CABEI seeks to strengthen tourism MSMEs in the SICA countries

The Ministers of Tourism of the Central American countries, including Belize and Panama, had the opportunity to learn about the Central American Bank for Economic Integration’s (CABEI) financial products and its experience in promoting initiatives that contribute to the region’s integration and sustainable social and economic development.

CABEI made the presentation at the 49th Ordinary Meeting of the Central American Tourism Council (CCT) held on Roatan, Bay Islands. Honduras currently holds the presidency of the CCT.

At the event, the coordinator of CABEI’s  "Financing for the Majority" initiative, Sergio Avilés, described the Bank’s extensive experience in resource administration and channeling  for the development of the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector, to which the Institution has destined more than  US$2.00 billion.

He spoke of the support that CABEI could provide in the joint implementation of a financial intermediation program in support of tourism MSMEs so that they have access to credit on differentiated terms and are able to improve their offer of goods and services and boost their competitiveness levels to position the region in the tourism market on a worldwide level.

As the financial agent of the Central American Integration System (SICA), CABEI is committed to the SICA regional agenda to support sector policies and strategies to promote economic and social development programs.  As part of this commitment, it expects to continue working closely with the Central American Secretariat of Tourism Integration (SITCA) and the Central American Tourism Council to continue strengthening the region’s tourism sector as one of its principal economic engines.