India and the Central American Integration System (SICA) held a virtual dialogue on Wednesday to strengthen bilateral cooperation and deepen engagement across key sectors. The meeting was co-chaired by Rajesh Vaishnaw, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, and Alejandro Solano, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs of Costa Rica, which currently holds the Pro-Tempore Presidency of SICA.
Senior officials from the SICA Secretariat, including the Director of International Cooperation, Carmen Marroquín, and representatives from SICA member countries also participated in the discussions.
Highlighting the shared values of democracy, sustainable development, and South-South cooperation, the Indian side reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the region through its development partnership initiatives. These include the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), and a dedicated SME grant programme.
Vaishnaw emphasized India’s readiness to collaborate with SICA in areas such as digital transformation, affordable healthcare, disaster resilience, and renewable energy, underscoring India’s success in these fields.
SICA member countries appreciated India’s proactive and consistent support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and other natural disasters. Both sides agreed to further enhance cooperation in critical sectors including food and nutritional security, health, connectivity, agriculture, digital infrastructure, energy, and trade and investment.
The dialogue reaffirmed the commitment to sustained political engagement and regional cooperation, with Panama set to assume the SICA presidency later this year.
