Free Ports Buy More "Local"

To lower the costs of their supplies, businesses in the Free Port zones of Costa Rica are expanding the productive chain to include local suppliers.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Nor the uncertainty of the status of the Free Port Zone Law, which is stuck in Congress, nor the impact of the global crisis that has caused exports at Costa Rican free port zones to fall 16% in the first quarter of 2009 have reduced the determination of these businesses. Furthermore, they have found a very good way to decrease costs by including local businesses in the chain of production.

According to an article by Gilda González Sandoval in Elfinancierocr.com, "the expectations for the third quarter and, above all, for the fourth quarter of this year are for a light recovery. This was reported by the managers of companies that were consulted by EF and the project to Promote Foreign Trade. Growth is expected to be reflected mainly in electronics and medical devices, which are the sectors that maintain the greatest percentages of total exports. The first is at 47.62% of total exports and the second is at 21.98%."

More on this topic

Costa Rica Promotes Investment in Turrialba

January 2010

The local municipality seeks to attract more international companies, by offering new tax benefits included in the recently modified Free Zone Law.

Turrialba is also betting on more than 11.000 square meters of industrial infrastructure available at its industrial park, and its highways leading to the ports in Limón.

$128 thousand annually per worker

December 2008

In 2008 the Costa Rican medical devices sector will have exported $960 million and employed 7500 professionals and technicians.

These sales projections were made by Cinde based on data from the Foreign Trade Promoter. The $960 million in the sale of medical implements this year exceeded last years figure ($768 million) by $192 million.

Multinationals Await Free Port Law

September 2009

In Costa Rica, multinational companies are worrying for delays in the law that modifies fiscal incentives at free ports.

Two articles in Nacion.com reveal Intel's and Bridgestone's concern for insecurity in investment planning caused by delays in the approval of the law, which is being studied by Congress.

Problems Ahead for Costa Rica Free Port Law

July 2009

Three points exist that could complicate the approval of the Free Port law in the Costa Rican Congress.

Politicization of the benefited companies, creation of a fiscal paradise and transferring the favorable impact of investment to less developed areas are points doubted by several congressmen.

 close (x)

Receive more news about Business and Investment

Suscribe FOR FREE to CentralAmericaDATA EXPRESS.
The most important news of Central America, every day.

Type in your e-mail address:


Find distributors in Central America

Reach qualified distributors for your products, from Guatemala to Panama.
Our distributor search service puts you in direct...

Stock Indexes

(Apr 18)
Dow Jones
0.64%
S&P 500
1.76%
Nasdaq
2.70%

Commodities

(May 23)
Brent Crude Oil
107.03
Coffee "C"
176.5
Gold
1,559
Silver
27.69