The Washington Diplomat

Costa Rica
His Excellency Luis Diego Escalante

Luis Diego Escalante became ambassador of Costa Rica to the United States on May 14, 2009 bringing to the position more than 40 years of business and political experience.

During the first presidential administration of Oscar Arias Sánchez (1986-90), Ambassador Escalante was the head of various ministries, among them the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce, and the Ministry of Foreign Trade, in addition to serving as head of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute. He was also advisor to President José María Figueres (1994-98) and led the Costa Rican Coffee Institute (ICAFE). A member of the Executive Committee of Peace with Nature, Ambassador Escalante in 1996 co-founded CRUSA, a private Costa Rican foundation to promote sustainable development through U.S.-Costa Rican cooperation, serving as president of CRUSA’s Board of Directors from 2003 to 2009.

He has also been an advisor to the Banco Popular of Puerto Rico and was president of ATH Costa Rica, an acquirer and supplier company of Visa. Ambassador Escalante began his professional career in the automobile industry, becoming partner and president of VEINSA, an importing and distributing company of Mitsubishi vehicles in Costa Rica (1969-97). He was also a partner and president of Cabo Rico S.A., a company that manufactures sailing boats for export (1975-86), as well as a founding partner and vice president of a Burger King franchise in Costa Rica, serving as president of the Association of Franchise Holders for Latin America until he retired in 1994.

Ambassador Escalante studied business administration in Costa Rica and Britain.

He is married to Cristina Dobles and has two daughters and four granddaughters.

Embassy
of Costa Rica
2114 S St., NW
Washington, DC 20008

Tel: (202) 234-2945
Fax: (202) 265-4795