The manufacture conducted out of free zones is still having trouble recovering.
The exports of the industry, which lack the benefits of the special scheme, started 2017 in the doldrums, since they decreased 8.1% in January, compared to the same month in 2016.
This was explained by Francisco Gamboa, executive director of the Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica, after knowing the results of the activity, which were published by the PROCOMER.
According to the Chamber, the drop in exports combined with a spectacular growth of 27% in medical and precision equipment, coming mostly from free zones, results in an overall increase of 9.5% in manufacturing exports, although regions such as the Caribbean and South America and sectors such as the food industry are falling.
In the past, the group has been critical of the red tape and high local costs of electricity, which affect the competitiveness of their businesses.