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Deciding where to locate an operation today is shaped by more demanding criteria than a decade ago. Companies are looking for stable environments where they can run complex processes reliably, access specialised talent and operate under clear and predictable rules.
Within that equation, Costa Rica has built a consistent value proposition, backed by tangible results and a business landscape that operates to global standards.
“What we are seeing is a higher level of expectations around the business environment: stability, highly skilled talent, institutional agility and sustainability,” says Laura López, CEO of the Trade and Investment Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (PROCOMER). “Costa Rica has focused on strengthening those elements, which allows it to compete in investments where execution and reliability are critical.”
More than 1,000 multinational companies are currently established in the country, representing 67 different markets. This business base spans advanced manufacturing, medical devices, knowledge-intensive services and agribusiness. Its significance lies not only in scale, but in the nature of the operations it supports: high-precision processes, critical corporate functions and activities that demand strict compliance.
This has enabled Costa Rica to develop a model where investment does not operate in isolation, but is integrated with exports, talent and local suppliers. The result is a productive environment that supports not only the initial setup of operations, but also their progression into higher-value segments within global value chains.
Connectivity and trade openness are a key part of this model. Costa Rica offers preferential access to more than 50 markets, along with direct connections to major cities across the Americas and Europe, enabling companies to integrate seamlessly into global value chains. Its OECD membership further reinforces alignment with international standards in governance and investment conditions.
Talent is a key driver behind this capability. Costa Rica has maintained a long-term commitment to education and technical training, investing close to 7 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP). This has resulted in a workforce with capabilities in engineering, digital technologies, life sciences and business services, enabling companies not only to establish operations but to move into more complex functions over time.
This evolution is particularly evident in the corporate services sector. More than 350 companies have established operations in the country to manage functions such as finance, data analytics, software development, cyber-security and regional operations. These activities require specialised talent, multilingual capabilities and adaptability – conditions Costa Rica has developed.
This capability is further strengthened through targeted talent development efforts aligned with investor demand, combining recruitment and upskilling initiatives. More recently, the country expanded its talent pipeline through 10,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships.
This talent base is complemented by a business framework that enables companies to operate and scale. The model has delivered sustained returns for the country. In 2024, for every dollar of tax incentives granted, the Free Trade Zone Regime generated $2.9 in economic return, reflecting its impact on employment, productivity, supply chain integration and value creation.
Costa Rica has taken a more active approach to strengthening its business environment. Institutional efforts have focused on facilitating day-to-day operations, reducing friction points and responding more effectively to investment needs, making business environment management a central component of the country’s value proposition.
In 2025, around 70 per cent of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Costa Rica were driven by reinvested earnings. This trend reflects the confidence of companies already operating in the country, as they expand their footprint, integrate new functions and maintain alignment with global operational standards. Companies such as Boston Scientific, Bayer, Hologic and Resonetics have continued to expand their operations, reinforcing Costa Rica’s role within global value chains.
Sustainability is embedded within this model. With an electricity matrix almost entirely based on renewable sources (98.6 per cent) and a strong commitment to conservation, Costa Rica enables companies to advance their environmental objectives without compromising operational performance.
“Country reputation now plays a direct role in investment decisions,” says Adriana Acosta, Director of essential COSTA RICA. “Costa Rica has built credibility in sustainability, innovation and social progress, and that consistency between what the country represents and what it delivers strengthens its international positioning.”
Institutional stability completes this equation. Costa Rica is one of the most established democracies in the region and has maintained a standing-army-free model for more than 75 years, contributing to a predictable environment for investment and business operations. This is complemented by over a decade of country branding through essential COSTA RICA, strengthening the country’s international positioning and reputation as a reliable investment destination.
These are some of the factors that explain how Costa Rica has built a consistent value proposition for foreign investment: an environment where execution capability and stability are not advantages, but prerequisites, and where companies choose to operate when precision, reliability and consistency matter most.
