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The majority of the IT activity and free trade zones in Costa Rica takes place in the metropolitan area which is comprised of the capital city San José and the adjacent cities located in the provinces of Cartago, Heredia and Alajuela.
IT Parks
Intel has the most significant technology park in Costa Rica. The area of the complex is of 52 hectares (128.5 acres) and among other administrative buildings includes three plants: CR-1, CR-2 and CR-3. which are used for final processing and assembly of Celeron and Pentium 4 microchips. Currently Intel hires over 3000 employees, 400 of which are engineers who have had some training in the United States. 35,36
IT Incubators
The main IT incubator of Costa Rica is the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR). This university is located in the city of Cartago (see map number 2, red) and has one of the most advanced computer science and software engineering centers of Latin America.
Intel can also be considered an IT incubator due to the training provided to its employees, externalities and spillover effects.
Free Trade Zones
Free Trade Zone Regime
Costa Rica established free trade zone during the 1980, created by the Export Processing Zone Law in 1981. The free trade zone regime is a combination between incentives and benefits granted by the Cosa Rican government to manufacturing and services companies that choose Costa Rica to carry out new investment according to the Free Zone Law. Terms of the exemption are subject to current negotiation at the World Trade Organization.37,38
Benefits of the System
The most important benefits of the free trade zone regime are: 37,38
1. Exemption of all kinds of all type of duties and consular fees regarding import of raw materials, processed or semi- processed products, components and parts, packaging materials and containers, as well as other merchandise and goods required for the normal operation. It also includes machinery and equipment, including accessories and spare parts.
2. Specific transportation vehicles that are necessary for the operation, production and administration.
3. Exemption on import taxes for fuel, oils and lubricants required for the operation of the company.
4. Exemption on all taxes associated with the export and re-export of products and merchandise that enters the
country under the protection of the system.
5. Ten year exemption on the payment of taxes, on net capital and assets as well as real state transfers.
6. Exemption on sales and consumption taxes on the purchase of goods and services.
7. Tax exemptions on capital repatriation.
8. Tax exemptions on profits, dividends, income or sales.
9. Tax exemptions on Municipal (local government) licenses for a period of 10 years.
10. Exemptions on import and export taxes for commercial microtechnologieses, prior authorization of Procomer.
11. Special treatment for companies located on “lesser developed areas”.
Existing Free Trade Zone Parks
According to Cinde, a private, apolitical, non-profit organization in charge of attracting foreign direct investment to Costa Rica, there are currently twelve free trade zones in Costa Rica which are as follows:37
Asociación de Empresas de Zonas Francas de Costa Rica (AZOFRAS)
Location: Barreal de Heredia
http://www.azofras.com
American Free Zone (AFZ)
Location: Not available
Forum (Parque Empresarial)
Location: Santa Ana
http://www.genesiscostarica.com
Global Park Free Zone & Business Park
Location: Barreal de Heredia
www.globalparkcr.com
Metro Free Zone and Office Park
http://www.metrofz.com
Location: Barreal de Heredia
Parque Industrial Zona Franca SARET Alajuela
http://www.gruposaret.com
Location: Alajuela
Parque Industrial Zona Franca SARET Puntarenas
Location: Port of Puntarenas
http://www.saretzfp.com
Ultrapark Free Zone
http://www.ultrapark.com
Location: La Aurora de Heredia
Zeta Group
http://www.grupoz.net
Locations: Cartago, Alajuela and Heredia
Location of Activities
Free Trade Zones
1 Parque Industrial Zona Franca SARET Puntarenas
Greater San José and Adjacent Areas
As can be seen from the map below, the majority of the free trade zones as well as Intel’s plants are located near one of the main highways (thicker brown line) at a short distance (10 kilometers or less) from Costa Rica’s main international airport (small red plane on the left of the map).
IT Incubators
1. Intel of Costa Rica
2. Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR)
Free Trade Zones
1. Parque Industrial Zona Franca SARET
2. Zeta Group Alajuela
3. Global Park Free Zone & Business Park
4. Zeta Group Heredia
5. Asociación de Empresas de Zonas Francas de Costa Rica (AZOFRAS)
6. Metro Free Zone and Office Park
7. Ultrapark Free Zone
8. Parque Empresarial Forum
9. Zeta Group Cartago
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