

Currently released so far... 12453 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AORC
AMGT
APER
AU
AF
AS
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
AFIN
AR
AE
AJ
ADANA
AEMR
AG
ATRN
ADPM
APECO
AGAO
AMED
AX
AM
AL
ADCO
AA
AECL
AADP
ABUD
AMEX
ACAO
ANET
AODE
ASCH
AY
APEC
AID
AORG
ASEAN
AFSI
AFSN
AINF
AGR
AROC
AO
AMBASSADOR
AFFAIRS
ASIG
ABLD
ASUP
AND
ARM
ARF
AQ
ATFN
AC
ACOA
AORL
ADM
AUC
AGMT
ACABQ
ASEX
AFU
ALOW
AZ
APCS
AVERY
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AER
AN
AIT
AMG
AGRICULTURE
AMCHAMS
ACS
BR
BA
BD
BL
BO
BF
BU
BILAT
BEXP
BRUSSELS
BK
BN
BM
BT
BY
BX
BTIO
BIDEN
BG
BE
BP
BBSR
BC
BTIU
BWC
BB
BH
BMGT
CH
CY
CA
CU
CS
CO
CVIS
CPAS
CMGT
CE
COUNTER
CASC
COUNTRY
CJAN
COUNTERTERRORISM
CG
CI
CD
CIDA
CJUS
CDG
CBSA
CEUDA
CR
CM
CLMT
CAC
CBW
CODEL
COPUOS
CWC
CIC
CW
CBE
CHR
CFED
CT
CONS
CIA
CTM
CDC
CVR
CF
CLINTON
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CACS
CAN
CONDOLEEZZA
CB
CSW
CITT
CARSON
CNARC
CACM
CDB
CARICOM
COM
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CV
CKGR
CBC
CL
CICTE
CIS
ECON
EFIN
ELAB
ETRD
EIND
EC
EINV
EAGR
ENRG
ETTC
EAID
EPET
ELTN
EWWT
EAIR
EFIS
EMIN
EG
EU
ER
EUN
EPA
ENVI
EXTERNAL
ECPS
ENGR
ETRC
ECIN
EN
EI
ELN
ET
EINT
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ES
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EZ
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EFTA
EAIG
EK
EUREM
EURN
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EAP
ENIV
ECONOMY
ESA
EINN
ECONOMIC
EIAR
EXBS
ECA
ECUN
EINDETRD
EUR
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
ENERG
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFIM
ENGY
EAIDS
EINVEFIN
EINVETC
EUMEM
ETRA
ETC
ERNG
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EXIM
ERD
EEPET
IR
IS
IZ
IAEA
IO
IAHRC
ID
IC
IT
IRAQI
IWC
IN
IL
ISLAMISTS
IV
ICAO
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IPR
ICRC
INTERPOL
IQ
IBET
IMO
INR
ITRA
INTERNAL
ICJ
ICTY
IRS
ILO
INRA
INRO
ISRAELI
IEA
INRB
ITALY
ITU
IBRD
IIP
ILC
INTELSAT
IZPREL
IMF
INMARSAT
IRAJ
IDA
ICTR
IA
IGAD
IF
IDP
ITF
ISRAEL
IEFIN
IRC
IACI
KN
KCRM
KOMC
KNNPMNUC
KIPR
KPAL
KWBG
KSCA
KFRD
KNNP
KUNR
KTIP
KWMN
KSTC
KFLU
KOLY
KISL
KPAO
KMDR
KJUS
KSTH
KDEM
KCOR
KIRF
KAWC
KU
KTFN
KWAC
KNPP
KERG
KSEO
KACT
KHLS
KZ
KGHG
KTIA
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KE
KPKO
KCIP
KDRG
KVPR
KV
KIDE
KICC
KPRP
KBIO
KSUM
KGIT
KCFE
KG
KBTS
KFLO
KMPI
KS
KGIC
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KSEP
KTEX
KFSC
KOCI
KHDP
KPLS
KTDB
KHIV
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KMRS
KOM
KSAF
KRVC
KR
KMOC
KNAR
KIRC
KBCT
KSPR
KFIN
KBTR
KJUST
KNEI
KAWK
KGCC
KMCA
KREL
KMFO
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVRP
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KAID
KVIR
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KRAD
KPRV
KCMR
KPWR
KCHG
KIFR
KCFC
KICA
KPIN
KSCI
KESS
KDEV
KTBT
KCRS
KCGC
KOMS
KRIM
KTER
KREC
KPOA
KWWMN
KRGY
KPAK
KWNM
KMIG
KDDG
KRFD
KWMM
KWMNCS
KX
KRCM
KPAONZ
KNUC
KDEMAF
KNUP
MARR
MOPS
MASS
MCAP
MTCRE
MNUC
MIL
MX
MEDIA
MO
MPOS
MU
ML
MA
MP
MY
MERCOSUR
MG
MD
MW
MK
MAS
MEETINGS
MR
MT
MI
MOPPS
MASC
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MTRE
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
MARAD
MASSMNUC
MEPP
MCC
MZ
MILITARY
MDC
MRCRE
MC
MV
MIK
MUCN
NATO
NL
NZ
NPT
NI
NAFTA
NU
NDP
NIPP
NP
NPA
NG
NRR
NO
NSC
NEW
NE
NH
NR
NA
NS
NSF
NZUS
NATIONAL
NSG
NC
NT
NAR
NK
NGO
NV
NSFO
NSSP
NASA
NW
NPG
NORAD
NATOPREL
OTRA
OAS
OPRC
OIIP
OVIP
OREP
OPDC
OEXC
OSCE
OFFICIALS
OMIG
