Colombia projects itself as a strategic investment partner for Costa Rica

PROCOLOMBIA and Bancoldex, together with Procomer and Banco Improsa from Costa Rica held a seminar for over 100 entrepreneurs to present trade opportunities between the two countries.

Instruments and devices, orthopedic articles, medications, rat poison, polyethylene, integrated circuits.   These are some of the opportunities Costa Rican exporters have in the Colombian market, which were presented in the seminar “A look at trade opportunities between Colombia and Costa Rica” which took place in San Jose.

The meeting, organized by PROCOLOMBIA, together with Banco Improsa de Costa Rica, Bancoldex and PROCOLOMBIA, was attended by over 100 Costa Rican and Colombian entrepreneurs who have held foreign trade relations between the two countries and the presence of the new Colombian Ambassador to Costa Rica, Hernando Herrera Vergara.

The attendees heard conferences on topics like trade financing alternatives, the current and potential export offers from Costa Rica to Colombia, and the support PROCOLOMBIA may provide Costa Rican buyers and investors.

Colombia and Costa Rica have great trade and complementary opportunities. For instance, Colombian raw materials would help Costa Rican production processes be more competitive not only from the quality and price standpoint, but also thanks to the proximity between airports and seaports in both countries.

On the other hand, as part of its activities of identification of opportunities in new markets, PROCOLOMBIA has seen opportunities in Costa Rica for Colombian manufacturers of medications, metal-mechanics, software, construction materials and confections.

According to the information provided by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism in 2010, exports to that country grew 59.4% with respect to 2009, generating revenues for over US$464 million. Amongst the most exported products are fungicides, iron and steel sheets, bottles and packaging, and fertilizers.