The Permanent Secretariat of SELA, in its efforts to promote coordination and cooperation among Latin American and Caribbean countries and boost integration processes in the region, has carried out several studies and proposals to promote key aspects, such as trade and investment, among Latin American and Caribbean nations. Such is the case of the commercial circuits of South America, Cuba-Latin America and the Caribbean; Central America-CARICOM; Central America with the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean; and the CARICOM with the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean. These studies detail the strengths and weaknesses of countries and subregions in the field of economic relations. In this connection, this regional meeting will be focused on the Central America–Caribbean–Mexico circuit, which will be analyzed in the context of the integration mechanisms that brings them together, i.e. the Central American Integration System (SICA) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

During the period 2001-2013, GDP at constant prices in SICA grew at an average rate of 4.13%, which is higher than that registered in the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) (2.91%), while GDP at constant prices in the CARICOM grew at an average rate of 2.10%. However, investment flows as a percentage of GDP in SICA (21.13%) were slightly lower than those registered in the rest of LAC and the CARICOM, 23.44% and 25.85%, respectively.

Meanwhile, exports of goods and services of SICA increased at an average rate of 5.14% during the period 2000-2013. It should be noted that at the beginning of this period only 3.28% of exports of SICA went to the rest of LAC, while in 2013 this percentage increased to 10.69%. In the case of CARICOM, exports to the rest of LAC rose from 6.23% of total exports in 2000 to 25.47% in 2013.

This regional meeting aims to stress the importance of trade, investment, and cooperation relations of Mexico with Central American and Caribbean countries. In particular, emphasis is made on relations with Central American nations, with which it has negotiated a single Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that strengthen bilateral agreements it had established with such countries. In addition, CARICOM and Central American countries share mutual business interests and have signed several trade agreements, which may be connected with the single FTA established between Mexico and Central America, in order to take advantage of the geographical proximity and the potential market in goods and services, as well as to encourage investment and cooperation in the greater Caribbean region.