Partnership for Central America (PCA) Corporate Pledge on the Rule of Law.
WASHINGTON, DC, June 15, 2023 - Today, Partnership for Central America (PCA) members AgroAmerica, Grupo Mariposa, Corporación AG, Mastercard, Microsoft, Millicom, Pantaleon, Parkdale Mills, PepsiCo, and PriceSmart signed the pledge below regarding the Rule of Law in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (“Region”).
The signatories expressed their commitment to economic investment that will support the Region's people, strengthen its public and private institutions, and provide a hopeful future for millions for decades to come. The signatories believe in a prosperous and secure Region whereby citizens of all nationalities are afforded broad and diverse opportunities.
“As Corporacion AG with a long history in the region, we are committed to improve business standards, and showcase our region as a hub for new opportunities. We are proud to be a part of this effort and see a business enabling environment as a key dimension in the economic prosperity that we want to see across our populations.", said Rodrigo Gabriel, CEO of Corporacion AG.
“By fostering a culture of transparency, integrity, and ethical practices, we can drive positive change, not only within our own organization but also in the wider private sector. In this way, we can contribute to a more sustainable business environment in Central America. At Millicom, our culture, Sangre Tigo, is present in each one of us and guides us in doing things right. This is fundamental”, stated Karim Lesina, Executive Vice President, Chief External Affairs Officer for Millicom.
“To have a true impact – and spark additional investments in local economies – it’s important that there’s a level playing field and consistent rules of the game. We support the Partnership for Central America’s efforts to help build better and more transparent business enabling environments” said Darren Ware, Senior Vice President at Mastercard.
Transparent and legal business practices build trust and accountability across the business community. Improving the adherence to the rule of law and reducing the opportunities for corruption will support commercial activity and enhance investment and economic growth. Success will require implementation of legal reforms and public policies across all sectors and at national, regional, and municipal levels. Signatories will work with governments in the Region to encourage a business climate that reduces corruption and improves legal certainty and contract enforcement in order to encourage additional investment.
“We hereby pledge to conduct due care, consistent with standards set forth by the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct, to ensure our business operations in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, do not adversely affect or violate the rights of stakeholders. In particular, we pledge to not knowingly engage, or renew any engagement, as a representative, consultant, partner, supplier or large purchaser, with any person or entity where there are credible indications of corrupt conduct or violations of international human rights norms, absent demonstrated commitment and concrete steps to deliver effective remediation or corrective action. Finally, we pledge to share information with the Partnership for Central America, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to demonstrate alignment with this pledge through participation in a multi-stakeholder initiative.”
AgroAmerica, Grupo Mariposa, Corporación AG, Mastercard, Microsoft, Millicom, Pantaleon, Parkdale Mills, PepsiCo, PriceSmart.
WASHINGTON, DC, 15 de junio, 2023 - Hoy, los miembros de la Alianza para Centroamérica (PCA) AgroAmerica, Grupo Mariposa, Corporación AG, Mastercard, Microsoft, Millicom, Pantaleón, Parkdale Mills, PepsiCo y PriceSmart firmaron el siguiente compromiso respecto al estado de derecho en El Salvador, Guatemala y Honduras (la "Región").
Los integrantes que firmaron, expresaron su compromiso con la economía e inversión que apoyará a la población de la Región, fortaleciendo sus instituciones públicas y privadas, brindando un futuro esperanzador para millones de personas en las próximas décadas. Los signatarios creen poder alcanzar una Región próspera y segura en la que los ciudadanos de todas las nacionalidades tengan oportunidades amplias y diversas.
“En Corporación AG, con una larga trayectoria en la región, estamos comprometidos en mejorar los estándares de negocio y mostrar cómo nuestra región es un territorio de nuevas oportunidades. Estamos orgullosos de ser parte de este esfuerzo y vemos un entorno propicio para hacer negocios como una dimensión clave para lograr la prosperidad económica que queremos en Guatemala, El Salvador y Honduras”, señaló Rodrigo Gabriel, Director General de Corporación AG.
"Al fomentar una cultura de transparencia, integridad y prácticas éticas, podemos impulsar un cambio positivo, no solo dentro de nuestra propia organización, sino también en el sector privado en general. De esta manera, podemos contribuir a desarrollar un entorno empresarial más sostenible en América Central. En Millicom, nuestra cultura llamada, Sangre Tigo, está presente en cada uno de nosotros y es una guía para hacer las cosas correctamente. Esto es fundamental", afirmó Karim Lesina, Vicepresidente Ejecutivo de Asuntos Corporativos y Relaciones Institucionales de Millicom.
"Para tener un verdadero impacto y generar inversiones adicionales en las economías locales, es importante que exista igualdad de condiciones y reglas de juego consistentes. Apoyamos los esfuerzos de la Alianza para Centroamérica para ayudar a construir entornos empresariales más sólidos y transparentes", dijo Darren Ware, Vicepresidente Senior de Mastercard.
Las prácticas comerciales transparentes y legales generan confianza y responsabilidad en toda la comunidad empresarial. Mejorando la adherencia al estado de derecho y reduciendo las oportunidades de corrupción. Lo que apoyará e impulsará la actividad comercial, mejorando la inversión y el crecimiento económico. El éxito de este compromiso requerirá la implementación de reformas legales y políticas públicas en todos los sectores, a nivel nacional, regional y municipal. Los signatarios trabajarán con los gobiernos de la región para fomentar un clima empresarial que reduzca la corrupción, mejore la seguridad jurídica y el cumplimiento de los contratos, a fin de fomentar inversiones adicionales.
“We hereby pledge to conduct due care, consistent with standards set forth by the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct, to ensure our business operations in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, do not adversely affect or violate the rights of stakeholders. In particular, we pledge to not knowingly engage, or renew any engagement, as a representative, consultant, partner, supplier or large purchaser, with any person or entity where there are credible indications of corrupt conduct or violations of international human rights norms, absent demonstrated commitment and concrete steps to deliver effective remediation or corrective action. Finally, we pledge to share information with the Partnership for Central America, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to demonstrate alignment with this pledge through participation in a multi-stakeholder initiative.”
AgroAmerica, Grupo Mariposa, Corporación AG, Mastercard, Microsoft, Millicom, Pantaleon, Parkdale Mills, PepsiCo, PriceSmart.
