Regional leaders meet to implement Plan Puebla

Prime Minister Said Musa returned to Belize over the weekend, following Friday’s one-day summit of Central American leaders in El Salvador. Purpose of the meeting was to discuss the implementation of the Plan Puebla Panama, an initiative of Mexican President Vicente Fox to promote regional integration and development from Southern Mexico to Panama. The presidents approved a set of eight broad areas for action, including sustainable development of natural resources, poverty reduction, tourism promotion, more efficient commercial transactions, upgrading of the regional road network, an expanded regional electrical grid and increased integration of telecommunication services. An executive commission was created to co-ordinate implementation of the various projects. Named as Belize’s delegate was Ambassador to Mexico Salvador Figueroa. Another commission, led by I.D.B. president Enrique Iglesias, will look at ways to finance the initiatives. Prime Minister Musa was accompanied to El Salvador by Minister of Budget Planning Ralph Fonseca.