Heads of state from around the Americas, including U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, will gather in Costa Rica's capital San Jose for the May 3-4 Summit of the Central American Integration System (SICA).

The participants are expected to discuss ways to boost security, immigration in Central America and promote economic development, among other issues.

The U.S. Embassy in San Jose said recently that Obama will participate in discussions "on the efforts to promote economic growth and regional collaboration on public security," according to Venezuela-based news network Telesur.

The presidents from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, and Belize's Prime Minister have confirmed their participation at the SICA summit. Danilo Medina, president of the Dominican Republic, a partner state, will also attend the event.

SICA is the economic and political organization of Central American States to coordinate the regional integration process, including the process of political, economic, social cultural and environmental integration and to promote democracy and respect for human rights throughout the region.

SICA was founded in December 1991, when the heads of state of six Central American countries signed the Protocol of Tegucigalpa in Honduras, which expanded an earlier cooperation agreement to promote regional peace and integration, democracy and economic development.

Currently, SICA has seven member states -- Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. The Dominican Republic became an associate member in 2004. Its Regional Observers include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and the United States.

Among SICA's latest accomplishments is the decision by its Central American Security Commission to earmark nearly 20 million U.S. dollars to combat violence against women in the region. The project, approved in late April, is to be financed with funds provided by Holland and Finland.

Earlier in April, SICA countries agreed to standardize penalties against transnational crimes to better fight organized crime, including trafficking in illicit drugs, weapons and human organs. Endi

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