The government and Costa Rica will build a bio-resources research center for the study of various organisms and industrial application of the findings.

Science and Technology Minister Oh Myung, accompanying President Roh Moo-hyun to Central America, agreed on the facility Monday with Costa Rican counterpart Fernando Gutierrez.

The agreement was followed by the signing of a memorandum of understanding by Lee Sang-gi, director of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, and Rodrigo Damez, head of Costa Rica's Biodiversity Research Center.

Seoul will pay for the initial construction, research and development while Costa Rica will provides the land and infrastructure.