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Costa Rica Announces National English Plan “Costa Rica Multilingüe”
Country envisions becoming multilingual. First phase will be focused on English proficiency, but more languages will be included in the future
The plan intends to train 35 thousand Costa Ricans during the period 2008 - 2009
By 2017, 100% of the high school graduates will speak English
San José, March 11: President Oscar Arias Sánchez presented a National English Plan called “Costa Rica Multilingüe” which aims to improve the country’s competitive environment by increasing the total amount of English-speaking people.
The program is expected to train 35 thousand Costa Ricans during 2008 -2009, and will also guarantee that by 2017, 100% of the high school students will graduate with sufficient English proficiency, in accordance to the standard of the Common European Framework.
In his statement, President Arias Sánchez said: “There is no use in rendering higher expectations to our youngsters by bringing new job opportunities in new established companies, if we do not provide them beforehand with the right instruments to be able to work and grow within that company”.
The program is a two-part program which will comprehend the entire educational system, from elementary schools to colleges and universities, both public and private. The first part consists in the appropriate training of the teachers, and the second in continuing to expand the teaching of English to elementary, high school, technical and university students.
Costa Rica: Increasing its Competitiveness for FDI
According to Gabriela Llobet, Director General of the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE), this new program will certainly increase Costa Rica’s competitive environment for the attraction of foreign direct investment. She also expressed that this initiative reinforces the Government´s commitment to ensure that the right talent is developed in order to support labor market opportunities.
According to Llobet, “Costa Rica Multilingüe” will improve the current labor force, expanding the availability of talent, which will have a direct impact on Costa Rica’s business environment.
“Recently Gartner consultants reports indicate that Costa Rica´s qualified labor force, stable political, economic and social environments, and dual-language skills (Spanish and English) make it a desirable location for “near shore” IT services delivery. But even more this program confirms the AT Kearney (2007) report that points out Costa Rica has the “most attractive country in terms of government support in Latin America” said Llobet.
During 2007, 27 multinational companies in the electronics, medical device and service sector decided to set up facilities in Costa Rica. To this date, more than 150 companies of these three sectors have operations in the country, employing over 40 thousand nationals.
2007:
Costa Rica Attracted 27 New Foreign High Technology Companies
· US$421 million invested in service, medical devices and electronics sectors.
· New and established companies generate 6,352 new jobs.
In a press conference, the Costa Rican Investment Board (CINDE) announced that 27 new companies in the electronics, service and medical devices sectors established operations in Costa Rica in 2007. The combination of new operations and expansion of companies already established in the country generated some 6,352 jobs and US$421 million in investment.
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Sector
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New Projects
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Services
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14
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Electronics
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6
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Medical Devices
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3
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Others
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4
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Total
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27
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The number of new companies attracted in 2007 is equal to those attained in 2006; however, 700 more jobs were generated than in the previous period.
According to Gabriela Llobet, CINDE’s General Director, the approval of the Free Trade Agreement between Central America, the United States and the Dominican Republic was one of the factors that strengthened Costa Rica’s image as an IED destination.
“The arrival of companies such as Continental AG, the German leader in automotive electronic components, which will use Costa Rica as a base to export products to the American market, is a clear example of the agreement’s impact on the country’s business climate” she indicated.
Llobet explained that in spite of the positive results, Costa Rica continues to face significant challenges to maintain its competitiveness with other countries. The director emphasized the necessity of implementing short term activities to reinforce the population’s English skills and to increase the number of professionals and technicians in high demand areas such as engineering, administration, metalworking and quality. Likewise she indicated that it’s indispensible to simplify immigration processes and establish clear rules and attractive incentives for high technology businesses.
Boston Scientific expands operations in Costa Rica
· Reinvestment of around $35 million over the next three years.
Costa Rica: Boston Scientific Corporation (BSC) announced on the 28th of November that it will expand its operations in Costa Rica with a reinvestment of $35 million over the next three years and an employment increase of %100 by 2011.
The company, which opened its first medical device plant in Global Park, Heredia in 2004, will have a new branch in PROPARK, Coyol de Alajuela. It will generate 1,200 new positions for operators, technicians, engineers and administrative personnel, while adding to the 1,200 Costa Ricans that already work for the company.
BSC is the largest company world wide in the medical industry specializing in minimally invasive therapy. Its technology and products are designed to reduce risk and trauma, costs, procedure time, and post-operative treatment. Presently in the country they produce surgical forceps (for biopsies) and 100% of their “snares” (handles used for removing polyps and cauterizing).
