Wednesday, August 20, 2014

LatAm Minute: Vanessa Rubio on Mexico's Role in Central American Integration

By Luisa Leme

Mexico’s undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean explains infrastructure and policy efforts in the region.

</p> <br /> <p>What are the next steps for Central American integration beyond free-trade agreements? In an effort to extend its economic influence and further integration in the region, Guatemala has partnered with Mexico to improve infrastructure and create a common development agenda.</p> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" style="width: 225px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="font-size: 20px;">Watch videos and read recaps from the <a href="http://www.as-coa.org/events/2014-latin-american-cities-conferences-guatemala-city/blog/52098">conference in Guatemala</a>.</strong></p> <a href="http://www.as-coa.org/events/2014-latin-american-cities-conferences-guatemala-city/blogs/guatemala-2014-blog-president-pérez-molinas-remarks"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/OttoPerez.png" style="width: 200px; height: 133px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 5px;" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>On the sidelines of the <a href="http://www.as-coa.org/events/2014-latin-american-cities-conferences-guatemala-city">Latin American Cities Conference in Guatemala on August 14</a>, AS/COA Online’s Luisa Leme spoke to Mexico’s Undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean Vanessa Rubio about her country’s role in Central American development.</p> <p>Rubio mentioned that infrastructure and economic strategies should be coordinated with social policies on both sides of the border. “We need to create more jobs, we need to create more opportunities, and we need to create more infrastructure in terms of the border but also in terms of institutional infrastructure: better practices,” she explained. The undersecretary said that in the last year, Mexico provided medical care to more than 20,000 Central Americans in transit at the country’s southern border. Of those who received assistance, 25 percent hail from Guatemala.</p> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" style="width: 225px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="font-size: 20px;">Escuche una entrevista sobre la <a href="http://www.as-coa.org/articles/latam-minute-sergio-de-la-torre-sobre-la-estrategia-econ%C3%B3mica-de-guatemala">integración centroamericana en español</a></strong><a href="http://www.as-coa.org/articles/latam-minute-sergio-de-la-torre-sobre-la-estrategia-econ%C3%B3mica-de-guatemala"><strong style="font-size: 20px;">.</strong></a></p> <a href="http://www.as-coa.org/articles/latam-minute-vanessa-rubio-mexicos-role-central-american-integration"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/delaTorreDetail.jpg" style="width: 150px; height: 148px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 5px 20px;" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>The two countries can also collaborate on energy, said Rubio. The passage of <a href="http://www.as-coa.org/articles/why-mexicos-historic-energy-reform-matters">Mexican energy reform</a> means the country will be better prepared for projects that integrate Central America, benefiting the whole region’s economy. “Energy has to be more effective, energy has to reach certain areas, and energy has to be more competitive in terms of prices,” she explained. “Mexico has an enhanced position today with the reforms to help Central American countries achieve this.” </p>

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LatAm Minute: Vanessa Rubio on Mexico's Role in Central American Integration

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