McLaughlin, college officials seek to foster development with Costa Rica
TROY, N.Y. » Leaders from the University at Albany, Hudson Valley Community College and Rensselaer County, represented by County Executive Steve McLaughlin, journeyed this week to Costa Rica on a business and education development trip.
During the trip McLaughlin, and Hudson Valley and University at Albany officials met with Costa Rican leaders, including First Lady Claudia Dobles, Minister of Education Edgar Mora, and other legislative leaders.
The delegation also met with business leaders and toured freetrade zones established in Costa Rica.
“The purpose of the trip is to create education and economic development partnerships between Rensselaer County and Costa Rica. An invitation was extended by the Costa Rican government, and we decided to pursue the opportunity,” McLaughlin said in a news release this week.
“We have met with top officials in Costa Rica, including the First Lady and Minister of Education, and been able to share our story about success with the economy and education in our home county,” McLaughlin added.
McLaughlin was invited to be part of the trip by Hudson Valley Community College President Dr. Roger Ramsammy, a native of the West Indies, after the invitation, was extended by Costa Rica. Costs for McLaughlin’s por-
tion of the trip were covered by the county IDA. OnWed., McLaughlin spoke to approximately 300 Costa Rican business leaders about opportunities big and small in Rensselaer County.
“Our county is seeing some great success with business development big and small. We are working to send the message loud and clear that our county is a great place for growth and investment,” McLaughlin said.
The venture was also an opportunity to showcase the educational excellence at Hudson Valley Community College. Hudson Valley is one of the premier two-year educational institutions in the nation, and Rensselaer County has been proud to sponsor the college during the college’s over 60 years of operation.
“All of us at Rensselaer County are very proud of our role as sponsor of Hudson Valley Community College and helping keep education both excellent and affordable at the college. We are particularly happy to join in reinforcing the message that Hudson Valley is a world- class institution that can help create opportunity and provide education in Costa Rica and elsewhere in the West Indies,” McLaughlin concluded.