Hoping to build on lucrative exchanges between Costa Rican and Chinese business leaders in the past, the program China Ya this year is organizing trips to China for Costa Rican business owners and planning other initiatives to encourage commercial exchanges between the two countries, according to a statement from China Ya. China is Costa Rica’s second-largest trade partner (TT, Jan. 19).
Last year, about 250 Costa Rican business owners traveled to China to present their goods and services, and this year they will be given the opportunity to also visit Taiwan and South Korea while in Asia to “maximize their investment and evaluate business alternatives in nearby countries,” the statement said.
A Costa Rican delegation will again attend the Canton Fair, Asia’s biggest commercial exhibition, in April. For the first time this year, the fair will feature a stand to display exports, giving Costa Rican companies a chance to show their products to buyers from around the world.
China Ya was started five years ago by members of four Central American business chambers: the Salvadoran Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Costa Rican Chamber of Exporters, Nicaraguan Chamber of Industries and Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce, the statement said.
Additionally, the Chamber of Foreign Commerce and Representatives of Foreign Companies (CRECEX) plans to open a trade office in Beijing, China, next month to provide services to its 550 affiliates, according to a CRECEX statement.
CRECEX provides its affiliates with outsourcing services that include finding foreign business contacts, product searches, Customs assistance, import registry aide, market evaluations and trade missions.
The new office will help coordinate new trade missions to Asia for CRECEX affiliates. For more info, call 253-0126.