heads of State Summit decided to set up the Central American Statistical Commission (CENTROESTAD), with the purpose of coordinating the provision of reliable, up-to-date and relevant regional statistical information, considered of great value to the integration process.

The Commission has three overall objectives:

• Facilitate the development of a Regional Statistical System
• Generate relevant, up-to-date regional statistical information
• Harmonize methodologies and definitions for comparability and harmonization of data from SICA countries

Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics (RSDS)
In 2010, the SICA General Secretariat (SG-SICA), in its capacity as Technical Administrative Secretariat of CENTROESTAD, launched the design process of a Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics (RSDS).
The strategy, along with its associated action plan, seeks to develop the Regional Statistical System for SICA, addressing the information needs of the regional integration process.

Received July 2010