The White House Blog

President Obama today attended a forum on Inclusive Economic Growth and Development at the Old Customs House in San Jose. Speaking with business leaders, the President addressed the issues of security and economic growth before taking questions:

I've been interviewed several times during the course of my travels both in Mexico and Central America, and I've emphasized that although I understand why there’s been a great focus over the last several years on security issues -- security is important.  It’s very hard to create a strong economy when people are personally feeling insecure. There’s been a lot of emphasis on immigration, and I understand why that is.  Obviously it’s of great importance to this region and to the United States.  We shouldn’t lose sight of the critical importance of trade and commerce and business to the prospects both for Costa Rica, the United States, and the entire hemisphere.

The United States considers our trading relationships with CAFTA countries, with Mexico, to be of enormous importance. When you look at the scale of business that's being done currently, it’s creating jobs in the United States, it’s creating jobs here. And what we want to do is to find ways that we can continue to enhance that relationship, how we can get ideas from this region and find ways in which we can improve and foster small business development, medium-sized business development, make this entire region more competitive. 

For more information:

• Learn more about the President's trip
• Fact Sheet: United States Support for Central American Citizen Security
• Fact Sheet: United States Support for Economic Growth and Development in Central America 
• Read the remarks by President Obama and President Chinchilla of Costa Rica in a Joint Press Conference 
• Read the remarks by the President at a Working Dinner with SICA Leaders 
• Read the remarks by President Obama at a meeting with business leaders in Costa Rica