Minister of Foreign Trade, Sheikha Lubna Al-Qassimi, emphasised the UAE\'s interest in enhancing cooperation and trade exchange with Costa Rica. The minister, in a meeting with the special envoy of Costa Rican President, Tomas Duenas, also urged Costa Rican companies and investors to tap the UAE\'s legislative and investment facilities and its strategic location, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Trade (MoFA). Investment legislations further boost foreign investment growth in the UAE which transformed into a regional and global business hub featuring a large number of advanced free zones which now allow 100% foreign ownership of companies, according to the minister. Trade exchange between the UAE and Costa Rica through the UAE\'s free zones stood at AED238 million in the first half of 2012. For his part, the Costa Rican president\'s envoy emphasised his country\'s interest in strengthening investment and trade cooperation with the UAE which he described as one of the most influential countries in international trade. Trade exchange between the UAE and Costa Rica through the UAE\'s free zones stood at AED238 million in the first half of 2012.