Because of the favorable conditions that the company has attained in Costa Rica, they expect to transfer their higher-end products and technologies to the new plant. With the new plant, the country will become the sole provider of BSC biopsy forceps and handles, which means around 80% of these instruments used throughout the world will come from Costa Rica. The quality of the Costa Rican labor market was a key factor in their decision.
The president of the Republic, Óscar Arias Sánchez, re-asserted that: The Costa Rican worker continues to stand out in the job market because of his/her high standards of quality, education, and commitment to work. I assure you that during my administration there will be more and more support for foreign investment and this will exist within the framework of political stability and peace. Costa Rica is, first and foremost, a state dedicated to rights. We are a centennial democracy where peace and order are an irreplaceable guarantee of a favorable business climate.
Costa Rica strengthens its position in the medical field
The General Director of CINDE, Gabriela Llobet explained that around 22 medical devices companies operate in the country, including three worldwide leaders: Boston Scientific, Hospira, and Baxter. She also indicated that in the first eight months of 2007, three new companies have made the decision to set up in the country.
Presently more than 6,300 Costa Ricans work in the medical industry and of those, 80% are made up of operators, technicians; they are people that find room to grow and learn. Likewise, there is a strong percentage of young professionals, especially in engineering fields, claims Llobet.
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Business leader in the medical industry
Continental AG to invest $61 million dollars
creating 350 jobs in Costa Rica
San José, Costa Rica: The president of the Republic, Óscar Arias Sánchez, announced on Wednesday, October 17th that the German company, Continental AG, will open its first electronic car part plant in Costa Rica. The company will use Costa Rica as a stepping-stone for the exportation of its products to the US, making use of the advantages that the Free Trade Agreement offers between Central America, The United States, and the Dominican Republic (CAFTA).
Arias said that the company is the primary tire producer in Germany and is among the top three worldwide leaders in the electronic car part sector. They will produce electronic components for car transmissions in Costa Rica. The Head of State pointed out that Continental AG will invest around 61 million dollars, or about 317, 200 million colones, in the first year of operations alone in Costa Rica.
The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Presidential House. Among the attendees were the Minister of Foreign Trade, Marco Vinicio Ruiz, the General Director of CINDE, Gabriela Llobet and the Vice President of Continental AG, Henner Cnyrim.
The General Director of CINDE, Gabriela Llobet, explained that the company will manufacture electronic parts for transmission systems of popular car brands. They will begin by hiring 350 employees, among them: engineers, technicians, and operators for 2008 and they foresee their plant reaching 550 employees total in the next three years.
“Continental is the first company of the electronics car part sub sector to set up in the country. With their arrival, it definitely puts Costa Rica on the world map and, in turn, it helps us position ourselves first in line not only in the European market, but also in this particular niche. We are pleased with the decision made by the representatives of this company” she said.
With the opening of the new Continental AG plant in the Coyol Free Zone, Costa Rica will be the third Latin American country where the company has established production operations. Presently it has 7 plants in Mexico and Brazil.
As the Minister of Foreign Trade, Marco Vinicio Ruiz explains it, Costa Rica is in the business of attracting top-level foreign investors and therefore, it must have incentives and top commercial tools to allow the country to improve its competitiveness and business climate. “The arrival of Continental is a sign that Costa Rica can compete successfully and how important it is to continue the steps toward commercial opportunities and becoming a world player” concluded Ruiz.
The morning of the 17th of October, symbolically started the construction of the Continental AG plant in the Coyol Free Zone in Alajuela. The square footage of the structure will be 16.000m2.
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Costa Rica ratified CAFTA
- The country managed to consolidate its model towards economic openness and commerce.
- Costa Rica will maintain and improve its competitiveness as a FDI destiny.
Costa Rica: The first referendum in the history of Costa Rica resulted in the approval of the Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United States, Central America and the Dominican Republic.
According to the data provided by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Costa Rica, after having scrutinized over 95% of the votes, 51.6% was favorable towards the approval of the FTA, as opposed to 48.4% that repelled it.
The results clearly illustrate the utter desire of the Costa Rican people to approve the treaty given that the difference between both results was surpassed by 50,000 votes. This outcome exceeded the difference obtained in the last presidential election, whereas 18,000 votes gave the triumph to Dr. Oscar Arias.
The election process was monitored by more than 184 international observers and 1,280 nationals. The electoral registry recorded 1,538,009 voters, or 60% of the people eligible to vote
With the endorsement of CAFTA, the next step will be for the Legislative Assembly to swiftly approve several complementary laws. Once these laws have been approved, the treaty will officially come into full force.
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