Costa Rica Hopes To Increase Trade With Malaysia

By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- Costa Rica hopes that its trade volume with Malaysia to rebound after recording a huge decline last year, its Foreign Minister, Manuel Antonio Gonzalez Sanz said. "In 2004, the two-way trade was about US$450 million but it went down drastically last year after an Intel chip manufacturing plant was shut down (in 2014). "That's why I have invited, through Malaysia's Ministry of International Trade and Industry, a business delegation from Malaysia to visit Costa Rica," he told Bernama after concluding his four-day working visit here Tuesday. Gonzalez said hence, Costa Rica's biggest annual trade fair (set for September) organised by its Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (PROCOMER), which was tasked with promoting the country's exports through the Buyers Trade Mission, would be a great opportunity for businessmen from both countries to touch base. According to statistics, the Malaysia-Costa Rica trade volume in 2015 was valued at US$57.3 million. Located in Central America, Costa Rica has a population of over four million and exports mainly electronic components, medical equipment, pineapples and bananas. -- BERNAMA