Sharjah 24 – WAM: The UAE has joined the Central American Integration System (SICA) as a Non-Regional Observer Member State.

The state's accession agreement to the organisation was signed during the Ministerial Council of SICA, which was held in San José, Costa Rica.

In a recorded speech, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, emphasised the UAE's contribution to the success of the noble endeavours of the Central American Integration System.

The UAE Foreign Minister stated that this achievement is evidence of the extraordinary relations that bring together the UAE and States in the Central American and Caribbean regions.

Sheikh Abdullah highlighted that the economic relations between the UAE and the SICA Member States continue to grow and prosper and that over the past five years, the mutual trade relations have expanded by over 40 percent.

The UAE is a key international player in further developing cooperation with the Member States of SICA, and it has been a partner in addressing the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheikh Abdullah said. "We look forward to utilising this platform to explore forms of cooperation and exchange expertise with our allies from the Central American region."

The UAE will soon be hosting one of the most significant events Expo 2020 Dubai, "and we aspire to identify ways of capitalising on this global event, to serve our common goals to explore cooperation through SICA," he said.

Sheikh Abdullah concluded by saying, "We are confident that this platform and its members will prioritise the importance of regional and global cooperation, and multilateral support. The UAE reaffirms its commitment to pursue these common goals, and its readiness to seize this opportunity to achieve our common vision.

Omar Saif Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Cultural Affairs, attended the Ministerial Council of SICA and signed the UAE's accession agreement to the organisation as a Non-Regional Observer Member State.