Costa Rica leaders convene to discuss Free Zone competitiveness and Life Sciences

Business leaders, government authorities, and international experts gathered at the IX Free Zone Congress in Costa Rica to establish a roadmap for economic competitiveness through 2030. Organized by the Association of Free Zone Companies of Costa Rica (AZOFRAS) and the Foreign Trade Corporation (PROCOMER), the event focused on attracting high-value international operations, technological adoption, and talent development.

The Free Zone regime recently reached a historic peak of nearly 200,000 direct jobs, with average salaries doubling those of the national private sector. To sustain this growth, officials emphasized the need for tripartite collaboration between industry, academia, and government.

In a related effort to bolster the Life Sciences sector, the Costa Rica Life Sciences Summit was held, organized by AstraZeneca and the Chamber of Exporters of Costa Rica (CADEXCO). The summit addressed the necessity of accelerating specialized STEM talent training to consolidate the country's position in science, technology, and innovation. Initiatives such as the ESTRELLAZ program, a collaboration between AstraZeneca, Fundación Paniamor, and the Ministry of Education, were highlighted for their role in bringing adolescent girls into STEM fields.