The Port Authority of Algeciras (APBA) and the Foreign Trade Promoter of Costa Rica (Procomer) have renewed in recent hours the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that both entities formalized in 2019 to strengthen the commercial relations initiated between the parties in 2015. The president of the APBA, Gerardo Landaluce, and the CEO of Procomer, Laura López, have sealed the agreement in an event held at the San José Convention Center as part of the trade mission that the delegation from the port of Algeciras is carrying out this week in Costa Rica.
As Landaluce stated, “this new renewal demonstrates that the relationship established years ago has worked and now we are consolidating a mechanism that has led the Central American country to be our strategic partner.” That collaboration, added the president of the APBA, which allows Costa Rican exports to reach Europe sooner and better, reaches its highest expression with the Interoperability project between the Central American Digital Trade Platform (PDCC) and the Port Community System (PCS) of the port of Algeciras, a work that is in its final phase of execution and will be presented at an event organized by the European Commission.
For her part, López conveyed that the port of Algeciras channels 38% of Costa Rican products exported to Spain, highlighting its importance for refrigerated cargo due to the short transit time of only 12 days. In the case of products like pineapple, the figure reaches 80%, a product that previously reached the Peninsula from other European docks.
Catalyst Port
Following the renewal of the MOU, the Algeciran delegation attended a reception at the residence of the Ambassador of Spain in Costa Rica, Eva Martínez, which was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica, Manuel Tovar. During the reception, the ambassador had words for the Port of Algeciras, highlighting its long commercial history in Costa Rica.
For his part, Tovar highlighted the importance of Spain as a whole for Costa Rica’s export balance, as well as the importance of the port of Algeciras as a catalyst port for Costa Rican products and a distribution center to reach Eastern Mediterranean markets. Tovar also participated in the ‘Costa Rica Trade & Investment Summit 2025’ event, which included among its guests the delegation from the port of Algeciras, who used the framework to hold various meetings with exporter associations. In this regard, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Carlos Fenoy, a member of the delegation, wanted to show the support of the business sector of the Bay of Algeciras in the search for new opportunities and in strengthening trade relations.
