VESTA GROUP ESCAZÚ| VESTA GROUP ESCAZÚ |
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The Dominical region has seen real estate investments appreciate 20 to 35 percent per year - in some cases more. Of course, a healthy investment environment does not emerge in a vacuum. Increased interest in Costa Rica as an investment and business center is a direct response to the country's long-term development strategies. Infrastructure upgrades, such as the international airport in Liberia, have led to exponential tourism growth. High-tech companies, including Intel, have been attracted by Costa Rica' business advantages (listed below) and free-trade zones. Costa Rica's strongest economic attractions include: Stability: Costa Rica is one of Latin America's oldest and most stable democracies, and abolished the military in 1949. President Oscar Arias is a Nobel Peace Prize winner, noted for his commitment to opening international markets and further enhancing investment conditions in Costa Rica. Education: Costa Rica's literacy rate (95.6%) is among the world's highest; the workforce is increasingly bilingual. Generous government support (5% of the GDP) funds high-quality and accessible university, technical and vocational training, yielding a well-trained workforce. Location: Only 2 ½ hours from Miami, set between North and South America, and served by an increasing number of direct flights to these regions as well as Europe, Costa Rica's position can best be described as strategic. Major ports on both the Caribbean and Pacific Coasts adds to the country's appeal. Incentives: For more than 20 years, a number of businesses have taken advantage of Costa Rica's investment incentives, including free-trade zones and tourism programs. Major multinationals, such as Intel, have had a noticeable positive impact on technical training levels and economic stability. Infrastructure:
Quality of life: In the last 20 years, poverty has dropped from 40% to less than 20%, and Costa Rica has a stable and populous middle class. Broad public access to health services, social security, potable water and other basic services is steadily expanding. The Costa Rican - American Chamber of Commerce (www.amcham.co.cr) and the Costa Rican Investment and Development Board (CINDE, www.cinde.or.cr) are excellent sources of business and investment information. Comprehensive information on registered companies, their audited financial statements and their investments offerings is available from Costa Rican supervisory entities. Both the SUGEF (Superintendency of Financial Entities, www.sugef.fi.cr) and SUGEVAL (Superintendency of Securities, www.sugeval.fi.cr) have initiated English translations of their web sites; some translated material has already been posted. |
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