Mariano Rajoy insists that companies and people are driving forces for economic growth

Guatemala City (Guatemala)

The President of the Government believes that the mutual interest between Spain and the countries that make up the SICA (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and the Dominican Republic) can be explained "by historic factors" but also by the "excellent future outlook" for Central America as a region. Mariano Rajoy said that Central America is "a dynamic region with average growth of almost 4%, a strategic geographical location for world trade with a positive demographic". He went on to add that "institutional frameworks are becoming increasingly sound, thereby enabling the increased development and growth we see today".

Strong dynamic in Spain-SICA economic relations

Mariano Rajoy stressed that the dynamic nature of economic relations between Central American and Spain enabled an all-time record for bilateral trade to be reached in 2014, at 1.86 billion euros, and a new record for exports to Spain, at 578 million euros. The same trend was posted by bilateral investments: 541 million euros of accumulated investment by Central America in Spain and 4.21 billion euros by Spain in Central America.

Furthermore, President of the Government Rajoy argued that "companies and people" are the driving forces behind economic growth and job creation. In his opinion, governments must "accompany them", create a level playing field and rules so that "they can develop their activities".

He also said that "the cornerstone of the reformist agenda" implemented by his government has been economic openness because "Spain has traditionally grown faster every time it has opened up its economy".

Governments should foster economic openness and integration

Mariano Rajoy added that, after implementing a number of far-reaching reforms in Spain - "not always easy for either the people or the Government of Spain", the first rewards are now being reaped: in 2014, Spain led growth in the Eurozone at 1.4% and all forecasts for 2015 point to growth in excess of 2%. In other words, Spain is growing "on sound foundations" and creating jobs with lower growth rates. "In 2014, employment rose by 433,900 and we expect a million new jobs to be created between 2014 and 2015 in total".

The President of the Government believes that "the work of governments is fundamental" as they must commit to both openness and integration. In the case of Central America and Europe, this work should be focused on three areas: strengthening the bilateral institutional framework, boosting regional economic integration processes, and fostering agreements between the two regions.

Mariano Rajoy also said that this business meeting is an excellent platform for exploring common projects. "The companies operating here are the main driving force behind that dynamic movement and governments are working at every level to encourage such efforts", he said.

Mariano Rajoy concluded his official two-day visit to Guatemala by giving a closing speech at this business meeting, following on from his visit to the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation Training Centre and Workshop School in Antigua, his meeting with the President of the Republic, Otto Pérez Molina, and his participation in the SICA-Spain Summit.