Youngest-serving Costa Rican president wants to upgrade FTA with China
Q: Please briefly introduce yourself to readers.
A: My name is Carlos Alvarado. I'm the president of Costa Rica. I'm a journalist and I am also trained in political science. I was Minister of Labor in Costa Rica and Minister of Social Affairs. I'm 39 years old and the youngest president in the last 100 years in Costa Rica.
Q: As the youngest-serving Costa Rican president since 1914 , what do you think about leadership?
A: I think leadership is about inspiring people. It's about results, confidence, making a positive change. That's the way I try to handle the way I lead. Also, I strongly believe in teamwork. I rely a lot on my cabinet and on my staff because leading is also empowering others to do the right thing.
Q: What prompted you to set up a series of difficult reform agendas?
A: In order for a country to move forward and for the benefit of the people it is necessary to trigger reforms. We have ambitious goals, for example our Decarbonization Plan, because we do believe climate change is a threat to our country and to the world. That's why we want to have a decarbonized economy. Also, because we have a renewable, clean electric grid, we can use that for decarbonization.
Also, we do believe education for everybody all around the country is the best way to add value not only to the economy, but the lives of the people.
That's why we have set difficult reforms but also because it's necessary for our country to progress.
Q: Do you think your past career as a reporter is beneficial for leadership? If yes, give some examples.
A: Yes, I do believe that being a reporter has been beneficial to my leadership, especially because when one is a journalist, one needs not only to understand the context but to listen to people. Not only to talk but also to listen; to be able to have the right questions and to address the right question, especially because it exercises the need to listen to others and it has helped me a lot in leading a country.
