The Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Dr. D Purandeswari held three bilateral meetings and signed one important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Costa Rica yesterday. She first met Ms. Daisy Maria Corrales Diaz, Costa Rica’s Minister of Health. Followed by it, she met Mr. Alejandro Cruz, Minister of Science and Technology, Costa Rica. Then in afternoon, she met Mr. Luis Liberman, Vice President of Costa Rica.

During the bilateral meetings, Dr. D Purandeswari discussed various issue of mutual interest to both the countries. The Indian Minister in particular raised issues concerning the problems faced by Indian community in Costa Rica in importing various food items from India. She also raised the visa problems faced by Indians, the problems in bidding by Indian pharmaceutical companies. Dr. D Purandeswari also raised the issue of inviting proposals under line of credit already issued by Government of India.

A MoU was signed by India and Costa Rica in establishing an institutional mechanism for enhancing trade and commerce ties between both the countries to next level. A joint committee will be formed from Indian side. It will be headed by Commerce Secretary from the Indian side and the Minister for Trade from Costa Rica side. It was also proposed to hold at least one meeting in two years.

DS/RK

(Release ID :94731)

Trade cooperation: India and Costa Rica sign MoU establishing joint committee to enhance bilateral commerce and meet biennially. The MoU establishes a bilateral institutional mechanism to enhance trade and commerce by forming a joint committee headed by the Indian Commerce Secretary and Costa Rica's Minister for Trade, with meetings proposed at least once every two years. The mechanism will address operational barriers identified by the Indian Minister, notably import restrictions on Indian food items, visa difficulties, bidding obstacles for Indian pharmaceutical firms, and procedures for inviting proposals under an existing Indian line of credit.