Costa Rica's politicians and businessmen said on Friday that a European Union-Central America trade deal would boost the country's economy.

President Oscar Arias told the country's La Nacion newspaper that it was "urgent" to begin negotiations on a free trade deal with EU partners.

"It should have been done a long time ago," he said.

At the EU-Latin American Summit held in Vienna, senior officials from the EU and Central America agreed on Thursday to begin talks on the possibility of setting up a free trade zone between them.

Antonio Burges, the head of the Costa Rica Chamber of Commerce, said the agreement would cover not only trade but also aid, environment, and issues related to workers.

Source: Xinhua