Central American Integration System (SICA)

Central American Integration System (SICA): Members, Objectives and Functions

Discover the Central American Integration System (SICA), a regional organization uniting Central American nations to advance political, economic, and social integration for sustainable development and shared prosperity.

Table of Contents

Context: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) organised a virtual dialogue between India and the Central American Integration System (SICA) countries.

The Central American Integration System (SICA) or, in Spanish, Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana, is the institution for regional integration and cooperation of the nations in Central America. SICA has as its goal the promotion of peace, liberty, democracy, and development throughout the region on the basis of respect for and promotion of human rights.

About Central American Integration System (SICA)

Central American Integration System (SICA) is an institutional regional integration framework in the Central American Isthmus region.
Aim: Enable the Isthmus of Central America region to become a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development.
Establishment: December 1991 by the signing of the Protocol to the Charter of the Organisation of the Central American States (ODECA) or Tegucigalpa Protocol.
Current members: 8 countries of Central Asia – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Belize, Dominican Republic
Secretariat: El Salvador.
Presidency: The Presidency of SICA rotates every six months.
Summits: Held twice a year.

Establishment and Evolution of SICA

SICA was established permanently on December 13, 1991, when the Tegucigalpa Protocol was signed. This protocol modified the Charter of the Organisation of Central American States (ODECA), which had been signed in 1962. It entered into operation on February 1, 1993.

The SICA program was highly endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly, and the Tegucigalpa Protocol is rightfully enrolled with the UN, enabling SICA’s regional institutions and organs to engage with the United Nations System.

Member States of SICA

The founding members included Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, while Belize and the Dominican Republic joined subsequently. SICA has eight full member states:

Belize
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panama

Key Objectives and Goals of SICA Countries

SICA’s basic goal is to achieve the integral integration of Central America in order to make the region a place of Peace, Liberty, Democracy, and Development. Its own goals are:

Consolidate Democracy and Reinforce Institutions: Upon governments elected universally, freely, and secretly, strengthening a broad regime of liberty.
Regional Peace and Security: Creating a new regional security model.
Economic Integration: Moving towards the economic union, beginning with the establishment of a Free Trade Area and then progressing towards the Customs Union. This includes harmonising customs duties, encouraging free movement of goods, and liberalising trade.
Social and Cultural Integration: Encouraging the social and cultural integration of the region, with a focus on human development and enhanced quality of life.
Infrastructure Integration: Creating an integrated regional infrastructure to facilitate economic and social growth.
Common Foreign Policy: Coordinating united positions regarding regional and international affairs, enabling Central America to project a more cohesive voice internationally.
Common Policies: Converging common policies regarding issues such as passports and visas to enable regional mobility.
Sustainable Development: Enabling economic development and environmental conservation.

Structure and Functioning

SICA functions through institutions such as the Council of Ministers, the Executive Committee, and a General Secretariat.
The General Secretariat is based in El Salvador.
SICA Presidency changes every six months among member states.

SICA is an essential platform for cooperation in Central America, tackling intricate issues such as trans-border crime, narcotics trade, environmental conservation, and the facilitation of trade and economic growth. India has also interacted with SICA with the aim of enhancing bilateral cooperation on issues like digital transformation, accessible healthcare, resilience to disasters, and renewable energy.