Costa Rica faces economic and institutional challenges

Costa Rica is navigating several economic and institutional challenges. The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) is undergoing an extraordinary evaluation of its new Integrated People Management System (SIPE) after implementation issues were detected during payroll processing. Simultaneously, the CCSS is conducting regional tours to address infrastructure needs in health centers like Sarchí and Grecia.

In the economic sector, the National Association of Free Zones (AZOFRAS) is urging legislative action on energy reform to maintain competitiveness for multinational corporations. Meanwhile, the tourism sector faces pressure from high operational costs and infrastructure deficiencies, which may impact visitor stays despite the country's strong sustainability ranking.

Regarding monetary policy, the Central Bank of Costa Rica's decision to maintain the Monetary Policy Rate at 3% is expected to keep the US dollar at low levels, benefiting those with dollar-denominated debts but potentially impacting other productive sectors. Additionally, the CFIA has introduced a new certification pathway for sustainable construction, allowing projects under the Blue Flag Ecological Program to become eligible for Climate Bonds certification.