A study presented by PROCOMER and COMEX indicates that free trade zones continue to drive Costa Rica’s development and generate employment for hundreds of thousands of people
Revista Summa – Costa Rica’s Free Trade Zone Regime continues to consolidate itself as a fundamental pillar for the country’s development. It generates a total of 265,571 direct and indirect jobs in the last year. This is celebrated by the Association of Free Trade Zone Companies of Costa Rica (AZOFRAS) after the presentation of the report “Free Trade Zone: 35 Years Building Value for Costa Rica”.
The study, prepared by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (PROCOMER) and the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX), reveals the success of a model that continues to grow and generate opportunities for Costa Ricans. Thanks to PROCOMER’s efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the regime has seen sustained annual growth of 11%, with 626 companies by 2024 in sectors such as Services, Industry, and Agribusiness.
For the president of AZOFRAS, Ronald Lachner:
The Free Trade Zone Regime is a productive model that brings significant benefits to the country. Free trade zones have boosted opportunities for the Costa Rican population. For example, female employment in Free Trade Zones is 45%, of which 37% was generated outside the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM). The report shows that women not only participate but also lead, occupying managerial positions that have allowed them to position themselves prominently in strategic sectors such as manufacturing, medical devices, and services.
According to AZOFRAS, the benefits and opportunities generated by the Regime are increasingly promoting economic development throughout the country. As a result, during the study period, 101 free trade zone companies were identified as already operating outside the GAM, tripling the 2010 figure. This, in turn, generates development hubs in areas such as Orotina, San Carlos, and Limón.
Lachner stated that he was very pleased with the results of the study:
We are pleased to learn of the results presented by COMEX and PROCOMER, as they confirm the valuable contribution of free trade zones to the country, amidst the challenging international context we face.
Free trade zones are the engine of Costa Rica’s economy, driving development both within and outside the GAM, so we applaud all the efforts led by PROCOMER to enhance it.
Furthermore, companies operating under the free trade zone regime continue to strengthen their links with the national ecosystem, promoting and contributing to the development of Costa Rican suppliers. As a result, by 2024, purchases from local companies will exceed US$6 billion, representing 57% of total purchases from free trade zones. This brings local suppliers increasingly closer to the sector and generates more resilient value chains.
The results of the study are proof that the model works and has proven profitability. In 2024, for every dollar exonerated, the free trade zones generated a return of $2.9.
Free trade zones represent 15% of GDP, and their wages are double those of other industries, demonstrating that their impact on the Costa Rican economy remains very positive.
0 Comments