Diplomatic Relations The Embassy of Costa Rica is relatively new, as it was opened in 2007. We are the only Costa Rican diplomatic mission within the South East Asian region. The inauguration of this office forms part of an initiative to foment and better current relations with the South East Asian region. Singapore was chosen as a hub for the aforementioned relations because it boasts of development with high standards of living, its strategic geographic location and is home to the central offices of APEC, a forum for which Costa Rica aspires to become a member of in a near future. Free Trade Agreement Costa Rica and Singapore have maintained diplomatic relations since the 1980's, but it was not until 2007 with the establishment of our first Embassy in South East Asia, precisely in Singapore, that began a revitalization of bilateral relations. As a product of these bilateral relations, in 2010 a Free Trade Agreement between Costa Rica and Singapore was signed and later ratified July 1st, 2013. "Singapore is a model country. Its integration with the world, its levels of competitiveness, its openness to investment are all characteristics that are unique in this world. The strategic association that Costa Rica holds with Singapore, through the Free Trade Agreement, will not only allow us to take advantage of its market oportunities, but above all, learn from this small great country. We are also continuing taking steps forward with our strategic positioning in Asia Pacific, a region of great growth. Fortunately the approval of the Free Trade Agreement allows us to further this positioning" Anabel Gonzalez, Minister of Foreign Commerce.
|
|