President Oscar Arias signed a law modifying the Free Zone regime in Costa Rica.
The bill was introduced by the Executive on April 2009, and was finally passed on December 17th by the Legislative Assembly.
This law "... intends to attract investment, foster productive chains with local companies and incentive companies to invest outside the Expanded Greater Metropolitan Area, which was specially defined for this law", reported Nacion.com.
"Not recognizing the elections nor the future president would be hurting the Honduran people, who have already suffered enough, and don't deserve it", Oscar Arias, President of Costa Rica.
At a press conference during the XIX Iberoamerican Summit of Heads of State, the president of Costa Rica remarked the "double standards" of the international community with regards to the Honduran political crisis.
President Oscar Arias, who mediated in the Honduran political crisis, assured he will recognize the outcome of the upcoming elections.
In an interview with CNN on Friday, Arias stated he would recognize the result of Sunday's elections, given they develop without incidents.
"'... if everything goes right', in Sunday's elections, 'most of the world's countries should recognize the outcome', requested the Nobel prize winner", according to Laprensagrafica.com.
The cooperation agreement signed by both countries includes conducting feasibility studies for a train system.
Other topics included in the agreement are extending the electric interconnection between both countries, and cultural and educational exchange programs.
"The document was signed in Panama City by Costa Rican president Oscar Arias and Panamanian head of state Ricardo Martinelli.
Both countries seek to improve bilateral relationships with this agreement, which comprises trade and cooperation topics.
The presidents of both countries are expected to sign it in Oscar Arias' official visit to Panama.
"Before the presidential encounter, chancellors from the two countries will preside the III Meeting of the Political Consultation Mechanism, in order to review political, commercial, cooperation, customs and transportation issues", reported Univision.com.
The proceedings of the concession continue, but President Arias doubts about its convenience.
While the Ministry of Public Infrastructure continues to work in the draft for the 11 interested companies that would conform a cartel, President Arias is searching for finance among local banks in order to avoid the concession of the Metropolitan Electric Train, and use those resources for the "reactivation of the ferroviarian national system".
The opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange was rang today by Ricardo Martinelli, President of Panama.
The General Assembly of the United Nations is now the stand for all the Presidents of the world, who have a unique opportunity to address a highly exclusive and qualified audience, and whose words could be heard around the world.
What do Central American Presidents say in those speeches?
Infinito Gold, owner of the strip mining project "Crucitas" in Costa Rica, presented investors details of the controversial $66 million mine.
The company reviewed the mine's total gold output at 940.000 ounces, raising the Net Present Value of the project to $127 million.
For projecting cash flows, Infinito used a price of $750 per gold ounce, and estimates a mining cost of $342.50 per ounce, which is "very competitive", according to the company.
The presidents of El Salvador, Mauricio Funes, and Panama, Ricardo Martinelly, have 86% popularity.
According to the regional survey by Cid-Gallup, which interviewed 1.200 people, Oscar Arias from Costa Rica is in the third place, with a 70% popularity.
He is followed by Alvaro Colom, from Guatemala, with 55%; Leonel Fernández, from Dominican Republic with 47%; deposed Honduran president Manuel Zelaya with 46% and Daniel Ortega, Nicaraguan president, with 42%.
The countries signed an Strategic Association Agreement to expand the current FTA and create dialogue and cooperation mechanisms.
Mexican president Felipe Calderón "assured in a press conference that this agreement will not only increase bilateral commerce, but also 'enable closer dialogue in topics of mutual interest and deepen the economic relationship and the educational, technical and touristic links'", reported Prensalibre.cr
Mario Vargas Llosa writes on the serious political situation in Honduras, with his renowned objectivity and analytic capacity.
The Peruvian writer brings us a critical vision of the positions of the two battling sides, drafting a solution similar to the one proposed by Costa Rican president Oscar Arias.
"Awakening a constitutionally elected president with bayonets, and sending him to exile without giving him even a chance of changing his pajamas, as was done by the Honduran military to Manuel Zelaya, is an act of political barbarism..."
State Secretary Hillary Clinton announced that the President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, will serve as international mediator in the Honduran political crisis.
The announcement was made after a private meeting with Manuel Zelaya, Honduras ousted president, exiled from the country on June 28.
Clinton said that both Zelaya and appointed president Roberto Micheletti accept the designation of Oscar Arias as mediator.
The contract for the $80 million loan for the "Ciudad Puerto Limón" project, which represents a significant investment designated for infrastructure projects, was ratified.
The funds will be invested over a period of five years and they will be designated for projects such as sewer and restoration work, among others, in order to promote tourism in the city.
The Countries consider that it is opportune to review the scope of the FTA in order to expand it into different areas.
Issues such as market services, new product exchanges and investment will be analyzed, looking to improve and expand the offerings available.
Karina Alpízar Corella reported statements by Canadian Chancellor, Peter Kent: "Canadian companies take pains to invest in projects that promote social development, are in sync with the environment and that especially follow the legal framework and guidelines of each country. The Chancellor said that his country has increased investment to such an extent that there are about $100 million on the American continent and our country is no exception. Specifically, the Canadian firm Cambior Project and Construction Group are working hand in hand with Industrias Infinito SA. They are working in Las Crucitas mining project with an investment of about $50 million."
Costa Rica will import raw alcohol from Brazil to dehydrate it and re-export it to the US with zero-tariff, in accordance with DR-CAFTA rules.
The Brazilian president's visit to Costa Rica formalized at the government level what was already in the works between businesses in both countries.
In his article in Nacion.com, Juan Fernando Lara S. stated: "Recently, the Agro-Industrial Sugar Cane League (LAICA) obtained a contract from a Brazilian firm that will bring raw alcohol to the country. It will be dehydrated in Punta Morales and then it will be placed as ethanol in the United States."