A diverse group of public and private trade organizations from Costa Rica toured Port Everglades this week, gaining a firsthand glimpse of the seaport's expansion plans, operations and facilities.

Costa Rica ranks as Port Everglades' second largest export and third largest import trading partner, accounting for nearly 50,000 TEUs, 76 percent of all of Florida's waterborne trade with the Central American country.

"Central America, of which Costa Rica is a major component, is Port Everglades' primary market and we intend to build on our success through infrastructure investments that will ensure that Port Everglades can handle larger vessels and higher volumes in the future," Port Everglades Deputy Director Glenn Wiltshire told the delegation, which was organized by the U.S Department of Commerce.

In addition to touring the Port and learning about its expansion plans, the delegation of 20 Costa Rican trade officials and private company executives visited cargo terminal operators at the Port including SeaFreight Agencies (Line). "Costa Rica is an important two-way trade partner for our company," said SeaFreight Agencies President Roland Malins-Smith, who participated in the tour. "We handle heavy export volumes to the 20 Caribbean countries that SeaFreight serves, including transshipment cargo into Costa Rica from hubs such as Kingston."

(Edited/Excerpts from Port Everglades).