No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveChinchilla presents economic ideas to Chamber of Commerce

Chinchilla presents economic ideas to Chamber of Commerce

In her first appearance at the Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce since being elected president of the nation on Feb. 7, Laura Chinchilla and her economic team presented their ideas for this and coming years.

Though some sectors of the economy have begun to show signs of recovery in recent months, Chinchilla and company assured listeners that the seeds of stability must be planted first.

“Costa Rica finds itself, surprisingly, in a good position after a type of crisis that we had never experienced, and I think that, thanks to the action taken by the government of President Oscar Arias and thanks to the steps that we have taken in the financial system, we didn´t see a dramatic reduction in the gross domestic product (GDP),” said Luis Liberman, Chinchilla´s second vice president and a former general manager of Scotiabank. “However, we did see the unemployment rate grow by almost 4 percent. That is not acceptable. So, in our case, we are looking at the things that we need to do to establish the levels of growth necessary for people both young and old to find work and reactivate the economy.”

Liberman explained that, in order to reactivate economic growth, a Chinchilla administration will center economic efforts on three central themes: generating public investment, housing, and the development of small projects within communities and municipalities. Due to a decrease in investment in the country – both foreign and local – several sectors of the country, such as construction, experienced significant drops in production in 2009. Lieberman explained that while foreign direct investment is expected to remain steady, it would be the investment of local businesses and municipalities that boosts production in the ailing sectors.

“We need to promote a series of projects at the local and municipal levels,” he said. “Local projects are much easier than big projects and, more than that, local projects create jobs for local workers while developing the city. We hope that funds will be contributed to these projects in the short term and that this will lead to longer-term development.”

Chinchilla concluded by reiterating that economic opportunity exists in the environment sector, as further development of environmentally sustainable practices are expected to generate more jobs in the upcoming years. Throughout her campaign, Chinchilla mentioned the creation of “green” jobs through improving environmental practices as an aid to increase employment.

“Two of the biggest treasures of this country are the intelligence of the people and the wealth and beauty of the environment,” she said. “And, because of that, we must keep generating wealth by continuing to develop the great opportunity that the creation of a sustainable environment presents.”

For further analysis of Chinchilla´s economic plans and the anticipated economic recovery, see the March 5 print and digital editions of the Tico Times.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Pesticide Use Harms Soil Life, UNA Study Finds

Costa Rica is one of the countries that uses the most agrochemicals, which has a series of negative repercussions in various areas. A recent...

Heavy Rains in Costa Rica Trigger Landslides and Floods

Costa Rica faces tough conditions lately from ongoing heavy rains that have sparked deadly landslides and major flooding over the last few days. In...

New Poison Dart Frog Species Discovered in Peru’s Amazon

Peruvian researchers have identified a new poison dart frog in the Amazon rainforest, adding to the region's rich array of wildlife. The tiny creature,...

Riu Guanacaste Hotel Reopens in Costa Rica After Renovation

The Riu Guanacaste hotel in Costa Rica has reopened after a complete renovation, welcoming guests back to its beachfront spot on Matapalo Beach. The...

Costa Rica Updates National ID Card with Enhanced Security Features

Costa Rica's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) rolled out a redesigned physical identity card today. The update focuses on better protection against fraud while keeping...

Costa Rica TSE Seeks to Lift President Chaves Immunity

Costa Rica's electoral tribunal has stepped up pressure on President Rodrigo Chaves by asking lawmakers to strip his immunity over claims of political interference...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica