SIECA and CABEI announce winners of academic competition

Central America, April 27, 2018. – The Secretariat of Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) announced the winners of the academic essay contest entitled "Central American Economic Integration in a Globalized World."

The jury formed by an editorial evaluation committee decided to award the same score and award the first place to two academic articles: "Capacity Building in Science and Technology in Central American Countries: Challenges and Opportunities for the Integration of the Isthmus" presented by Kleinsy Bonilla; and "Multilateral Negotiations on Electronic Commerce and its Relationship with the Development of MSMEs in Central America," presented by Helen Chang.

Additionally, Johnathan Enrique Ordóñez was awarded the third place with the article: "Territorial Development and Central American Integration: The Impact of Variable Geometries on Regional Economic Integration".

On January 28, SIECA and CABEI called for the launching of the regional academic contest "Central American Economic Integration in a Globalized World".

The objective of the contest was to generate a space for the dissemination of knowledge and specialized research on economic integration in Central America, with the purpose of putting into perspective those issues related to the economic situation of the region and the integration process as a public policy platform for the development of the countries of Central America.

The initiative of the contest brought about the participation of 48 research articles, whose authors come from different nationalities of the region's countries, as well as from extraregional countries. An editorial evaluation committee verified compliance with the convening rules, the pertinence of the topic and the appropriate structuring of the articles.

For SIECA and CABEI, it is important to generate spaces where academics can present their specialized research on economic integration in order to learn new ideas and experiences that will strengthen the Central American countries and contribute to competitiveness through science, technology and innovation.

In addition to the winners, the following academic articles have an honorable mention:

• Rodrigo Alfonso Morales, "Contribution of regional value chains to the process of Central American economic integration"

• Juan Fernando Díaz Lara, "Central America: the challenges of integration in an unequal region"

• Allan Javier Oviedo, "The trilemma of Central American integration in view of the year 2021"

• José Erick Chávez and Héctor Orlando Candray, "Central American integration from below: the importance of the principles of direct effect and supremacy for the realization of integration and the construction of a Central American citizenship"

• Héctor Cárcel, "A FCVAR model for the central american economy"

• Marbella Amarilis Ramírez, "Measures to facilitate trade: the figure of the Authorized Economic Operator as a specialized tool that contributes to regional economic integration"

• Nelson Joaquin Salazar, "Integration as an instrument to promote economic activity. The Central American case"