THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF OLADE DEPARTS FOR OFFICIAL VISIT TO CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES

IFrom June 30 to July 04, 2008, the Executive Secretary of OLADE, Dr Carlos Arturo Flórez Piedrahita, will depart for an official visit to Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama to reinforce the relationships between the Organization and its Member Countries and at the same time strengthen the cooperation processes towards regional and sub-regional energy integration.

Likewise, together with the energy authorities of the Countries, the Secretary wants to identify joint projects and cooperation actions between OLADE and Central American countries as well as to establish strategic partnerships to contribute to the strengthening of the energy sector at the national and sub-regional level. These objectives go in accordance with the agreements previously signed by OLADE and promote the work of the Central American Sub-regional Office of OLADE, for which purpose the following agenda is to be met:

• June 30, 2008, Panama city Panama:  meeting with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade, Mr. Severo de Souza and the Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Mr. Manuel José Paredes.

• July 01, 2008, San José, Costa Rica: Meeting with the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Roberto Dobles Mora.

• July 02, 2008, Managua, Nicaragua:  Meeting with the Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr. Emilio Rappaccioli.

• July,03,2008, Tegucigalpa, Honduras: Meeting with the Secretary of State for Natural Resources and the Environment,  Mr. Tomás Vaquero Morris and with the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Administrative Commission, Dr. Lucy Bu de Bueso.

• July 04,  2008, San Salvador, El Salvador: Meeting with the Minister of Economy, Mrs. Yolanda Mayora de Gaviria, and with the Superintendent of Electricity and Telecommunications, Dr. Fernando Arguello.

In parallel to the meetings that he will hold with the Authorities of the Ministries, the Secretary will meet the representatives of other sub-regional organizations such the Hydrocarbons Coordinating Committee of Central America (CCHAC), the Electrification Council of Central America (CEAC) and the Central American Integration System (SICA), with whom he will sign an inter-institutional cooperation agreement.