Strengthening Institutions for Regional Integration in Central America The proposed activity supports institutional development and capacity building with a view to promoting the regional integration agenda of national governments. The medium to long-term objectives of the regional integration agenda are to support efforts that will maximize the beneficial impacts of trade on inclusive growth through the coordinated implementation of complementary policy strategies. The World Bank Group is playing an important convening role, including through a planned Presidential Summit in calendar year 2010 to promote political support for regional integration.  The World Bank Group is also coordinating with other donors and IFIs to ensure complementarity and efficient division of labor. This IDF is strengthened by complementary regional analytical work, for e.g., the Central America Trade Facilitation for Regional Integration Non-lending Technical Assistance to provide advisory services on trade facilitation-related activities with a view to promoting regional integration; as well as the regional studies on competitiveness and on the complementary agenda of the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). This work is fully aligned with the country programs, in that each Country Partnership Strategy states the importance of regional cooperation to achieving national competitiveness and development objectives. Finally, these objectives are consistent with the Bank's broader policy agenda, and is aligned with the priorities of the Bank's "Aid for Trade" goals which include, for example:  (i) investments in training and capacity building for policy-makers, (ii) advice and support to help countries analyze obstacles to intra-regional trade and guide policy makers to effective prioritization of areas in need of improvement for the future; and (iii) further development of knowledge on how to harness globalization for growth and overcoming poverty, and to inform key trade policy debates. To promote the regional integration agenda in Central America through: (i) building institutional capacity within the Secretariat for Economic Integration in Central America (SIECA) to coordinate and implement policies, including in particular to improve prospects for intra-regional trade; and (ii) enhancing the capacity of policy makers and public officials in five countries in Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) to address challenges associated with regional trade integration through training coordinated by SIECA. The five countries covered by SIECA are El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. SIECA is an entity vested with legal personality and subject to international law pursuant to Article 43 of the Protocol to the Treaty of Economic Integration for Central America dated October 29, 1993. To promote the regional integration agenda in Central America through: (i) building institutional capacity within the Secretariatfor Economic Integration in Central America (SIECA) to coordinate and implement policies, including in particular to improveprospects for intra-regional trade; and (ii) enhancing the capacity of policy makers and public officials in five countries inCentral America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) to address challenges associated with regional tradeintegration throughtraining coordinated by SIECA. The five countries covered by SIECA are El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. SIECA is an entity vested with legal personality and subject to international law pursuant to Article 43of the Protocol to the Treatyof Economic Integration for Central America dated October 29, 1993.