Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica
Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica , San Jose, Costa Rica
Costa Rican. Juris Doctor from the Autonomous University of Central America, he holds a master’s degree in International Law and International Relations from the Complutense University of Madrid and a postgraduate degree in Administrative Law from the University of Salamanca. Mr. Tovar
had professional updating courses from Harvard University and the London School of Economics and Political Science and is PhD Candidate in Political Science.
Mr. Tovar Rivera was appointed Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica and
Chairman of the Board of Directors of PROCOMER in May 2022, a position he holds to date. Among his principal responsibilities is the definition of the country’s public policy on trade and investment. Prior to his appointment, he developed a career in the public sector in the following positions: Representative and Head of the Costa Rican Delegation to the OECD (2016-2021); Special Envoy to the OECD (2013-2015); Trade Attaché at the Embassy of Costa Rica to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Special Envoy at the Costa Rican Mission to the European Union (2008-2013); Trade Negotiator, responsible for dispute resolution and institutional matters, as well as coordinator of commercial relations with Canada and Chile at the Ministry of Foreign Trade (2005-2008). Mr. Tovar was also Delegate of Costa Rica to the World Customs Organization and to the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg. Mr. Tovar Rivera served as Chairman of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in June 2025. Additionally, he served as a distinguished member of the World
Economic Forum's Global Council on the Future of Trade and Investment for the term spanning 2023-2024.
He speaks Spanish, English, French and Italian
Closer to Home: Costa Rica as a partner for succesful operations in the Western Hemisphere
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
10:35am - 10:55am MT