Author: allthingspanama.net

Costa Rica’s export promotion agency, Procomer, opened an investment promotion office in Silicon Valley on February 17. The move targets foreign direct investment from technology and semiconductor firms. Officials see it as a way to link Costa Rican companies with American funds and skills. The office sits in Santa Clara County, right in the center …

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Costa Ricans show strong interest in the Global Entry program, which allows faster entry into the United States. Two months after its launch here, the initiative has drawn 1,500 applications, according to Omer Badilla, director of the General Directorate of Migration. Badilla said the system runs smoothly. He noted that demand has gone beyond what …

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The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a significant setback to President Donald Trump by ruling his use of an emergency law to impose broad tariffs illegal, a decision that ripples through global trade and offers relief to Costa Rica’s exporters. The court, with its conservative majority, voted 6-3 on Friday to strike down the tariffs Trump …

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Laura Fernández, Costa Rica’s president-elect and current Minister of the Presidency, met with congressional party leaders today to request their support in advancing seven priority bills. These measures, seen as essential by the outgoing administration of President Rodrigo Chaves, aim to address infrastructure, security, and economic challenges before the legislative session ends in April. Fernández …

Read more “Costa Rica’s President-Elect Pushes for Key Legislation Before Power Shift”

Volaris announced the indefinite suspension of four flight routes to and from Costa Rica, citing high ticket taxes as the primary reason. The decision takes effect on April 12, 2026, after the airline stopped selling tickets for these routes on January 21. Ronny Rodríguez, Volaris’ Director of Sustainability and Corporate Development, confirmed the move. He …

Read more “Volaris Pulls Plug on Four Costa Rica Flights Amid Tax Hike Pressures”

The dollar’s exchange rate against the colon dropped further today in Costa Rica’s foreign currency market, known as Monex. Data from the Central Bank of Costa Rica shows the weighted average price of the dollar settled at ₡474.95. This marks the lowest point since December 6, 2007, when the bank started tracking rates under the …

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Firefighters in Costa Rica report a stark increase in forest fires this year, with 33 incidents recorded. This number marks an elevenfold jump from the three fires noted on the same date in 2025, signaling a troubling acceleration as the dry season takes hold. Gabriel Barrantes, from the Fire Department’s Forest Operations Unit, points to …

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Authorities in Cartago carried out raids on Tuesday in an ongoing probe into suspected harm to the Coris wetland. The Deputy Environmental Prosecutor’s Office led the operation, targeting an agricultural firm, a home, and related land parcels. Officials seized a cellphone, computers, and key documents during the searches, which continued into the late morning. The …

Read more “Costa Rica Cracks Down on Alleged Violations in Coris Wetlands”

President Rodrigo Chaves and President-elect Laura Fernández plan to attend a high-level summit in Florida next month, hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump. The gathering, set for March 7, focuses on regional security threats like drug trafficking and organized crime. Chaves shared details during his weekly press conference on Wednesday. He described the event as …

Read more “Costa Rica Leaders Head to Trump Summit for Security Boost”

Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings on February 19, 2026, called on the Panamanian government to open talks aimed at allowing its subsidiary to keep running two key ports at the ends of the Panama Canal. The request came from Alejandro Kouruklis, spokesperson for Panama Ports Company, the Hutchison unit that has operated the Balboa …

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