Presidents of Peru, Ollanta Humala Tasso, and Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, noted the importance of signing a free trade agreement in a bid to strengthen bilateral relations and Honduras’ efforts to join the Pacific Alliance.
Humala Tasso said this is a significant step, which commits the two governments to pay greater heed to trade development opportunities and the conquest of new markets in the region.
“This is an important step to intensify trade integration and find new stages to pursue trade cohesion. This will allow both private forces and governments to forge trade-related strategic partnerships,” the Peruvian leader affirmed.
Hernandez, in turn, said the agreement plays an important role in his country’s attempt to partner with the Pacific Alliance.
“To Honduras it (the agreement) means a lot, because this allows us to meet the basic requirements that now give us a place as potential candidates to become full members of the Pacific Alliance,” he said after explaining that what needs to be done now is to get the agreement ratified by the Congress of his country.
The Pacific Alliance, whose tenth presidential summit will be hosted by Peru, also groups Chile, Colombia and Mexico.
The two presidents held a working meeting at the Lima Government Palace in the presence of member of their corresponding cabinets.
Mr. Humala acknowledged the judicial cooperation agreement in criminal matters, towards the fight against drug trafficking.
The Honduran leader highlighted the rich Peruvian experience in social programs and expressed his intention to replicate it in his country.
Furthermore, he hailed Humala Tasso for the success of Beca 18, a social program which funds under-graduate studies to low-income, high-achieving students from Peru in prestigious educational universities abroad, including Honduras.
Finally, they spoke about mining and Honduras’ importance as logistics center in Central America with two ports in the Atlantic and one in the Pacific, which are linked by two roads.
(END) EGZ/MVF/RMB
Published: 5/30/2015