By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The government of the United Kingdom announced a regional workshop hosted by the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, known as CoST, was held in Guatemala City to promote disclosure, assurance, multi-stakeholder workings, and social accountability.

According to the UK statement, the goal of the workshop was to provide a global standard for CoST implementation in enhancing infrastructure transparency and accountability in Central American countries.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Panama.

"The UK Government hopes the conference can spur countries on to enhance project concepts, embrace technology and curb political friction, among other challenges," said the government in its statement. "By increasing investments in the infrastructure sector, Central America will be working towards increasing its competitiveness and trade."

The UK Technical Adviser to CoST, Hamish Goldie-Scot, participated in the seminar to provide guidance, technical support, and promote the exchange of knowledge and experience from a UK perspective.

At the end of the course, participants will be able to deal with specific problems and introduce reforms that prevent similar situations, said the UK authorities.

The goal of the meetings is better quality public services that enable businesses to grow and communities to thrive.

"The British Government believes that informed citizens and responsive public institutions help drive reforms that reduce mismanagement, inefficiency, corruption,c and the risks posed to the public from poor quality infrastructure," said the UK authorities in its statement.

The UK government announced they will continue working closely with Central American countries to promote these initiatives.

On July, as A.M. Costa Rica reported, the government of the United Kingdom announced it has signed the American Association Agreement with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panamá.


According to the U.K. Foreign & Commonwealth Office statement, Ambassador Ross Denny signed the agreement in Managua, Nicaragua, together with trade and economic ministers from each of the six Central American countries.

“The agreement will ensure British businesses and consumers benefit from continued trade with Central America after we leave the European Union,” said the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in its statement. “It provides tariff-free trade of industrial products together with liberalization of trade in agricultural food production and fisheries products.”

Consumers in the U.K. will continue to benefit from lower prices on goods imported from Central American countries that are parties to this agreement, such as prawns from Honduras and Costa Rican fruit, said the British government. Consumers in Central America will continue to benefit from lower tariffs on products such as drinks and cars produced in the U.K., it added.

According to Foreign Office authorities, the trading on these preferential terms rather than on World Trade Organization terms will deliver significant savings and help to support British jobs.

The trading relationship between the U.K. and Central America was worth £1 billion in British exports and imports in 2018, the office said reported its statement.

The agreement provides a framework for cooperation and development through political dialogue, increased economic ties and  work on issues like the environment and human rights, reaffirming Britain’s commitment to a close relationship with Central America, the announcement said.

“This agreement is of real importance as we prepare to leave the European Union and strengthen our ties with the rest of the world. It will help provide the certainty business need to be thrive and help turbocharge our economy into the future,” said Jeremy Hunt foreign secretary. “ It has also been achieved thanks to the hard work of U.K. diplomats, and I thank them for their work. We look forward to building on our political and economic ties, with exporters and consumers having the certainty they need to continue trading freely and in confidence abroad.”

This agreement replicates the existing EU-Central America trading relationship to ensure continuity in the trading relationship between the U.K. and Central America when the U.K. ceases to be a member of the EU, said the Foreign Office statement.

According to the Foreign Office, the secured agreements – either signed or agreed in principle - that account for 64 percent of the U.K.’s trade with all the countries with which the U.K. is seeking continuity, should Britain leave the EU without a deal.

“Diageo warmly welcomes the news of a Central America-U.K. Association Agreement,”  said Wilson Del Socorro, global director of government affairs for Diageo PLC. “The free flow of international trade is vital to Diageo as it gives us the opportunity to reach more consumers and markets. Central America is an important export market for Diageo and for Scotch whisky.”

The U.K.-Central America Association Agreement will come into effect when the current agreement between Central America and the EU ceases to apply. This will take place either following an implementation period if the U.K. leaves the EU with a deal, or on Oct. 31 if the U.K. leaves the EU without one, the announcement said.

The U.K. has signed or agreed in principle to 13 trade continuity agreements with 38 countries which include some of the island nation's biggest trading partners. A regularly updated list of all signed agreements is available on the GOV.UK site*.


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How can the government of the UK help to improve the security and transparency of public institutions in Costa Rica?  We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com

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