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Outline of this page:
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 Financial and Political Climate
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Historically, this peaceful democracy of 3.5 million people has spoken for itself as an oasis of stability in Latin America. Having abolished its armed forces decades ago, Costa Rica enjoys one of the freest economies in the world (according to a report in the late 1990's by Forbes magazine). Today, Costa Rica employs more teachers than police officers, undoubtedly contributing to its higher than average literacy rate. No country this side of Singapore enjoys as low a major crime rate. With a health care system ranked 8th worldwide for quality, medical treatment and insurance costs are lower than in the US or Europe. |
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| These are just a few of the factors which influenced technology giant Intel Corp. to choose Costa Rica as the site for its new multi-million dollar Pentium chip assembly and test plant. Other local strengths are listed in a 1998 study, Attracting High Technology Investment, Intel's Costa Rica Plant . The report was generated by the Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS), which is jointly funded by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation. It documents how a small Central American country attracted such a major corporation to invest millions of dollars into its economy. One of the most relevant reasons cited was the fact that unlike many other Latin American countries such as Mexico, Brazil and Chile, "Costa Rica did not...grant [any] special favors, no side deals or firm-specific concessions." The conclusion: "In Costa Rica, what you see is what you get in terms of the legal side of business..." |
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The reason why this kind of foreign investment has found fertile ground in Costa Rica is no accident, and can be summed up in three simple words: rule of law. Foreigners and Ticos alike find equal treatment under Costa Rica's civil law system, which offers predictability and fairness without bias. Looking at the big picture, Costa Rica can count on a strong Constitution, and an independent judiciary. It is a nation of laws, not people. And it is this feature, even more than the friendly nature of its citizens, that has made foreign investment and retirement attractive and safe. In fact, like the US, Costa Rica has been rated as a low risk country for investment by the International Country Risk Investment Guide.
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Environmental Features
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Aside from being a safe haven for investors, peace lovers and expatriates ready for a slower paced lifestyle, Costa Rica is also world renowned for its ecological diversity. Costa Rica, which is roughly the size of Virginia and West Virginia together, boasts at least seventeen distinct eco-systems including Pacific and Atlantic/Caribbean coastlines, mountains, volcanoes, rainforests, and cloudforests, just to name a few. More plant and animal species thrive in its lush, tropical environment than most places on Earth. It is truly a nature lover's paradise. |
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| Costa Rica's government has demonstrated its commitment to preserving its precious ecological blessings by protecting more parkland per capita than any other nation. Understanding the present and future worth of its remaining rainforests, Costa Rica can be truly proud of its reforestation incentives designed to attract investors. |
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Full exemptions are offered from income taxes on all profits derived from the sale of wood grown in approved reforestation projects like ours. In addition, resident investor status is granted to anyone who invests more than $100,000 in an approved reforestation project. |
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| More recently, however, word has spread that the government has been consistently granting thousands of logging permits throughout the country for the cutting of some of the country's remaining old growth hardwood trees. As much as Costa Rica does to support and preserve its priceless natural resources, it is obvious that more can and needs to be done in the private sector-which is where we can all make a difference. |
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Maps of region
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