ODIP
OFDP
OECD
OPIC
OBSP
OPCW
OFDA
OTR
OSAC
OSCI
ON
OCII
OES
OVP
OIC
OPAD
OIE
OHUM
OCS
PREL
PGOV
PK
PHUM
PINS
PARM
PA
PTER
PINR
PREF
PHSA
PBTS
PBIO
PO
POL
PE
PARMS
PM
PROG
PL
PAK
POLITICS
PORG
PTBS
PNAT
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PROP
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PAO
PG
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PALESTINIAN
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PSEPC
PREFA
PGOVE
PINF
PHUMPGOV
PNG
PMIL
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
PLN
PSA
PGIV
POLINT
PAS
POGOV
PHUMPREL
PHUMBA
PEL
PGGV
PNR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PRAM
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PF
POV
PROV
PRL
PREO
PAHO
PHUH
PSI
PINL
PU
PRGOV
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
RS
RU
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RO
RW
RCMP
RF
RM
RFE
RSP
RP
RICE
ROBERT
ROOD
RELATIONS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RSO
SU
SNAR
SO
SOCI
SW
SENV
SMIG
SCUL
SP
SZ
SENVKGHG
SR
SY
SA
SYRIA
SF
SI
SC
SWE
SARS
STEINBERG
SN
SG
SIPRS
ST
SEVN
SL
SPCE
SNARIZ
SSA
SNARCS
SYR
SK
SPCVIS
SHUM
SIPDIS
SHI
SH
SOFA
SEN
SNARN
SAARC
SAN
SANC
SCRS
TRGY
TBIO
TU
TF
TERRORISM
TI
TSPL
TPHY
TH
TIP
TSPA
TC
TO
TW
TX
TZ
TNGD
TT
TL
TV
TFIN
TS
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TD
TK
TR
THPY
TP
TAGS
UNGA
UN
UK
US
UNC
UNSC
USUN
UG
UP
UY
USEU
UNESCO
USPS
USTR
UZ
UNHRC
UNO
UNMIK
UNAUS
UNHCR
UNCHR
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
USOAS
UNFICYP
UV
UNEP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDC
UNCHC
UNDP
UNCND
USNC
UNPUOS
UNICEF
UNCSD
UE
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07SANJOSE1820, COSTA RICA: AMBASSADORQS LISTENING TOUR GENERATES
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07SANJOSE1820.
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSJ #1820/01 2782028
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 052028Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8996
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SAN JOSE 001820
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR WHA FO, WHA/CEN, WHA/PDA AND H
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD PGOV PREL CS
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA: AMBASSADORQS LISTENING TOUR GENERATES
ONE-SIDED CRITICISM FROM CAFTA OPPONENTS
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: From July to September, the Ambassador
and Emboffs, accompanied by local media, visited companies
and communities around the country to learn first hand how
CAFTA will affect Costa Ricans. These visits gave
employers and employees the opportunity to describe, in
their own words, the importance of, and benefits from
CAFTA. The positive media coverage of this "istening
tour" quickly attracted criticism by radical CAFTA
opponents, who filed a formal complaint with the Supreme
Electoral Commission (TSE) on August 10, alleging foreign
"interference". The TSE's ruling on September 10 (which
was publicized on September 20), effectively dismissed the
matter by transferring the case to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and suggesting that the Ambassador did not run
afoul of Costa Rican law. The issue dropped out of the
public eye, until resurrected by visiting U.S. Members of
Congress, and has not been a major factor in the debate
leading to the October 7 CAFTA referendum. See para 10 for
details on the Ambassador's itinerary. END SUMMARY.
