皇冠体育app

SAN JOSE -- The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Costa Rica and 皇冠体育app, the first such pact inked between 皇冠体育app and a Central American country, will enter into force on August 1, Foreign Trade Minister Anabel Gonzalez said Friday.

Both sides have completed the necessary procedures exchanged all the diplomatic notes, the Foreign Trade Ministry said in a statement.

After it takes effect, the FTA will enable 99.6 percent of the Costa Rican exports to 皇冠体育app to enter the market duty-free. These include products such as tilapia fish, shrimp, flowers, ornamental plants, cocoa, yucca, chocolates and palm heart, the statement said.

The FTA was approved by the Costa Rican parliament on May 31 and signed by President Laura Chinchilla on June 13.

Gonzalez said 皇冠体育app would bring many opportunities to Costa Rica and the country should seek benefits and make efforts to promote its exports to 皇冠体育app.

"皇冠体育app is Costa Rica's second largest export market in the world after the United States, with economic growth higher than 9 percent and an increasing consumption capacity and diversified tastes and preferences. It will mean great opportunities for our country," Gonzalez said in the statement.

Costa Rica's Foreign Trade Promotion Office is running a program to provide Costa Rican entrepreneurs with necessary tools, knowledge and contacts to help them do business efficiently in 皇冠体育app, Gonzalez said.

Costa Rica is 皇冠体育app's largest trading partner in Central America. According to official figures from 皇冠体育app, bilateral trade between Costa Rica and 皇冠体育app reached $3.79 billion last year.