Caribbean Trade Pact Sent to Assembly
THE Free-Trade Agreement betweenCosta Rica and the 14-memberCaribbean Community (CARICOM) hasbeen sent to the Legislative Assemblyfor approval, the Ministry of thePresidency announced last week.The agreement will allow Costa Ricato export services and agricultural andindustrial products to a practically virginmarket, Presidency Minister RicardoToledo said in a statement.CARICOM represents a market of 15million people, in which the agro-industrialsector of Costa Rica will have a largecompetitive advantage, added the Ministerof Foreign Commerce, Alberto Trejos.Eight years ago Costa Rica exported$14 million in products to the Caribbean.In 2003, that figure was $70 million.Costa Rica products that will benefitfrom the agreement include ornamentalplants, boneless chicken meat, cheese, plastics,textiles, animal feed and electronics.The Caribbean will provide a sourceof minerals not produced in Costa Rica.The negotiations for the agreementbegan in 2002, and were finalized inMarch 2004, when the treaty was signedby President Abel Pacheco and JamaicanPrime Minister Percival Patterson, representingCARICOM (TT, March 12).
You may be interested

Bikes have a right to the road, MOPT reminds
The Tico Times - March 1, 2021The Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT) is reminding drivers that cyclists have a right to the road. In a…

One plane’s 21-hour journey from Costa Rica to Australia
Alejandro Zúñiga - March 1, 2021The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the aviation industry. Anyone who has recently flown through Costa Rica's Juan Santamaría…

March 2021: These are Costa Rica’s coronavirus measures this month
Alejandro Zúñiga - March 1, 2021Happy March! These are Costa Rica's coronavirus restrictions this month: Travel and borders Costa Rica is welcoming tourists who arrive…