Puebla-Panama Plan

The Plan Puebla - Panamá ( PPP for short ) is a plan for the development of the Central America region. It was introduced in 2001 by Mexican President Vicente Fox. Because of the massive criticism of the project he has in the meantime no longer actively pursued until Felipe Calderón took him back in 2006 in his political agenda.

Content

The plan is to develop the infrastructure in the participating states. So roads, border crossings, mines and dams are to be built. In addition, changes in legislation and the establishment of maquilas are included.

Officially, the plan includes projects in the following eight areas:

Participating regions

Participants include the Mexican states:

• Puebla
• Veracruz
• Tabasco
• Campeche
• Yucatán
• Quintana Roo
• Guerrero
• Oaxaca
• Chiapas

And the Central American States:

• Guatemala
• Belize
• Honduras
• El Salvador
• Nicaragua
• Costa Rica
• Panama
• Colombia ( since 2007)

Partner

As a partner to finance and co-ordination function following non-state actors:

• Inter-American Development Bank ( Banco de Desarrollo Interamericano, BID)
• Central American Bank for Economic Integration ( Banco Centroamericano de Integración Economica, BCIE )
• Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ( ECLAC)
• Instituto de Administración de Empresas Centroamericano ( INCAE )

Associated Projects

• International Network Central American roads ( RICAM )
• Central American Electricity Market ( SIEPAC )
• Building a modern telecommunications network throughout Central America

Criticism

The plan has been criticized as " neo-liberal restructuring of the region." 2003 blocked a merger of different social groups in Central America, roads and ports to protest against the project.