India Costa Rica Relations for UPSC: Trade, Agreements & Strategic Partnership

India and Costa Rica enjoy strong bilateral relations grounded in shared values and international cooperation. Serving as a regional power in the Central America / Americas, Costa Rica has a considerable impact on global political and security issues. In 1960, India and Costa Rica commenced diplomatic relations, building a foundation for enduring bilateral cooperation. India and Costa Rica preserve a Resident Embassy in San José, Costa Rica has Embassy in New Delhi, ensuring robust bilateral interaction through embassies in each others capitals. Indias ties with Costa Rica are of Eco-tourism leader, Central American integration, UN cooperation, often involving defense cooperation, economic collaboration, cultural exchanges, and shared global security objectives. 

• The cooperation between India and Costa Rica thrives in Trade, investment, IT, pharma, education, culture like defense, nuclear energy, trade, space exploration, oil and gas, cybersecurity, culture, and education. 
• Significant pacts covering areas like Cultural (1997), IT MoU (2007), Space MoU (2022) have been established between India and Costa Rica to strengthen collaboration. 
• India and Costa Rica maintain a trade volume of USD 25350 million (2022-23), illustrating their growing economic partnership. 
• As part of steady trade relations, India exports Pharmaceuticals, vehicles, textiles, organic chemicals, machinery to Costa Rica to meet shared economic interests. 
• The trade between India and Costa Rica largely includes imports of Wood, medical instruments, coffee, scrap metal. 

India’s engagement with Costa Rica in ITEC, scholarships, potential in biotech, space applications supports digital transformation and academic excellence. Focused on India Costa Rica Relations, this article explores Strategic Summits, Diaspora Remittances, and Import-Export Trends to assist candidates in enhancing their GS Paper 2 and PSIR notes. 

India Costa Rica Relations Establishment of Diplomatic Ties

India’s first interactions with Costa Rica were through Diplomatic ties established, focus on South-South cooperation, paving the way for future cooperation. Notable high-level visits between India and Costa Rica include Vice President Venkaiah Naidu (2019), Foreign Minister Madrigal (2019), which significantly advanced bilateral ties. 

• The relationship between India and Costa Rica has evolved through distinct phases such as Gradual development, recent impetus for stronger economic ties.

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Strategic & Political Cooperation of India Costa Rica Relations

The significance of India and Costa Rica ties is of Eco-tourism leader, Central American integration, UN cooperation, highlighted by their defense cooperation, economic collaboration, cultural exchanges, and common objectives in global security. 

• With Shared concerns, cooperation in multilateral forums, India and Costa Rica counter threats by sharing intelligence and conducting coordinated safety operations. 
• India’s strategic Growing interest in IT and cybersecurity collaboration partnership with Costa Rica advances innovation, digital infrastructure, and security coordination. 
• India and Costa Rica collaborate through UN, NAM, G77, SICA (Costa Rica) to address global challenges and promote cooperation. 
• India and Costa Rica have strengthened their Renewable energy expertise sharing potential, focusing on renewable energy projects, technology sharing, and sustainable development. 
• In the field of MoU on cooperation in exploration of outer space (2022), India and Costa Rica continue to work together on shared research, innovative technologies, and space-based projects. 
• India and Costa Rica have joined hands in sectors like Visa waiver for diplomats/officials (2019), tourism promotion to encourage seamless connectivity and tourism collaboration. 
• DTAA negotiations initiated, not yet concluded between India and Costa Rica play a crucial role in easing tax-related barriers for businesses and investors.

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Trade and Economic Overview of India Costa Rica Relations

• India and Costa Rica have entered into multiple agreements in sectors like Cultural (1997), IT MoU (2007), Space MoU (2022) to strengthen bilateral ties. 
• The bilateral trade between India and Costa Rica stands at USD 25350 million (2022-23), reflecting increasing economic interdependence. 
• Investment flows feature Indian IT companies present, Costa Rican interest increasing, along with major co-financed initiatives supporting economic cooperation. 
• Formal platforms like Foreign Office Consultations, Joint Working Group on Trade & Investment, usually held once or twice a year, help strengthen and review trade and investment cooperation between India and its partner nation. 
• Exports from Costa Rica to India stood at Approx USD 564 million (2022-23). 
• India supplies Pharmaceuticals, vehicles, textiles, organic chemicals, machinery to Costa Rica under their strong trade relations, boosting bilateral economic growth and cooperation. 

Costa Ricas imports from India totaled Approx USD 25350 million (2022-23) as per the latest figures. With operations in Costa Rica, Indian companies such as Infosys, Wipro, Sutherland Global Services, L&T Infotech are fostering bilateral business ties.

Socio-Cultural & Diaspora Engagement

The Indian and Costa Rica diaspora actively contribute to the growth of Promoting business links, cultural understanding, strengthening their bilateral ties. India promotes friendship with other countries by encouraging Yoga, Indian classical arts promotion, film festivals and cultural visits. By promoting ITEC training, scholarships, university collaborations, India and the partner country are creating more chances for education. 

• The Estimated around 500-600 persons in Costa Rica plays a pivotal role in enhancing the cultural and economic relationship between India and Costa Rica. 
• Leveraging Development assistance, ITEC training, cultural diplomacy, India and Costa Rica work to enhance their strategic importance and increase their global reach.
• India and Costa Rica enjoy close relations, with Data not readily available making a notable contribution to economic progress.

India Costa Rica Relations Recent Developments

The diplomatic relationship between India and Costa Rica is reinforced by MoS External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi (2023) aimed at expanding mutual cooperation. In the context of MoU on Space Cooperation (2022), India and Costa Rica have aimed to deepen their strategic and developmental ties. 

• India and Costa Rica continue to expand ties through IT training centers (past), capacity building programs, including in social and economic sectors. 
• Ongoing discussions seek to mitigate Geographical distance, language barrier, limited direct connectivity and build mutual trust. 
• The bilateral agenda includes advancing Growth in IT, pharma, eco-tourism, renewable energy across innovation, trade, and diplomacy.

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UPSC Relevance of India Costa Rica Relations

• Data on trade volumes, diaspora statistics, and agreements are useful for objective-type questions.
• India–Costa Rica relations are integral to GS Paper 2 (International Relations) under bilateral, regional, and global groupings.
• Diaspora support, humanitarian aid, and cultural diplomacy demonstrate ethical foreign engagement.
• History optional students may refer to ancient or colonial connections between India and Costa Rica.