================================
THE TRIPS AND THE MEDIA COVERAGE
================================
¶2. (U) The AmbassadorQs first stops were to visit small and
medium enterprises (SMEs) and agricultural producers in
Costa RicaQs central valley on July 25 and 26. The
companies supply machined parts to larger exporting firms.
The farmers grow vegetables for export. All depend heavily
on reliable, low-cost access to international markets.
These trips generated two articles in the widest-
circulating national daily on July 27, one of which quoted
an owner of a small chayote packaging plant who said that
the decision to ratify CAFTA is "life or death" for his
company. During the same visits, the Ambassador told
accompanying reporters what he had heard directly from
Costa Ricans; "CAFTA is key to the future of our
businesses".
¶3. (SBU) On subsequent trips, reporters often asked the
Ambassador and the entrepreneurs and community leaders he
was visiting their opinions on CAFTA and the referendum.
In response, the Ambassador described the clear benefits of
free trade to Costa Rica and stressed that the U.S. is a
party to CAFTA and thus hopes that Costa Rica will join.
He consistently made clear, however, that the decision to
ratify or not is up to the Costa Ricans, and he
deliberately avoided mention of which way the electorate
should vote. The trips generated a number of news articles
that provided additional perspectives from businesspeople
on how CAFTA will benefit specific sectors of the Costa
Rican economy (see septel on media reaction).
============
THE REACTION
============
¶4. (U) The early trips and initial press coverage generated
quick reactions from well-known CAFTA opponents. On July
27, public worker's union (ANEP) leader Albino Vargas
issued a press release accusing the Ambassador of becoming
the "emergency chief" of the "si" campaign, in order to
"stave off disaster" in the referendum, and of
inappropriate interference in Costa Rican internal affairs.
On August 10, Jorge Arguedas, head of the militant anti-
CAFTA telecommunications workers' union (FIT,) issued a
release lambasting the Ambassador for visiting companies in
Costa Rica and answering questions from the press about
CAFTA.
¶5. (U) The same day, union leaders from two of the
government-owned monopolies (Fabio Chaves of ICE and Luis
Chavarria of INSS) joined Vargas in filing a formal
complaint against the Ambassador with the TSE for
"interfering" in the CAFTA campaign. This was not an
unusual move. Both sides have deluged the TSE with
complaints as a campaign tactic, with political parties,
private individuals, companies, and public officials,
including President Arias, as the targets. Opposition PAC
legislator Francisco Molina joined in by writing on August
10 to complain about the Ambassador's "proselytizing" in
favor of the "yes" vote and "interference" in domestic
politics. Molina was the only one of 57 legislators to
send such a letter. (Text of his letter and our response,
dated 10 September, were emailed to WHA/CEN.)
=============
THE COMPLAINT
=============
¶6. (U) The complaint contained several factual errors. It
alleged that the Ambassador intended to visit companies in
order to speak to their employees about CAFTA in an
environment where employees were compelled to listen. It
also stated that the Ambassador's visits were "obviously"
meant to encourage people to vote in favor of CAFTA in the
referendum. Neither assertion reflected what actually took
place, nor our two-fold intent, which was: 1) to hear
first-hand from those potentially affected by CAFTA, and 2)
to provide Costa Rican entrepreneurs and community leaders
an opportunity to speak to a wider audience via the local
and national media. The unions' denuncia also overlooked
the fact that the Ambassador used these trips to conduct
routine diplomatic business, such as donating English-
language books and baseball equipment to needy communities,
meeting with local officials and political leaders, and
thanking Peace Corps Volunteers for their important work
around the country.
¶7. (U) The core of the complaint focused on the legality of
a foreigner becoming involved in an internal political
issue. On September 10, the TSE responded. The Tribunal's
ruling went into detail to suggest that the Ambassador had
done nothing wrong, since foreigners enjoy the same rights
as Costa Ricans to exercise free speech but are prohibited
from taking part in political campaigns. The TSE
interpreted this to include collecting signatures for a
referendum, paying for campaign costs (including for
propaganda), or conducting surveys. Obviously, none of
these applied to the AmbassadorQs travels. After offering
their critique of the union's denuncia, the TSE then punted
to the MFA, pointing out that the Ambassador enjoyed
diplomatic immunities outside the purview of the Tribunal.
The MFA accepted action on September 21.
