Michelle Ortiz elected president of Parlacen Commission for 2024-2025

Santo Domingo.- Michelle Ortiz, acting president of the Liberal Action Party (PAL) and a member of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen), has been elected president of the Commission for Integration, Trade, and Economic Development for the 2024-2025 period. The new board also includes Lissette Arias from El Salvador as vice president and Winston Edgardo Betanco Blandón from Nicaragua as secretary.

Ortiz outlined her priorities for the commission, including eliminating trade barriers, promoting inclusive economic development, and fostering regional cooperation. A key initiative will be the Forum for Innovation and Development of MSMEs in Central America and the Dominican Republic, which aims to support the economic integration of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by creating spaces for dialogue among governments, businesses, academics, and international organizations. The forum will focus on advancing digitalization and innovation to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs in global markets.

Ortiz also emphasized the importance of peripheral customs and the Central American mortgage system, both crucial for regional integration and economic development. Peripheral customs aim to reduce transaction costs and times for intra-regional trade, while the Central American mortgage facilitates cross-border financing, promoting capital mobility and legal security for international operations.