Recent History of Diplomatic Relations

On 15 may 2003 in New York a Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Costa Rica was signed. Constructive relations between the countries that before the establishment of diplomatic relations were confined mainly to co-operation in international organisations received a new impetus.

In August 2003, the government of Costa Rica expressed its wish to designate the Ambassador of Costa Rica in Norway as the non-resident Ambassador of Costa Rica to Latvia. On 10 September 2004, accreditation of the first Ambassador of the Republic of Costa Rica to Latvia, Xinnia Luisa Guevara Contreras took place. She fulfilled the Ambassador's duties until 30 June 2006.

Visits and meetings  

15 May 2008	Meeting between President Valdis Zatlers and Costa Rican Vice President Laura Chinchilla during the 5th EU, Latin America and the Caribbean Summit of Heads of State and Government in Lima, Peru.
15-17 April 2007	Visit to Costa Rica by a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by State Secretary Normans Penke. During the visit, State Secretary Penke met with Costa Rican Vice Minister for External Relations and Worship, Minister for Tourism, Vice Minister for Economy, Industry and Commerce, as well as presented a lecture on the future of the EU at the Institute of External Service. A memorandum of understanding was concluded between the Latvian and Costa Rican foreign ministries on the mechanism of political consultations.
10-12 September 2004	Visit by a delegation of the Government of Costa Rica led by the Vice Minister for External Relations and Worship, Dr Marco Vinicio Vargas Pereira. During the visit, the delegation met with the President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Deputy Speaker Andris Argalis, Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks and other officials.
28 May 2004	Meeting in Mexico between President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and the President of Costa Rica, Abel Pacheco during the Summit of the Heads of EU, Latin American and Caribbean States.
2-3 July 2003	Working visit by a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by the Under-Secretary of State Peteris Vaivars. During the visit, meetings took place with President Abel Pacheco of Costa Rica, and with Foreign Minister, Roberto Tovar Faja.

Legal framework

Agreement between the government of the Republic of Latvia and the government of the Republic of Costa Rica concerning mutual abolition of visas. signed on 25 September 2003 in New York.

Memorandum of Understanding between the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of External Relations and Worship of the Republic of Costa Rica on the Mechanism of Political Consultations.

Under preparation:

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica on Co-operation in Technology, Science and Culture.

Information on Costa Rica 

Area	51,032 km²
Population	4,075,261 (July 2006)
Capital	San Jose (population 1,345,750)
Official language	Spanish
Religion	Roman Catholic (76%), protestant (14%)
System of governance	Democratic Republic, independent since 15 September 1821
National holiday	15 September
Currency	Costa Rican colon (CRC)

Economic relations

Trade (according to the data of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia)

Year 2007

Exports

1. Lithuania – $1,104,276,549 or 14.92 % of total exports from Latvia

2. Estonia – $1,012,996,060 or 13.71 %

3. Russia – $754,756,207 or 10.19 %

4. Germany – $641,778,696 or 8.68 %

5. Sweden – $572,475,044 or 7. 73 %

âÀ¦

116. Costa Rica – $284,451 or 0,00% 

Imports

1. Germany – $2,080,875,667 or 14.86 % of total import to Latvia

2. Lithuania – $1,905,124,957 or 13.58 %

3. Russia – $1,275,941,206 or 9.08 %

4. Estonia – $1,104,605,815 or 7.89 %

5. Poland – $943,534,553 or 6.73 %

...

123. Costa Rica – $3,375 or 0,00%

Latvia has a positive trade balance with Costa Rica to the amount $281,076.

Main exports to Costa Rica in 2007 by type of goods, USD

Type of goods	USD	Percentage of total exports
Total	284,451	100 %
Mineral products - Peat – 100%	185,856	65.3
Machinery and mechanical appliances; electrical equipment -  vehicle part and equipment (electronic units) – 44 % - automatic data processing device and units – 33%	98,107	34.5

Main imports from Costa Rica in 2007 by type of goods, USD

Type of goods	USD	Percentage of total exports
Total	3,375	100%
Prepared foodstuffs	2,980	88.3%

Trade dynamics between Latvia and Costa Rica (2002 - 2007), USD

Year	Exports	Imports
2002	97,890	5,390
2003	131,658	6,603
2004	4,187,187	26,659
2005	351,531	49,728
2006	280,357	54,353
2007	284,451	3,375

Investments (according to data of the Enterprise Register of the Republic of Latvia)

As of 5 March 2008, two Costa Rican-Latvian joint ventures were listed with the Enterprise Register of the Republic of Latvia with investments totalling 3,500 LVL.

Contacts:

Embassy of the Republic of Costa Rica in the Kingdom of Norway

Address: Skippergata 33, 8 etg

0154 Oslo, Norway

Phone: (+47) 22425823

Fax: (+47) 22330408

E-mail: embassy@costarica.no