The number of direct jobs generated by companies in free zones during the last year grew by 5%, reaching 82,000 direct jobs and 43,000 indirect jobs.
Currently, there are 331 companies in this regime dedicated to the commercialization of goods and services, while staying in the country. Some of them have been operating in Costa Rica for 10 years.
According to the director general of the Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER), Pedro Beirute, the good thing is that they are incorporating new production lines.
The study analyzed for the first time the level of productivity of workers in the system, concluding that the real value added per worker, in the case of manufacturing, shows an annual growth of 8.1% for the period 2000-2015, a much higher number than the 1% outside the regime.
Exports from the free zones scheme account for almost half of local external sales in 2015 (47% on average).
President Luis Guillermo Solís said the study confirms, once again, the fundamental role of free zones in the country’s development as quality employment generators for Costa Ricans and as platforms for the national production.