Honduras to Meet with El Salvador to Discuss Customs Union

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Oct. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This Friday, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández will meet with Salvadoran President Salvador Sánchez Cerén in the border post of El Amatillo to discuss adding El Salvador to the customs union between Honduras and Guatemala.

"A strong economic relationship between Honduras and El Salvador benefits both our nations," President Hernández said. "I look forward to a productive discussion with President Sánchez Cerén."

Adding El Salvador to the union would make transporting goods easier for all three countries. Honduras and Guatemala agreed to form their customs union in 2015 and formally launched it this past June.

The agreement under consideration by Honduras and El Salvador would allow 80 percent of exports and travelers to cross the nations' borders free of charge. It would also build ten cross-border access points.

The Honduras-Guatemala customs union is expected to increase GDP growth in the two nations by 1.2 percent, President Hernández noted. He invited El Salvador and Nicaragua to join the agreement in July.

"This meeting is a great opportunity for Honduras to foster greater economic cooperation in Central America," President Hernández said. "Our ultimate goal is to promote economic development across the region -- and bring prosperity to our citizens."

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SOURCE Republic of Honduras