India's resident mission in Costa Rica's capital, San José, has begun functioning, the Ministry of External Affairs announced. Earlier, relations with Costa Rica were managed by the Indian mission in Panama, supported by an honorary consulate in San José. The mission aims to boost bilateral ties, trade, investment and collaboration in the pharmaceutical and Information Technology sectors. In Central America, Costa Rica has Nicaragua along its northern border and Panama on its south-eastern side, and lies between the Caribbean Sea on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west. This step backs India's Focus Latin America and the Caribbean (Focus LAC) initiative and better consular help for Indians.