Arias Off to Mexico To Discuss Central American Integration
Mexican president Felipe Calderón will meet with presidents of Central America and Colombia today to discuss and evaluate a plan that aims to integrate the region´s economy through infrastructure and energy projects

Joining Calderón in Campeche will be presidents Oscar Arias of Costa Rica, Tony Saca of El Salvador, Oscar Berger of Guatemala, Manuel Zelaya of Honduras, Martín Torrijos of Panama. Álvaro Uribe of Colombia.

Nicaragua will be represented by Vice President Jaime Moreno. Belize will be represented by Prime Minister Said Musa.
 
The Plan Puebla Panama (PPP) was proposed in 2001 by President Vicente Fox in an effort to reduce poverty levels across Central America.

The presidents will meet in Campeche, where they also plan to discuss the construction of a refinery in Central America, which is part of a program called Mesoamerican Energy Integration Project (PIEM).

"I´m interested in knowing from the president of our sister country of Mexico, Mr. Felipe Calderón, if Pemex could eventually supply some petroleum for a refinery here in Central America," said Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.

The refinery is expected to process 360,000 barrels of heavy crude oil daily, of which Pemex would provide 230,000. The project is estimated to cost us$6 million, and the refinery´s location will be announced in July of 2007.

Also on the meeting´s agenda is the consideration of the Dominican Republic´s request to participate in future PPP projects.

The PPP meeting will be divided into eight categories, each led by a different country.

The categories are Human Development (Mexico), Tourism (Belize), Transportation (Costa Rica), Integration of Telecommunication Services (El Salvador), Energy (Guatemala), Competition (Honduras), Sustainable Development (Nicaragua), and Natural Disaster Prevention (Panama).

Original PPP members include Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panamá.