CSUCA participates in the Regional Civil Society Forum on Trade Facilitation: Progress and Opportunities for the Region

San José, Costa Rica – May 8, 2025

“Academia, private sector and international cooperation: keys to facilitating trade in Central America”

On May 8, the Regional Civil Society Forum on Trade Facilitation: Progress and Opportunities for the Region took place, with one of the key moments being the discussion entitled: “International cooperation, private sector and academia: partners in trade facilitation in Central America”, a space that highlighted the value of coordinated work to promote inclusive and sustainable economic development in the region.

This panel, which brought together high-level representatives from various key institutions and sectors, allowed for reflection on how regional integration can be strengthened through partnerships between public higher education, the private sector, and international cooperation.

One of the highlights was the intervention of Carlos Alvarado, President of the SICA Advisory Committee and Secretary General of the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA), who emphasized the transformative role of academia in building a more competitive region.
“Public universities have ceased to be merely centers of academic training and have become key players in development. Through research, technical training, and their connection with the productive sectors, they can drive digital transformation, innovation, and sustainability,” Alvarado stated.

This forum provided an opportunity to learn about initiatives supporting higher education in the region, through projects such as Erasmus+ and INICIA, strengthening capacities in the social and solidarity economy in Central America. It also highlighted the strengthening of university-society-government ties, enabling the application of academic knowledge to benefit vulnerable communities through university extension programs.

The discussion was moderated by Roy Santana and featured prominent panelists such as Olga del Pino from the Spain-SICA Fund, Odir Fernández, Rector of the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH), Ana Morales, Director of the Economic Integration Consultative Committee (CCIE), Yaruma Vásquez, representative of the Costa Rican Private Sector, and Vinicio Sandí Meza, Representative of the Costa Rican Academy; who all agreed on the need to strengthen mechanisms for permanent dialogue and triangular cooperation.

The forum reaffirmed that trade facilitation is not just a technical task, but a collective effort where knowledge, innovation and social commitment play a fundamental role, and was organized by the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), with the support of the European Union and the Spain-SICA Fund.