Brazilian Businesses Interested In Expanding Costa Rican Market
Within two weeks, some 50 Brazilian businessmen are expected to visit Costa Rica on a mission to explore the possibility of expanding commercial activities in the country. On May 30, the Brazilians are expected to meet with private industry leaders that will be part of a seven day tour across Central America.

The Cámara de Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica y de Representantes de Casas Extranjeras (Crecex) is the board made of private businesses that will help Brazilian and Costa Rican businesses come together.

According to Olga Rodríguez, executive director of Crecex, this is an important time for Costa Rican businesses in the face of globalization and the country (Costa Rica) opening up to competition and more markets for their products. "As a board we have been visionaries and consider the Brazilian market will open great opportunities for Costa Ricans", added Rodríguez.

The mission is organized by the Ministerio de Desarrollo, Industria y Comercio Exterior de Brasil and the Agencia de Promoción de Exportaciones e Inversiones de Brasil (APEX) in co-ordination with the Ministerio de Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica.

The Brazilians are interested in construction, automotive and telecommunications sectors as well as electronics, textiles, medical equipment and care, renewable energy, oil production and many other industries that they feel can open new doors for them in Costa Rica and Central America.

Rodríguez added that the main interest for the Brazilians is to develop contacts and reach contracts for distribution, importation and representation of Brazilian products in Costa Rica. The Brazilian delegation will also be visiting Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras during their mission.

Trade between Costa Rica and Brazil reached us$505 million in 2005, up from us$193 million in 2002.

The major products already exported from Brazil to Costa Rica are gasoline, ethanol, aluminium, oil and steel products that represent about 80% of the trade.

Costa Rica exported to Brazil us$92 million dollars during 2005, primarily made up of micro processing chips, representing 90% of the exports to the South American country.