Easy Diplomacy and Costa Rica

LUIS GUILLERMO SOLÍS RIVERA focuses on Italian investors, Justice, Environment and Culture
Ongoing bilateral agreements with the Italian Government

The meeting between the President of Costa Rica Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera with Italian entrepreneurs took place on Thursday 26th May at UnionCamere, on the occasion of his first visit to Italy. The goal is to foster investment opportunities in Costa Rica, which is considered one of the most competitive states in terms of corporate services.

Diversity, quality and innovation of potential exports from Costa Rica and the opportunities offered by the country in terms of investment were the main points discussed by a delegation led by the President and composed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Manuel A. González Sanz and by the Minister of Foreign Trade and the President of PROCOMER’s Board of Directors Alexander Mora, with the presence of at least 100 Italian companies working in the fields of aeronautics, food, services, factories, infrastructures, chambers of commerce, universities and institutions.

Solís Rivera stated in his speech that the historical bonds of friendship, respect, exchange and cooperation with the Italian Republic are essential for the development of business opportunities between the two countries. “Costa Rica benefits from favourable conditions of competition thanks to effective measures resulting in a growing economy, stable electric power rates and zero inflation last year, along with the guarantee of a solid democracy investing in social peace, education, healthcare and employment. These conditions are further supported by Costa Rica’s reliability in the international market in terms of juridical security of investments and strength in the production sector”.

Minister Alexander Mora added that his visit to Italy largely benefited trade since the country was able to show again that there are the suitable conditions and competitiveness to provide quality goods and services. “In Costa Rica, we have a varied and innovative exportation offer, and the ability to compete at the high level on international markets is a plus. It is important for both countries to seize the opportunities found in our technological services and exportation offer of plants, flowers and foliage, food products with high added value and fresh products. At the same time, it is essential that the message is clear for the investors: our country offers legal certainty, a strategic geographical position and a workforce generating sophisticated and competitive production”.

The General Director of PROCOMER, Pedro Beirute Prada, accompanying the presidential tour to promote the offer of Italian exportation to Costa Rica, added that, since Italy is the fourth country in terms of Costa Rican exports to the European Union, this kind of meetings are essential to keep increasing Costa Rica’s consumers and customers. “In 2015 the value of our exports of goods reached 169 millions of dollars, mainly owing to agricultural products like bananas (91.5%), pineapples (57.3%), green coffee (10.8%) and melons (3.1%). Moreover, 156 business were able to deal with this market for more than 126 products. However, our goal is to increase the exportation flow and provide products with ever-increasing added value”.

Costa Rican delegates explained to the investors what are the characteristics making this country the best option to establish a global business centre in Latin America, among which geographical position, qualified workforce, innovation and legal certainty.
Generally speaking, Europe is still important to attract investments to Costa Rica: 11% of the companies in the country are also based in Europe, and this is why the goal is to create a competitive environment to increase business-oriented operations.

Along with the promotion of trade, the visit of the President of Costa Rica aimed at stipulating bilateral agreements that were signed on 27th March in the afternoon.
Among them, the treaty of mutual judicial assistance in criminal matters between the government of the Italian Republic and the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica is worth mentioning. This document states that the two countries are committed to giving full mutual judicial assistance in criminal matters, through research and identification of people, notification and passage of criminal procedure deeds, investigations and information exchange.

Judiciary assistance can also be given when the reason for asking it is not considered a crime in the State required, with the exception of the cases in which it affects fundamental human rights.
The request must be submitted to Central Authorities of both States, through diplomacy and respecting the form and contents established. The Judiciary Authority of the State Requested will issue all the necessary deeds, transferring the required documents to the Requiring State.
When necessary, the States can adopt measures for the protection of victims, witnesses or other participants in the criminal procedures.

The treaty is applicable to any request submitted after its enforcement, even if the crimes were committed before the treaty’s enforcement.

The understanding protocol on cooperation for vulnerability to climate change, risk management, adaptation and mitigation, was signed with the Ministry of Environment and Protection of the Territory and the Sea of the Italian Republic to strengthen the global fight against climate change and for sustainable development.

Particularly, the collaboration between the two countries will consist in the collection and analysis of data regarding observation of climate change and measurement of its impact on the economic sector. It will be carried out through shared projects, information exchange, assistance, support and meetings that will enable the promotion of development and usage of renewable energies.
Moreover, in order to give effectiveness and efficiency to the joint project, a committee will be created to monitor and support the cooperation activities and to approve projects and funding, periodically checking progress and results.
Among the bilateral agreements, there is also the agreement of cultural, scientific and technological cooperation between Italy and Costa Rica, defined by the two Governments to increase mutual knowledge of the cultural heritage and to bring social and economic advantages to both countries thanks to the shared experiences.

Italy and Costa Rica will work hard to promote joint projects and activities, with the possibility to ask international organizations for support in order to obtain promotion and funding.
Cooperation will also include agreements on schooling, training and student integration, promoting sports activities and youth experiences.

The two countries will collaborate for the joint protection of their cultural heritage, to implement the obligations established by the UNESCO Conventions and favouring the mutual scientific and technological development, also by establishing agreements between universities and research institutions.

Finally, the financial agreement between the Republic of Costa Rica and the Italian Republic, whose objective is to offer Governments reciprocal assistance through information exchange on taxation, which is fundamental for preventing tax evasion. The two parties agree on the possibility to present and obtain fiscal data fro banks or other financial institutions on the properties of enterprises, companies, foundations or people. They also define the form of the request, which must specify the identity of the person who is subject to investigation and the reason for requesting information.
The party receiving the request will satisfy it in short time. The requesting party can also be authorized to directly access the fiscal registers of the person subject to investigation.

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