On November 7, 2022, Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Mr. Arnoldo André Tinoco, Minister of Foreign Trade, Manuel Tovar, and their delegation visited JALAC Chairman Mikio Sasaki and had a hearty discussion for about one hour. Six JALAC board members participated in the meeting, which was also attended by Costa Rican Ambassador Alexander Salas Araya.
Both ministers explained the efforts of the new administration of President Rodrigo Chaves, which was inaugurated in April this year, to address various issues such as the economy and diplomacy and expressed their hope that Japanese companies would actively invest in Costa Rica, a promising business base with an eye on the Americas market, in order to further promote friendly and cooperative relations between Japan and Costa Rica.
They also explained that Costa Rica had applied for accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP, formerly known as the TPP, Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement) in August, and that Costa Rica hoped to start accession negotiations as soon as possible with the support of Japan and other countries concerned.
The association expressed its high regard for Costa Rica’s stable political and economic development in the Central American region, especially as the world’s most environmentally friendly country that is expected to realize a decarbonized society in the next few years, and its desire to cooperate in strengthening trade, investment, and personnel exchange.
In addition, they actively exchanged views on the current situation of the two countries and the global situation, and also exchanged cheers for the teams of the two countries that will play each other in the upcoming soccer World Cup.
