Mexico to finance bi-national border bridge between Costa Rica and Panama

February 13^th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) Mexico will finance the construction of a bi-national border bridge between Costa Rica and Panama over the Sixaola River, through the Mesoamerican and Caribbean Trust, a trust established to support infrastructure projects in the region.

This funding was part of the renewed relations to be established between Mexico and Central America that were discussed at a first meeting in Costa Rica yesterday.

The Deputy Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Mexican Foreign Ministry, Vanessa Rubio, said that through the Trust, Mexico seeks to support projects in Central American countries and strengthen the friendship and trade between them.

Rubio also said that Mexico hopes to support other local infrastructure projects in Costa Rica, though such projects would be established and selected by the presidents of Costa Rica and Mexico.

Rubio indicated that the cost of constructing the bridge will depend on the bids and quotes received by Costa Rica, but that Mexico is willing to cover the costs provided by Costa Rica.

In July 2012 President Laura Chinchilla and the President of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, inspected the installation of a temporary Bailey bridge placed over the Sixaola River.

At that time, the presidents signed a request for financial support from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) requesting funding of $30 million to build a permanent structure.