The Central American Economic Integration System (SICA) has begun the implementation phase of the SICASign digital signature, to move towards a more efficient and paperless region.
According to the statement, on September 26, SICA took an important step to make Central America a reference space in this area of digital transformation, with the signing of the "Resolution for the adoption of the Electronic Signature, within the framework of the SG-SICA”. The measure grants it the electronic signature has the same validity and legal effectiveness as a handwritten or similar signature.
El Secretary General of SICA, Vinicio Cerezo, said that the crisis caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic accelerated the digital and functional transformation processes that were already being worked on as part of SICA's strategic vision to contribute to a digital Central America that allows us to strengthen ourselves as a region of opportunities in all fields that transcend the institutional sphere and have to do with people's lives.
“Today we have the opportunity to present the innovative electronic signature service SICASign, promoted by the General Secretariat of SICA within the framework of SICA Digital. The complexity of the moment we are experiencing with the first pandemic of the digital era definitely demands better responses to be up to the circumstances," he said.
For its part, Olinda Salguero, Chief of Staff of the SG-SICA recognized the support of the European Union and emphasized that this entire path is a leap from analog to digital thinking, which seeks to create a better ecosystem for commerce, for health, and for all those sectoral spaces that are using technology for the development of the region in this digital Central America.
El Head of Regional Cooperation of the European Union for Central America, Panama and Costa Rica, Alberto Menghini, assured that the pandemic accelerated digitalization. “I congratulate the SG-SICA and the entire System for having taken advantage of this crisis. The post-COVID-19 recovery must be green, blue and digital, and we are working on that (…) This is a step in the inevitable direction of the future,” he stressed.
According to Ricardo Cáceres, Director of Information Technology of the General Secretariat of SICAThe first phase of implementation of this initiative has already begun; the adoption of the electronic signature in SICA regional bodies and agencies is expected later, and it will finally be legitimized by the governments of SICA member countries.
The adoption and recognition of this instrument in the SG-SICA will allow us to respond more effectively and efficiently to the demands, needs and requirements of these times of crisis and to the very dynamics of the integration process, imposed by the pandemic and which will continue in the post-COVID-19 stage.
As part of this digital and functional transformation, the General Secretariat of SICA promoted the SICA Digital initiative, which is aimed at improving the way in which the company operates and generates value for the Central American population, integrating digital technology in all functional areas of SICA.
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