In a world where certainty is increasingly scarce, Costa Rica is offering international investors something rare: a politically stable, sustainable and strategically positioned home for their money.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Costa Rica totaled €4.02 billion in 2024 — the highest in the country’s history — representing a 14 percent increase from 2023. This historic achievement underscores the country’s growing attractiveness as a strategic destination for global investment, driven by its stability, skilled workforce, and commitment to sustainability.
Exports also grew by 8 per cent to more than €28 billion. For a country of just over five million people, the scale of both indicators reflects an investment climate with momentum and strategic clarity — one offering long-term appeal for international investors.
A platform of stability and green ambition
Costa Rica has long stood out in Latin America for its political stability, social cohesion and commitment to environmental stewardship. It generates nearly 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources, has no standing army and ranks consistently high in the World Bank’s governance indicators. Its democratic model — rooted in rule of law, sustainability and public health — offers particular reassurance to European investors seeking ESG-aligned growth.
“Costa Rica’s sustainability vision has shown that it is possible to attract foreign direct investment while protecting the natural environment,” says Adriana Acosta, Director of the ‘essential COSTA RICA’ brand. “We present a nation that turns sustainability into a concrete competitive advantage — integrating innovation, excellence and social well-being into every part of its value proposition.”
Investment flows: where business is booming
In 2024, 64 percent of FDI went into Costa Rica’s free trade zones, which experienced a 24 percent year-on-year growth — a sign of investor confidence in the country’s legal clarity and operational readiness.
Top FDI sectors in 2024 included:
- Manufacturing: 67.4%
- Tourism: 13.9%
- Real estate: 6.8%
- Services: 5.1%
Advanced electronics and medical devices remain Costa Rica’s star exports, achieving attractive year-on-year growth as the country solidifies its status as a regional hub for precision manufacturing.
While tourism has long been a staple for Costa Rica’s economy, in 2024, renewed international appetite for sustainable travel bolstered tourism investments further, with the sector seeing a 113 per cent rise in FDI compared to 2023.
The year also marked growth in areas such as agri-tech, financial services and the creative economy, signalling the nation’s widening visibility as an innovation-led hub and vibrant commercial destination.
Returning investors are also driving growth. In 2024 alone, there were 100 reinvestment decisions made by companies already operating in Costa Rica — a strong vote of confidence in Costa Rica’s long-term trajectory.
Expanding opportunity beyond the capital
In line with the nation’s strategy to diversify investment flows, 2024 marked a notable shift in FDI allocation, with over €223 million being channelled outside the Greater Metropolitan Area of San José – reversing a previous trend of regional imbalance.
“We are actively promoting FDI diversification by sector and geography,” says Mónica Umaña, Investment Manager at PROCOMER. “Our supplier ecosystem provides agile and specialised support, strengthening value chains and enhancing competitiveness for companies investing here.”
A clear example of this in action is with Intel, the US multinational tech firm, which has been scaling operations in Costa Rica since 1997, reinvesting €1.07 million in infrastructure enhancements and talent upskilling between 2023 and 2025. Intel now employs more than 3,400 people in Costa Rica, across a state-of-the-art ‘Megalab’ and a global services centre in Heredia — proof of the country's growing role in global operations.
Other notable regional development investments include the multibillion-dollar eco development, Cóbano Preserve & Marina Tambor, underway on the Nicoya Peninsula as well as the green expansion of Bridgestone Americas tire manufacturing plant in Belén de Heredia.
By spreading investment, Costa Rica works not only to diversify its economic base but also contribute to inclusive development across under-served regions — a priority for investors with a long-term view on social impact.
Skilled talent, global reach
Costa Rica’s human capital is another core asset. With a literacy rate above 98 percent and national investment in technical education and bilingual training, the country continues to produce a workforce equipped for complex roles in science, technology and global services.
For European firms in sectors like life sciences, AI and fintech, the availability of English-speaking, STEM-qualified professionals offers a cost-effective solution for businesses looking to expand offshore operations, beyond Asia or Eastern Europe. With access to Costa Rica’s talent pool, foreign companies can more easily collaborate with local universities and research centres on innovation and training.
A gateway to the Americas
Location is another crucial part of the country’s appeal. Costa Rica offers direct access to both the North and South American markets, with key trade links to the United States, Canada and the European Union. It maintains free trade agreements with over 50 countries and has cultivated a reputation as a reliable, rules-based trading partner.
“Costa Rica is a smart choice for companies seeking impact, predictability and purpose. It’s a country where the institutional environment enables business, where talent meets the demands of advanced technologies, and where sustainability is not a slogan — it’s a daily practice. At PROCOMER, we create the conditions for every investment to scale, innovate and deliver tangible value for both investors and local communities”, says Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER.
As supply chains shift and companies reconsider the risks of long-distance production, Costa Rica further solidifies its edge in the region, capitalising on its established free trade zone framework and world-class connectivity — built on modern ports, fibre-optic infrastructure and efficient customs platforms.
A foundation built for sustainable growth
Costa Rica’s economic transformation is rooted in decisions made decades ago — to protect biodiversity, invest in human health, and move away from fossil fuels. Rather than relying on short-term incentives, the country’s offer is long-term resilience.
Today, the free trade zones that once attracted low-cost manufacturing are now home to over 600 firms operating across industries as diverse as medical devices, semiconductors and cloud computing. The government’s continued investment in electrification and reforestation aligns with carbon neutrality goals and reinforces Costa Rica’s positioning as a business environment that supports — rather than offsets — sustainability goals.
This is not just a moral stance, but a strategic one. European businesses increasingly assess environmental performance alongside financial returns, making Costa Rica’s model a market differentiator.
Why investors are returning — and staying
The results speak for themselves. In 2024, Costa Rica hosted more than 3,500 business meetings during its trade and investment summit, engaging with more than 400 international investors and 1,000 exporters. The event led to 61 new investment projects, including from 22 new countries of origin.
Behind this growing momentum stands PROCOMER, Costa Rica’s trade and investment promotion agency. With presence in over 40 markets worldwide, the agency plays a central role in helping international investors navigate the local landscape, offering market insight and practical support — from site selection to supply chain development — that many investors struggle to find elsewhere in the region.
Costa Rica’s long-term strategy of sustainable development and social empowerment is paying off. It is now home to a growing roster of multinational firms, from Intel and Amazon to Dole and Bayer. Many cite a combination of legal stability, skilled talent and sustainability credentials as the key to staying.
For investors in Europe seeking long-term value — Costa Rica offers a rare kind of business certainty: one grounded in innovation, resilience and a meaningful purpose.
Learn more about Costa Rica’s investment potential at Procomer.com
