Francisco A. Lima Mena SIECASecretario General

Francisco Alberto Lima-Mena has over 25 years of experience in international law, foreign trade, and international development. He began his career in 1994 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, holding various positions, including Minister Counselor and Chargé d'Affaires in the UK, Sweden, and the International Maritime Organization. In 2003, he was appointed Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the WTO and WIPO in Geneva, where he actively participated in Central American economic integration and negotiated free trade agreements, including CAFTA-DR and the Association Agreement with the EU. As a representative at the WTO and WIPO, he led negotiations on free zones, trade facilitation, and investments. He played a key role in normalizing trade relations with China and facilitating Russia's entry into the WTO. He was also responsible for the commercial pillar for El Salvador's accession to the OECD Development Center in 2019. Recently, he served as Principal Counselor at WIPO, promoting development projects focused on intellectual property for SMEs in Latin America. In April 2021, he was elected Secretary General of the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat (SIECA) for the 2021-2025 period, advancing regional economic integration. He holds a law degree and a master's in International Law and speaks Spanish, English, and French.