Costa Rica, Israel Begin Talks On Investment Deal
Costa Rica and Israel began talks on Tuesday over a deal to promote and protect investment, Costa Rica's Deputy Minister for External Trade Doris Osterlof told a press conference.

"The goal of this agreement is to regulate the treatment of investors either from Costa Rica or Israel by setting up a series of substantial guarantees," Osterlof said.

Alexander Ben-Zvi, Israel's ambassador, told the same press conference that the two countries had excellent trade relations and this investment agreement was one more step to further the relationship.

Foreign Minister of Costa Rica Roberto Tovar signed a deal to provide support for small and medium-sized firms when he visited Israel in 2005.

"Costa Rica is the largest central American trade partner of Israel," Ben-Zvi said, adding that Israelis have been active investors in the tourism sector.

Between 1995 and 2005, Costa Rica exported an average of us$6 million dollars to Israel each year, Osterlof said.

Costa Rica's main exports to Israel are coffee, integrate circuit and gelatin based sweets, while Israel exports telephones, herbicides, fertilizers and plastic tubes to Costa Rica.