On May 8-9, 2019, CLDP & ITA conducted a workshop on ‘Best Practices: Interagency Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement,” for 70 government representatives from Central America’s Northern Triangle in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Honduran government participants included representatives from Customs, the Ministry of Economic Development, the National Agri-Food Health and Safety Service, and the Health Regulation Agency. Representatives from the Salvadoran and Guatemalan National Trade Facilitation Committees (NTFCs) also participated to facilitate regional integration and harmonization of processes across the Northern Triangle.

Currently there does not exist a legal framework for formal public consultation in Honduras, and public consultation practices vary among the ministries that do participate in consultation processes. Moreover, Honduran ministries struggle to coordinate with one another, further hindering stakeholder engagement and trade facilitation in the Northern Triangle given the lack of regional collaboration. Recognizing the importance of improving interagency coordination and transparency in the region to improve economic prosperity, CLDP & ITA led a two-day workshop that showcased best practices for interagency coordination, stakeholder engagement, and maintaining an effective NTFC.

The workshop set forth interagency coordination and NTFC best practices to showcase how effective coordination among trade ministries fosters a unified government strategy, improves exchanges between the public and private sectors, and generates more prosperous trade through reduced time and costs. To achieve this, CLDP & ITA called upon interagency experts that showcased collaboration and coordination efforts in the U.S., particularly as they relate to stakeholder engagement and the effective operation of the U.S. NTFC. Representatives from each Northern Triangle country presented on their country’s respective NTFC, noting membership, operation, and challenges. The interactive sessions empowered the Honduran government to improve collaboration and communication between ministries; work toward harmonizing stakeholder engagement processes across Honduran ministries; and enhance the regional network of trade facilitation experts to institutionalize good regulatory practices. The workshop concluded with an interactive discussion of the importance of incorporating the private sector in the regulatory process and plans to enhance regional coordination across the Northern Triangle.

As a result of this workshop, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala increased their understanding of interagency coordination, regional collaboration, and transparent stakeholder engagement within an international trading scheme. This workshop is part of a multiphase effort to promote transparency, cooperation, and coordination for the Honduran government and to improve interregional trade in Central America.