Secretary Raimondo Highlights Bilateral Commercial Relationship, Need for Diverse Semiconductor Supply Chains in Official Visit to Costa Rica

Secretary Raimondo Highlights Bilateral Commercial Relationship, Need for Diverse Semiconductor Supply Chains in Official Visit to Costa Rica
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Wed, 03/27/2024 – 17:10

Export and investment promotion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Office of Public Affairs

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Last week, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo traveled to Costa Rica to emphasize the strength of the U.S.-Costa Rican bilateral commercial and investment relationship and to underscore the importance of diverse and resilient semiconductor supply chains. During her visit, Secretary Raimondo highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to diversify the semiconductor supply chain with partners like Costa Rica as a compliment to the historic investments in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing under President Biden’s CHIPS and Science Act.   

While in San Jose, the Secretary met with President Rodrigo Chaves to discuss efforts to enhance semiconductor supply chain capacity in the Western Hemisphere and welcomed Costa Rica’s efforts to elevate the country as a key market for semiconductor assembly, testing, and packaging. During a meeting with Costa Rica’s Minister of Foreign Trade Manuel Tovar and Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications Paula Bogantes, Secretary Raimondo emphasized the Department of Commerce’s support for Costa Rica’s digital transformation efforts related to artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digital networks. 

The Secretary also participated in two roundtable discussions – one with supply chain leaders on the importance of collaboration on supply chain challenges, particularly in the semiconductor industry, and one with the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Center of Excellence Companies on support for workforce development initiatives in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, 5G, and cloud computing industries. The companies in attendance committed more than $47 million to provide equipment, software, curriculum, and training programs that will benefit the future of Costa Rica’s workforce.   

Please find readouts from Secretary Raimondo’s travel to San Jose below:

Readout of Secretary Raimondo’s Meeting with Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Trade Manuel Tovar and Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications Paula Bogantes 
Readout of Secretary Raimondo’s and Costa Rican Ministers Tovar’s and Bogantes’ Roundtable Discussion with Supply Chain Leaders 
Readout of Secretary Raimondo’s Meeting with Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Center of Excellence Companies 
Readout of Secretary Raimondo’s Meeting with Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves 

Read the full report from the U.S. Department of Commerce: Read More