World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick’s visit to Central America, particularly El Salvador and Mexico on July 19-23, will focus on economic growth and address the challenges of regional integration.
Zoellick is set to participate in a regional integration summit from July 19-20 in El Salvador. The forum called “Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State of the Central American Integration System”was established as a response to El Salvadorian President Mauricio Funes’ call for neighboring countries to address common development challenges. The summit is expected to be attended by heads of state and top officials from the Central American Integration System, or SICA, that include Belize, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
“Central America is a region of tremendous opportunities. I look forward to learning more about Central America’s efforts to deepen regional economic integration, and expand economic growth, while also discussing ways that the World Bank Group can support sustained growth with opportunities for all,” Zoellick was quoted in a press release. “I appreciate President Funes’ leadership in hosting this regional integration summit. He’s right to see each country’s success through the lens of the region’s success.”
Zoellick will then be meeting with Mexican government officials July 21-23 to discuss Mexico’s increasing role in climate change issues. The country is set to host the upcoming climate change conference in Cancun later this year.
