News Briefs

Panama president wants to remove passport requirement to enter Costa Rica

Posted: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 - By Debbie Martínez
Laura Chinchilla agreed to strengthen economic integration with Panama and to promote tourism between the two neighbors.
Chinchinlla, Martinelli

Costa Rica President Laura Chinchilla meets with Panama's leader Ricardo Martinelli to discuss economic integration between the two countries. Courtesy of Casa Presidencia.

Panama’s President Ricardo Martinelli asked his Costa Rican counterpart Laura Chinchilla to allow citizens of Costa Rica and Panama to visit each other's country only with a cédula (identification card). Martinelli hopes to speed up the entrance process between the two countries, according to the weekly El Financiero.

The presidents met at the XXIX Expocomer Fair in Panama City, a convention that promotes business, trade and investment in the Panama region.

As result of the meetings the legislators signed a memorandum to further discuss the issue of simplifying the border crossing process. The presidents also pledged to better integrate Panama's Caribbean province of Bocas Del Toro region to Golfito in Costa Rica as well as work together in a tourism campaign.

Chinchilla was chosen to inaugurate the expo and broke ground on the construction of Panama City's new subway.

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Comments

Sure, this is great for Panama, but what's in it for Costa Rica? Don't you think that this would endanger the little money maker over at Golfito? Why go over there, if you can just go across any border into Panama, and buy stuff really cheap? Unless and until Costa Rica abandons its restrictive import duties and hassles, this sort of thing will not benefit Costa Rica in the least.
This is a great idea, vamanos

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