The multinational has announced investments of $31 million to expand its plant in Cartago and open a new service center in Heredia.
From a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Trade:
With an investment of $31 million, the company Kimberly-Clark (KC) will strengthen its manufacturing operations and services in Costa Rica. The company will invest $27 million in its new plant in Coris, Cartago, plus an additional $ 4 million for a new Shared Service Centre located in Heredia and which will support its business network throughout Latin America.
In 2013 43 foreign high technology companies invested in the country.
From a press release issued by the Costa Rican Coalition for Development Initiatives (CINDE):
Costa Rica ended 2013 with good news in the area of attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in high technology and light manufacturing. The country became host to 43 new investment projects which generated, along with the companies who set themselves up there, $583 million and 7,123 new jobs in the sectors of services, life sciences and advanced and light manufacturing.
With an investment of $5 million Gualapack Costa Rica has opened a manufacturing and distribution center for flexible packaging for food industry mixtures.
A press release from Costa Rican Coalition for Development Initiatives (CINDE) reads:
Gualapack Costa Rica, member of Grupo Gualapack today officially opened the doors of its modern manufacturing plant and distribution center for flexible packaging for food industry mixtures.
Foreign direct investment in the country rose by 15%, while in the free zones where businesses are exempt from income tax, the growth rate was 53%.
During the first half of 2013 free zones received $360 million while in the same period of 2012 the figure was $235 million, which is an increase of 53%.
According to information from the Central Bank of Costa Rica, "in general, FDI in the first half rose by 15% compared to the same period in 2012 and amounted to $1.335 billion, strengthening its growth after the drop of 2009 " reported Nacion.com.
Services exports have grow by 7.7%; during the first six months of 2013 they totaled $2.9327 billion.
From a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Trade (Comex):
The successful attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) has consolidated the participation of Costa Rican exports services. During the first half of the year, Costa Rican exports of services accounted for $2.9327 billion, showing a growth of 7.7% compared to the same period in 2012, while FDI reached $1.3353 billion.
The causes that have been cited are the gap between supply and demand for skills, electricity tariffs, infrastructure problems, and increased competition among countries for FDI.
During 2012, the sector received $535 million whereas the previous year it received $679 million, reporting a drop of 21%.
Figures from the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR), show that for two consecutive years free zones have received fewer resources, as in 2012 they received $535 million, in 2011 $679 million, and in 2010 the figure was $790 million.
34 new projects captured in 2011 and re-investment in high technology sectors such as services, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and clean technologies, have generated 7,728 new jobs.
A statement from the Costa Rican Coalition for Development Initiatives (CINDE) reads:
Costa Rica attracted $470 million in investment in free zones in 2011
• Positive figures for employment, investment and new projects were recorded for the year.
General Microcircuits has opened its new plant in Costa Rica, which required an investment of $2 million.
The company, which produces electronic integrated circuit boards, sited its 1,300 m2 plant in the BES zone in Alajuela, where it employs 20 people.
From there, General Microcircuits exports its production weekly to Mooresville, North Carolina, where the product is distributed to the company’s customers