Costa Rica, Kazakhstan discuss renewable energy, visa-free travel

ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN, October 23rd, 2015 (EFE) Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov said during a meeting Thursday with his Costa Rican counterpart, Manuel Gonzalez Sanz, that “Kazakhstan is interested in Costa Rica’s experiences with renewable energy.”

“Kazakhstan wants to learn about Costa Rica’s experiences with renewable energy, especially the process of transitioning from conventional sources to renewable ones,” Idrissov said.

“In Costa Rica, 90 percent of the electricity comes from renewable sources. Last year, this level was achieved by using geothermal energy,” the Kazakh foreign minister said after his meeting with Gonzalez, who is on his first visit to the Eurasian country.

Kazakhstan and Costa Rica are negotiating to eliminate the need for visas between the countries.

“This will provide new opportunities for tourism and business development,” Idrissov said.

The foreign minister noted his country’s interest in Latin America, which he called “a central focus” for Kazakhstan.

“The agreement with Costa Rica, a Central American nation, will contribute to growth in tourism,” Idrissov said.

Idrissov noted the creation of economic zones in Costa Rica offering favorable tax treatment and aimed at business development.

“If we sign an agreement of this kind, it will give an important boost to the development of bilateral trade and business,” the Kazakh foreign minister said.

The Costa Rican foreign minister, for his part, said the elimination of visas would allow Kazakhs to discover “our famous beaches and Costa Rica’s beautiful forests.”

“Our country is very relaxed, peaceful and open to dynamic economies. We have something to offer Kazakhstan in the areas of trade and economic development,” Gonzalez said.

The Costa Rican foreign minister also commented on the memorandum of understanding between the two ministries, saying it “creates a platform for dialogue in the political sphere.”

After the gathering with Idrissov, Gonzalez met with the Kazakh Senate’s president and the energy and justice ministers.