PROCOMER

The Promoter of External Trade of Costa Rica (PROCOMER) and the Costa Rica USA Foundation for Cooperation (CRUSA) have launched a new competition.

The Green Growth Platform will focus on converting 200 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into green businesses, while the Blue Growth Platform will work with fisheries to comply with international traceability standards.

Consultants said that Costa Rica’s country brand is well-established and enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide.

Local companies' headed to New Orleans seeking to make new contacts with potential business partners and to attract medical tourists to Costa Rica.

Exports of services in 2016 also grew by 11 percent over 2015, the Foreign Trade Ministry and the Foreign Trade Promotion Office reported.

Costa Rican exporters of foods mainly sell to Canada: sugar, fruit juices, purees and premix, various types of sauce, and powdered mixes.

Foreign Trade Minister Alexander Mora attributed the positive result to efforts to diversify goods and destination markets for Costa Rican exports.

Costa Rica's exports rose 7 percent during the first half of this year compared to the same period of 2015, indicating a rebound after years of decline.

The total value of Costa Rican export goods fell by 15 percent last year, though most of that decline is attributed to the 2014 exit of chipmaker Intel.

The creations of Tico fashion designers could be the country's newest export product.