On behalf of AgentschapNL, we would like to share this information with you.

I am writing you in behalf of the Dutch Embassy located in Costa Rica.  The Dutch Embassy oversees the whole Central America market, a region that has a strategic location connecting the Northern and Southern American Continents.  Central America together is comparable in size (area & population) as Spain with its 44 million inhabitants and it has a combined economy of Usd. $200 billion comparable to Finland or Hungry.

If you are interested to hear more about the business opportunities in Central America or other countries, please stop bye at the International Economics Week IEW

On Thursday, November 14, 2013, DHL Express, Fenedex, ING, ExportSelect and partner NL Agency are organizing, for the fourth time the National Export Event 2013, this time in the WTC in Rotterdam. The event is organized for new and experienced exporters who want to know more about international business and want to expand their professional network. More detailed information is available on the website of this event: http://www.agentschapnl.nl/actueel/evenementen/nationaal-export-event

To register you can email: evenementen@info.agentschapnl.nl or call +31 (0) 88 602 90 00

Here and here you will find our article regarding Central America that got published last month in Fenedex Express (Dutch).

The Isthmus has been one of the most proactive in terms of negotiating trade agreements with other regions around the world.  Despite the global economic crisis, trade has grown at a constant rate.  The US is still its main export market, the destination of 32% of Central American exports on average, followed by the Central Common Market 26% and European Union with 9%, this later expected to grow now the Association Agreement with Europe is in effect.  One of the pillars of the Central American and especially Costa Rican economic development has been trade liberalization, resulting in productivity growth, diversification of the economy and a higher level of investment.  Foreign Direct Investment in the Central American region has grown 80% over the past 3 years, reaching Usd. $ 6 billion.  Costa Rica is Netherlands 3th trading partner in Latin America, behind Brazil & Mexico.

For those companies seeking to lower their costs and expand to new markets while maintain their high quality service, Costa Rica for example is a very interesting option to look at.  Costa Rica is a world class location for high-technology multinational companies in the areas of Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences, Services, Clean Technologies, and more (regional distribution centers, infrastructure projects, tourism). Over 250 global companies are already taking advantage of the benefits that Costa Rica offers.

Example: Services Sector
Costa Rica is known as one of the most suitable locations for offshoring and outsourcing services in the Americas. More than 100 multinational companies are currently operating in its territory. An exceptionally talented and bilingual workforce, the country’s strategic location, its excellent business climate, solid infrastructure, high quality of life, and a strong, diverse and consolidated service sector, among other characteristics, guarantee quality of operations, stability and a clear growth potential.

Costa Rica is strong in the following outsourcing sub-sectors:

  • Contact Center Shared Services & Back Office
  • Entertainment & Media Digital Technologies
  • Design & Engineering Regional Centers

Costa Rica is the:

  • Country with the greatest potential for innovation in Latin America-Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013
  • Top five Global Services Location in America- AT Kearney, 2011
  • Top seven city for future FDI in Latin America (San Jose).- Financial Times: FDI Intelligence, 2013
  • 1st Outsourcing City of Latin America (San Jose)-Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations 2013, Tholons

For additional information feel free to write us or visit us at the International Economics Week IEW.