The President of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, announced that his country and China would be interested in building a fast train between Panama and Costa Rica. The preliminary investment of the project would be US $5,000 million.
The Panamanian President gave the statements to the Reuters agency in the framework of the Summit of the Americas that took place in Lima, Peru, and added that they have already started with the feasibility study that will take the train from Panama to Chiriquí, near the border with Costa Rica.
However, when the authorities in Costa Rica were consulted, they denied that such a project had been proposed to them. The Foreign Ministry indicated that, at the moment, no request has been received in this regard. They pointed out that, should the petition arrive, a series of internal consultations should be made first.
Elizabeth Briceño, Executive President of the Costa Rican Railway Institute (Incofer), indicated through her press office that for now they know nothing about it.
A similar response was given by Víctor Morales, Head of the PAC in the future Legislative Assembly.
The Panamanian leader said, at the time of his statements, that there is no need to fear foreign investment or countries that want to change their trade agreements, as is the case of the United States.