Costa Rica News – The development of rail and airport projects in Costa Rica has caught the interest of several Spanish businesses. The Minister for Development in Spain, Ana Pastor, came to Costa Rica this week on a mission to create close links with Luis Guillermo Solís’s government.
She then had separate meetings with both the President and with the Minister for Public Work and Transport (MOPT), Carlos Segnini.
During these meetings, Pastor suggested to the Costa Rican officials that her country could offer its experience in transportation to Costa Rica. She also spoke of possible involvement in the modernization processes of passenger trains and airports.
“There’s a reason behind this visit, and that’s to secure and hold on to the relationship that Costa Rica and Spain have held for many decades. We’ve made our standpoints clear and we share a lot of the same objectives”, said Pastor.
At the meeting, for example, the politicians discussed Spain’s desire to be a part of the plan to construct a new international airport in Orotina, in the Alajuela canton, which is due to be operational in 2025.
This terminal, according to the project plans, will be able to receive more than twice the number that Juan Santamaría international airport is currently able to.
For the moment, however, the only thing that has been officially decided is the location.
The Spanish Minister also confirmed her desire to continue the support given by the state National Network of Spanish Railways (Renfe) to the Costa Rican Institute for Railways (Incofer).
In 2012, authorities under Chinchilla’s administration traveled to Madrid, in search of counsel in order to make a train route between Cartago and Alajuela a possibility. At the time, Renfe registered an interest in participating in this project.
“For every project, we have said that we are open to all collaborations in terms of our experience. We want Costa Rica to be able to benefit from our experience”, said Pastor.
The head of MOPT, Carlos Segnini, said that they discussed and defined the bases for future collaboration with the Spanish government’s representatives.
A second meeting between both parties could take place in October, when the Transport Minister is due to travel to Spain.
“They have a lot of experience when it comes to road travel. I studied there, so I know it well. Furthermore, they do also have a long history in successful train and railway management”, said the head of the MOPT.
President Luis Guillermo Solís expressed that the meeting with Pastor was beneficial, owing to the fact that her vision centres upon “giving priority to infrastructure”.
Pastor emphasized that Spanish businesses have contracts here for €600 million ($787 million), which in his opinion serves as a good resume.
The route to Caldera was constructed in 2010 by the Spanish company, Autopistas del Sol, while the FCC , also in Spain, extended the road between Cañas and Liberia by four lanes.
Translated by Leah Hendre From La Nacion
