Costa Rica is a partner country for German Development Cooperation. GTZ has been working in Costa Rica for over 20 years on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

In Central America, Costa Rica has a pioneering role in “green” environmental protection through its work on preserving biodiversity and maintaining national nature conservation zones. The state sector is organised in centralist form; it displays limited flexibility and major shortcomings, caused in part by massive state intervention in the private sector. The country also suffers from a high level of foreign indebtedness. The export sector is showing positive development, and its low level of integration in the national economy offers substantial further potential.

GTZ is assisting local institutions, particularly in projects in the area of environmental protection and resource conservation, and local development. Growing environmental pollution in densely populated areas and in industrial and tourist centres has resulted in the agreement of the following priority area for cooperation between the German and Costa Rican Governments:

• Urban industrial environmental protection 

In addition, there are a number of ongoing projects in the areas of local and communal development (PRODELO), sustainable management of natural resources in the ACOSA region and maintenance of the cantonal road network. Advisory services are provided to representatives at government level on changes to the political and statutory environment. Statal and nonstatal institutions, promotional institutions, associations, chambers and NGOs are strengthened in performing their functions.