Investing in Costa Rica

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Dubbed as the” Silicon Valley of Latin America” Costa Rica has become in  the last five years more appealing due to its investment-friendly climate and government policies on attracting foreign investors. With world-wide economy at a downfall especially the U.S. commercial leaders like, Microsoft, GE, Abbot Laboratories, Continental Airways and Intel Corporation continual to make sizable investments there with their production and distribution facilities. Years ago Western Union chose Costa Rica to host its Latin American regional operations center.

Costa Rica in the last 40 years remains one of the safest and most attractive countries in the whole world. The government, its ministries and banking and lending institutions have always maintained pro-U.S. in regards to financial security and tax laws. This acknowledge aim has spearheaded many  high-tech corporations, franchised companies (McDonalds, Outback Steak House, Home Depot and Office Depot)  and real estate (REMAX, Century 21) firms to take advantage of Costa Rica’s educated, computer literate, low labor rates, and disciplined workforce. Over 90% of Ricans are literate and it is fairly easy to open a business and work in Costa Rica. With that said, Costa Rica is vastly becoming a modern production infrastructure country.  For a country whose economy  had always been dependence on coffee, bananas and cattle now is slowly becoming depended on the manufacturing of  microprocessor production (ranked 5th in the world), outsourcing, high-tech telecommunications services and the thriving eco-friendly tourism industry.  In 2000 Costa Rica earned more from high technology exports than from coffee or bananas. The eco-tourism industry now ranks #4 in their overall GNP.

Back in 2007 Costa Rica narrowly approved joining CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement brokered by the United States. CAFTA was greatly opposed by the unions and it did come with controversy that the agreement would cause harm to the local workforce. Costa Rica had always been most vocal supporters of continental free trade with trade agreements with Mexico and other countries of Central and South America. With Costa Rica’s free trade zones such benefits as no import duties on raw materials, capital goods, parts and components; unrestricted profit repatriation; tax exemption on profits for eight years and a 50 percent exemption for the following four years are extremely enticing to any business that wants to open shop.

Costa Rica also committed to fully open its insurance market to competition, with the vast majority of the market opening by January 1, 2008, and full opening of the sector by January 1, 2011. the agreement is  set up for the Digital Age: State-of-the-art protections and non-discriminatory treatment are provided for digital products such as U.S. software, music, text, and videos. Protections for U.S. patents, trademarks and trade secrets are strengthened.

The World Bank has always given Costa Rica an excellent bill of overall political and economic health. It said, it is [Costa Rica] “one of the most stable and robust” democracies in Latin America. And went on to praise it’s “healthy economic growth rate” and “some of the best social indicators” on any continent.

No doubt, Costa Rica is building a competitive advantage for itself and the many business who have chosen or are pondering the option to operate here. It is a country at a turning point in integrating itself into the modern world economy. Anyone doing business here will have the inside track.

Costa Rica Medical
Calypso Cruises

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Comments

  1. Dear Readers,

    My name is Alan B. Escobar, and I work with Sandoval-Josephs and Co. Investment Group, an investment firm with its main headquarters in San Jose, Costa Rica. We are in the real estate business and also work with investments such as hard money loans, certificates of deposit and finance many types of projects both nationally and abroad. Our company located, in Escazu, has been in business since 2007 providing easy financial solutions for real estate developments throughout Costa Rica, we pride ourselves in being eficient and very realistic to each client’s financial needs.

    Currently, we are looking for serious lenders to invest on hard money loans against the collateral value of properties like houses, condominiums, commecial property, warehouses, etc. or just raw land, farms, fincas and the likes. The interest rates range from 10%-12% for periods ranging from 1 to 3 years. Our company loans money at a 50% LTV ratio on land with construction that is both titled and insured, and 25-30% on raw land, therefore maximizing ROI and offering virtually no risk.

    If you are seriously interested in becoming one of our lenders, we have to open up an account for you here in Costa Rica and establish a corporation under your name in order for you to have a deed on a titled property here. Once we do that for you, you will have the same rights as any Costa Rican citizen does on any titled property. Once the corporation is set under your name here in Costa Rica, you can have deeds on any titled properties, and it would be up to you to loan the money to whoever needs it. You will be able to review any loan request we receive depending on the loan range you feel comfortable with, and it will be up to you if you are interested in providing the loan to any individual or company who requests it. We can also insure the properties with Chicago title insurance or Stewart title insurance upon lenders’ request.

    We can provide you with our corporate registration, our Costa Rican Business ID, and we can send you any information that you require from us in order to demonstrate that we are a serious, registered company here in Costa Rica. If you need any additional information, please contact me. I would love to go over any details with you and start a profitable business relationship.

    If you need any additional information, please contact me. Our office number is: 1-866-980-3467, my cell number in Costa Rica is: +506 8535-3180, or by email: aescobar(at)sjandcoinvestments.com

    Thank you very much for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon.

    Sincerely yours,

    Alan B. Escobar
    Sales Associate
    Sandoval Josephs and Co. Investment Group

  2. Salvador Gonzalez says:

    Hi,

    I am an nationalized American citizen born in El Salvador. For the past few years I’ve been interesed in establishing an indoor playground for (AKA-Children’s Hand’s On Museum). I am wondering if anyone can send me some information on how to get started in Costa Rica. Any help is much appreciated.

    Thank you,
    Salvador

  3. what about hospitals, doctors etc. medical insurance?

  4. Susan McLaren says:

    We are 3 americans looking for 2 furnished 1 bed room apts in the San Jose area that will allow a very welrenrl behaved small dog. Shw is very sweet and is not a barker. My husband and I are looking for weekly rate. My friend and her little dog are looking for long term rent. If anyone can help us out we will buy to a nice dinner. Thank you! Susan McLa

  5. Our company offers complete and tailored solutions to property management: short-term or long-term rentals of Condominiums, Homes and Commercial Premises in Costa Rica. English spoken.

  6. ticoman says:

    yeah I have a friend that went down there 20 years ago and is doing very well

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