Ja to forge stronger ties with Costa Rica

JAMAICA IS set to host the third meeting of the Jamaica-Costa Rica Joint Commission in 2019, which is expected to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Incoming chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Costa Rica, Georgia Guillén-Grillo, last week paid a courtesy call on Pearnel Charles Jr, minister of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, to discuss stronger partnerships, especially in the areas of security, trade, culture, tourism and the environment.

During the meeting, Charles Jr noted that the longstanding relationship between Jamaica and Costa Rica presents unmatched opportunities.

“The relationship between our two countries presents great partnership opportunities in tourism and trade,” said Guillén-Grillo.

He also welcomed Costa Rica’s further collaboration on security, education, environment, air transport, as well as ocean and coastal zone management.

At the same time, Guillén-Grillo commended Jamaica’s success in cruise tourism, and while indicating her country’s own success in sustainable tourism, expressed Costa Rica’s interest in technical exchanges in this area.

Costa Rica is home to one of the largest number of Jamaican expatriates in Central America, with approximately 64,000 Jamaicans, the majority of whom reside in the coastal province of Limón.