===================
COMMENT: THE IMPACT
===================
¶8. (SBU) This was a one-sided complaint, by the "usual
anti-American suspects," filed as a partisan campaign
tactic. In fact, even with the "denuncia," the alleged
Embassy's or USG's role has not been an issue at all in the
referendum campaign, to the surprise (and consternation) of
some of our opposition contacts. No GOCR or "si" campaign
official has viewed the Embassy's role as "interference"
nor have any respected media outlets expressed this view
(beyond reporting the complaints from the "no" campaign.)
That the TSE used so many pages to undercut the union
leadersQ complaint makes clear the Tribunal did not believe
it had merit. TSE staff acknowledged to us that as far as
they can recall, no foreigner has ever been sanctioned for
the activities alleged in the complaint against the
Ambassador.
¶9. (SBU) The issue was fading from public view until
resurrected as the result of a private visit to Costa Rica
by two U.S. Members of Congress September 21-24. A press
conference, held at PAC leader Otton Solis' home on
September 23, interviews granted by the two Members, and
media reporting since, have helped keep the "interference"
story alive. Opposition press releases also stirred the
pot. On October 3, for example, the PAC party printed,
verbatim, a letter from Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) to the
Secretary questioning the Embassy's role in the referendum
SIPDIS
campaign. The Sanchez letter received wide local press
coverage on October 4.
=============
THE ITINERARY
=============
¶10. (U) For the record, the following lists the date and
background for each visit, and the entities visited:
¶A. July 25 - Heredia
The two SMEs visited in this trip participate in PROVEE, a
program of the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Trade
(COMEX) that links SME suppliers with larger multi-national
businesses. The owners of these small businesses told the
media that that CAFTA will benefit SMEs much more than
larger companies.
- Etipress Limitada - printer of product labels
- Serpimetal - metal finisher
¶B. July 26 - Cartago
On this trip independent agricultural producers spoke to
the press about their dependence on trade for their
livelihood and how they need CAFTA to ensure future access
to the U.S. market.
- Chayote growers and exporters
- ADAPEX (mini-vegetable producers)
- PRETECSA (SME machine shop)
¶C. August 30 - Grecia and Pavas
During this visit the owners of two textile plants
confirmed to the press that without CAFTA they would need
to move operations to another Central American country.
Likewise, the owners of the plants said that despite
allegations by the "No" campaign that textiles were dead in
Costa Rica with or without CAFTA, their enterprises could
remain viable in the face of increasing Chinese competition
in the sector.
- Rincon Grande S.A. (two separate plants - fabric and t-
shirt producer)
¶D. September 10 - Puntarenas
One year ago the Caldera Port began operating under a
concession; a private company now manages operations. In
the ensuing year, the port has realized substantial gains
in productivity. On this trip the manager of a tuna plant
explained to the press that the Costa Rican tuna industry
will essentially leave the country if CAFTA fails. The
Ambassador also visited a shelter for abused children where
a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer has spent the last year
working.
- Port of Caldera
- Sardimar (tuna and vegetable processing company)
- Peace Corps Volunteer project (PANI Children's Shelter)
¶E. September 12-13 - Perez Zeledon
During this trip, the Ambassador met with a wide range of
entities to learn more about how SMEs are developing in the
region, to visit with Peace Corps Volunteers, and to donate
books to a local secondary school. As this was the
Ambassador's first official visit to this canton, it
generated a great deal of attention in the region.
- Casa de la Juventud (Center to assist at-risk youth
complete school and develop job skills)
- Courtesy call with local political leaders
- Peace Corps Volunteer project (Tierra Prometida
elementary school)
- Peace Corps Volunteer project (Centro Biologico Quebradas
- Conservation Center)
- Meeting with heads of regional national parks and heads
of local environmental organizations.
- Meeting with PYMEs-Brunca project leader and participants
(PYMEs-Brunca is a program that assists SMEs in developing
business plans, finding markets, and navigating
bureaucracy)
- Glove manufacturer that participates in the PYMEs-Brunca
program
- Sports apparel manufacturer that participates in the
PYMEs-Brunca program
- Visit to local market to view micro and small
entrepreneurs at point of sell, many of who are
participants in the PYMEs-Brunca program
- Townhall Meeting to discuss consular issues and answer
questions on working in the U.S.
- Courtesy call with local press outlet
- Lunch with heads of Coopealianza and Coopeagri, two local
financial institutions that work with SMEs
- Donation of English language books at UNESCO school
¶F. September 18 - Limon
The Limon province is the poorest region in the country.
On this visit to Limon, the Ambassador was able to visit an
entrepreneur that is trying to start up one of the first
service-sector companies in the region. The Ambassador
also donated little-league baseball equipment to the city.
- Donation of baseball equipment at Big Boy Stadium
- Courtesy call with local political leaders
- Visit to Admire America (the only local call center)
LANGDALE