<P> In a June 2017 interview, President Luis Guillermo Solís said that private sector investment would be required to solve the problems . "Of course Costa Rica's infrastructure deficit is a challenge that outlasts any one government and I hope that we have created the foundations for future administrations to continue building . I have just enacted a law to facilitate Public Private Partnerships, which are the ideal way to develop projects that are too large for the government to undertake . For example the new airport that we are building to serve the capital city will cost $2 billion, so it will need private - sector involvement . There is also the potential for a' dry canal' linking sea ports on our Atlantic and Caribbean Coasts that could need up to $16 billion of investment ." </P> <P> The government hopes to bring foreign investment, technology, and management into the telecommunications and electrical power sectors, which are monopolies of the state . ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad) has the monopoly on telecommunications, internet and electricity services . Some limited competition is allowed . In 2011, two new private companies began offering cellular phone service and others offer voice communication over internet connections (VOIP) for overseas calls . </P> <P> According to transparency.org, Costa Rica had a reputation as one of the most stable, prosperous, and among the least corrupt in Latin America in 2007 . However, in fall 2004, three former Costa Rican presidents, José María Figueres, Miguel Angel Rodríguez, and Rafael Angel Calderon, were investigated on corruption charges related to the issuance of government contracts . After extensive legal proceedings Calderon and Rodriguez were sentenced; however, the inquiry on Figueres was dismissed and he was not charged . </P> <P> More recently, Costa Rica reached 40th place in 2015, with a score of 55 on the Perception of Corruption scale; this is better than the global average . Countries with the lowest perceived corruption rated 90 on the scale . In late May 2017, the country Costa Rica applied to become a member of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, to be effective in July 2017 . </P>

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