Essential News

October 9th, 2017, San José – Swarovski, leading manufacturer of precision cut crystal since 1895 and a world-renowned brand that adds sparkle to everything from jewelry, watches, fashion accessories to couture fashion and state-of-the-art lighting technology, will establish a business services center in San José, Costa Rica, end of 2017. The new location will host the company’s Global Business Services (GBS) center in the Americas which will be built up gradually over the next years and in line with the company’s values.

To retain its strong competitive global position, Swarovski continuously looks for ways to improve and adapt its business and processes to stay one step ahead. The opening of the company’s GBS center in the Americas is part of a global initiative to ensure that the Finance andamp; Administration function stays a high performing partner, positioned to support Swarovski’s ongoing success. As part of this initiative, selected activities of Swarovski’s Finance andamp; Administration function that require a certain proximity to the American markets and teams will be bundled in Costa Rica.

The Minister of Foreign Trade, Mr. Alexander Mora commented: “Swarovski is a leading company in the world. It has built that leadership based on innovation, combining industries as diverse and complex as precision manufacturing, technology and engineering, with art, design, and fashion. To continue consolidating that leadership and continue innovating, Swarovski has found in Costa Rica a strategic partner that welcomes its operations in the services sector, thanks to the country's proven track record as a favorable destination for the development of high-performance productive investments. In addition to this trajectory, Costa Rica, as part of its value proposition, has a highly well-educated workforce, a key location and a stable political-economic environment. The Government of the Republic welcomes the company and appreciates the vote of confidence, assuring its compromise as a country to strengthen the competitive internal conditions helping achieve the company success.”

“Following a very thorough evaluation process we have decided to establish the Americas spoke of Swarovski’s Global Business Services in Costa Rica. The local authorities have been highly professional and engaged in their support for us. This has created a solid foundation for a long-term commitment”, stated Mr. Marcel Angst, Executive Vice President Global Business Services.

Mr. Jorge Sequeira, Managing Director of CINDE, added: “For Costa Rica, the fact that a world-renowned company has chosen the country to establish a global business services operation, represents the consolidation of a growing services sector. Nowadays, this sector in Costa Rica employs over 54,800 people, thanks to the excellent human talent skills. We expect Swarovski to keep growing within the country hand in hand with the Costa Rican talent.”

Swarovski’s investment will ensure a range of new career opportunities: “At Swarovski, we value people who show a real passion for what they do, and who inspire this passion also in colleagues and customers. We are looking for well-educated talents who are interested in working for a global company. Our scope of activities in Costa Rica will include a growing number of multi-functional processes and services, jointly operated with all the other parts of our global service network”, says Mr. Wojciech Krygowski, Managing Director Swarovski GBS Hub andamp; Spokes.

The new location will host up to approximately 50 employees. The opening of the permanent office facilities of Swarovski’s GBS center in the Americas is expected to take place during the first quarter of 2018.

For more information, please contact:

Andrea Durnthaler

Head of Group PR andamp; Corporate Affairs

Swarovski Group

andrea.durnthaler@swarovski.com

+43 (0) 5224 500-1452

Carlos Morales
CINDE
cmorales@cinde.org

About Swarovski

Swarovski designs, manufactures, and sells crystal, genuine gemstones, created stones, and finished products such as accessories and lighting solutions. What started in 1895 as a small crystal manufacturing business in Wattens, Austria, and has grown to be a leading company making every day extraordinary. With a rich history and a culture of creativity, Swarovski is committed to growth and to maintaining its place at the forefront of design, creativity, and technological innovation. Swarovski is run by five fifth-generation family members and has a global reach with approximately 2.800 stores in around 170 countries, more than 27,000 employees, and revenue of about 2.6 billion euros in 2016. www.swarovskigroup.com/S/careers