Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, paid a working visit to Costa Rica from 23 to 27 January 2023.
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(from l. to r.) Christophe Schiltz, Director of Cooperation and Humanitarian Action; Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; Francisca Ramírez, activist; n.c.; n.c.; n.c.; n.c.
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(from l. to r.) Christophe Schiltz, Director of Cooperation and Humanitarian Action; Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; Paola Zepeda, IOM Regional Project Coordinator; n.c.; Manuel Tonnar, Director General of Lux-Development; n.c.
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(from l. to r.) Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; n.c
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(from l. to r.) Ronnie De Camino, Senior Advisor of the Forestry and Climate Change Fund (FCCF); Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; n.c.; Patrick Losch, President of ADA; Kaspar Wansleben, Executive Director of Forestry and Climate Change Fund (FCCF)
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(from l. to r.) Luis Gamboa Arguedas, President of FUNDECOR; Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs
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(from left to right) Michele Klein Salomon, IOM Regional Director; Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs
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(from l. to r.) Jean Baden Dubois, Governor of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti; n.c.; Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; Alfred Hannig, Director General of AFI
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(from l. to r.) Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; Arnoldo André Tinoco, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica
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(from l. to r.) Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; Rafael Gutiérrez Rojas, Deputy Minister of the Environment of Costa Rica
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(from l. to r.) Carlos Alvarado Briceño, Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications of Costa Rica; Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs
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(from l. to r.) Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs; Anna Katharina Müller Castro, Minister for Public Education of Costa Rica
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(from l. to r.) Manuel Tovar, Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica; Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs
The visit was part of Luxembourg's new strategic approach to development cooperation with the region and the countries of Central America. It aims to strengthen the impact and identity of Luxembourg's cooperation, notably through regional and multi-partner interventions, and will be complemented by the implementation of bilateral development cooperation projects in Costa Rica, where Luxembourg intends to establish a diplomatic mission and a Lux-Development office.
In this context, Minister Fayot signed a memorandum of understanding with Arnoldo André Tinoco, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica, which formalises bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries, as well as the priority themes on which cooperation will focus. Luxembourg and Costa Rica commit to cooperate in the areas of socio-economic integration of women and youth, climate resilience and environmental sustainability, as well as social cohesion and human rights, including for migrant populations. These priority areas of intervention are supported and guided by two cross-cutting themes: inclusive and innovative finance, and digitalisation and cybersecurity.
Franz Fayot also participated in the launch of two initiatives supported by the Luxembourg Cooperation, including a pilot project on inclusive finance implemented by the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI). This project aims to develop financial inclusion strategies and promote knowledge sharing in this field in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Minister Fayot also launched the second phase of a regional project implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which aims to support migrant women in Central America to address the many challenges they face, such as gender-based violence and the effects of climate change.
The trip also gave rise to a number of visits to other projects already supported by Luxembourg Cooperation in Costa Rica as part of its regional interventions. Minister Fayot met with representatives of the Fundación Unión y Desarrollo de Comunidades Campesinas (FUNDECOCA), the Fundación Fundecor, the Movimiento Campesino and the Regional Centre for the Promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (CENPROMYPE).
In San José, Minister Fayot also held bilateral meetings with Carlos Alvarado Briceño, Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications; Manuel Tovar, Minister of Foreign Trade; Anna Katharina Müller Castro, Minister of Public Education; and Rafael Gutiérrez Rojas, Deputy Minister of the Environment. Discussions focused on how Luxembourg's cooperation activities could best contribute to Costa Rica's development and public investment priorities.
Press release by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Action