Project assistance completion report : private sector initiatives project

While FEDEPRICAP did not reach all planned outputs, it did have a positive impact on integrating the Central American region into the international market, and became the private sector's representative at Central American economic cabinets meetings. FEDEPRICAP's activities included seminars on copyrights as they relate to the U.S. and Central America free trade initiative, a publication on copyright and free trade in Central America, and a regional seminar and book on financial resource mobilization. FEDEPRICAP also presented two proposals: one to the Central American Economic Cabinets for the removal of trade barriers affecting nontraditional exports, and a one to the Secretariat of the General Treaty of Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) to establish a multilateral investment treaty. Training included numerous workshops and seminars on issues such as debt-for-equity swaps, privatization, etc., as well as 37 regional seminars. The project also resulted in creation of the Central American Exchange (BOLCEN), an information network for investors interested in the Central American market. Despite its overall success, FEDEPRICAP suffers from several deficiencies. Its planning system is somewhat weak, in that it focuses on immediate, short-term opportunities rather than long-term goals. Participation of member organizations in planning at a high, strategic level is still low, and communication from member organizations to FEDEPRICAP is weak. The project also suffered from a lack of clarity of objectives. This resulted in FEDEPRICAP staff preparing studies and collecting information that were neither useful for member organizations nor pertinent to measuring project impact. In sum, since its creation in 1987, FEDEPRICAP has always represented the private sector in regional fora, but the organization's centralized management and emphasis on studies have kept it at times from satisfying national agenda and from producing tangible results.