Costa Rica’s country brand ranked third place in Latin America • costadevelopers.com

esencial

Country brand "Essential Costa Rica" was presented at the beginning of September, as the brand that would be used in promoting tourism and foreign investment.

Essential Costa Rica was rated as the third best mark in a group of 21 countries of Latin America, according to the ranking drawn up by the company Future Brand, responsible for developing it.
The country ranked the first place in accordance with the evaluation of the categories 'Natural Beauty' "Natural beauty", "Friendly with the environment" and "Hotels and Resorts"
The first places were to Brazil and Argentina.
The Country Brand Index Latin America study is based on 2000 interviews carried out frequent travelers, both business and pleasure, that does not reside or are native to the region; also the opinion of analysts was taken into account.
"Costa Rica is one of the Nations to observe from here in the future, both for its consistency in the past around 'Green' and 'sustainable', but also by its impetus for overcoming to be recognized as a country with a value proposition that integrates optimally to tourism, the promotion of exports and the attraction of investments", said Future Brand in the report.
According to the study, the abolition of the army from 1948 impacts positively on the perception that it has on the "quality of life", in terms of "Security" and "Best place to live".
Behind Brazil, Argentina and Costa Rica ranked in ordinal manner: Chile, Peru, Mexico, Uruguay, Panama, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Honduras, Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Haiti.
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Costa Rica receives more tourists but they spend less money • costadevelopers.com

Costa Rica receives more than two million tourists a year, coming especially from the United States and Canada.

Revealed by the newspaper La Nación studies indicate that Costa Rica receives more tourists however they spend less money during their visits. The entrance of foreign currency accounting feels the effect of the impact of the global financial crisis of 2008 in the tourism industry, recently also is affected by the European crisis.
Visitors entering Cota Rica are more careful about spending money, whether for business or family, tourist visits. Costs that are currently differ from those that were made five years ago.
Previous to the crisis in the United States, foreigners spent $94 more than last year, or 9%. In 2008 the 2.1 million such visitors, they disbursed approximately $1 041 by an average of 11 days stay, leaving the country currency by $2 billion.
During the year 2012, the country received 2.3 million tourists; however the average consumption of a stay of 11 days fell to $947, and generating foreign exchange for $2 billion.
Foreign exchange generated by tourism in Costa Rica, corresponding to 5% of the gross domestic product of Costa Rica; this according to figures from the Central Bank and the Costa Rican Institute of tourism.
According to the data disclosed by the Studio, visitors who arrive in the country through the Daniel Oduber airport in Liberia, Guanacaste are those who spend fewer dollars. Consumption rose from $1,700 in 2008 to $1.078 2012 in an average stay of little more than one week. Liberia arrive, primarily us passengers. UU. and Canada (94% of the total).
On the other hand the average of travelers entering by the Juan Santamaria International Airport spending stays in the range of $1,300.
The Costa Rican Institute of tourism, through surveys applied to travellers, is responsible for determining that graduation average tourists according to their way of entering the country.
According to Isabel Vargas, President of the National Chamber of tourism (CANATUR) considered that as an entrepreneur has felt the impact of the change in expenditure made by the tourists.
"Before deciding on a tour valued its price, also the hotels and even the food. I think that that average of $947 per stay will be maintained. That is why we must continue to attract more foreigners to try to compensate with volume decline in the consumption of services", Vargas told the newspaper La Nación.
While employers have experienced the change in spending on tourism activities, the country still has a solid platform for visitors, the industry employs about 500,000 people and industry still invests to improve its offer.
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PriceSmart supermarket opened its sixth store in Costa Rica • costadevelopers.com

Since PriceSmart supermarket opened in Costa Rica it became one of the most visited warehouses by Costa Ricans to make multiple purchases.

PriceSmart new supermarket will be located in the province of Cartago, specifically in La Union, three rivers, adjacent to the Oficentro Terra corporate Campus, in the East of the country. Its opening is expected for Friday 18 October. The establishment had a $20 million investment and generates employment to 130 people.
Chain PriceSmart supermarkets came to Costa Rica for the first time 14 years ago, coming from the United States and operating under the modality of supermarket per membership, currently has five local located in different parts of the greater Metropolitan Area and which opens this week in Cartago will be the sixth.
This new venue will have a space of 20, 000 square meters and with 130 jobs that already reach a labor force of 1200 people working in different premises of Costa Rica. PriceSmart, Inc. corresponds to the largest clubs of purchase operator membership in Latin America.
The supermarket chain was developed by Sol and Robert Price in San Diego, California in 1976 and today serves more than one million members in 30 clubs throughout twelve countries and a territory not belonging to the United States. It currently operates in Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Barbados, El Salvador and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
During the past year, it was announced that the multinational chain of U.S. origin Walmart would bring to the country your company from the competition, Sam's Club, Walmart spokesmen however qualified this information as just a rumor.
Another company to open in Costa Rica is the multinational selling clothes GAP, which will open its first store in the Mall Multiplaza Escazu, where have also opened premises other stores of American origin like Forever21.
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Hotel Park Inn Costa Rica will receive LEED Gold certification • costadevelopers.com

San José is home to large number of hotels of international chains that have been established thanks to the high demand of tourists visiting the country.

The Hotel Park Inn San Jose is the first certified LEED Gold in Costa Rica and the second hotel received this recognition in Central America and the Caribbean, and the third in Latin America.
Park Inn is located in the province of San José, close to the Paseo Colón, one of the most emblematic towns of the Costa Rican capital and a tourist reference point.
This hotel has 125 rooms, swimming pool and a corporate Center. Park Inn required an investment of $15 million. The hotel obtained a certification LEED Gold for new construction, because account with a 54% reduction in the consumption of drinking water, the reduction of 100% of the use of drinking water stop health services, a ceiling see you roof and 22.25% less than non-sustainable buildings energy consumption.
In addition to these features, the hotel has 52 solar panels that generate part of the energy required by the building.
Park Inn authorities point out that for homes Costa Rica, who is responsible for development, the objective is that this project can provide benefits to the community and the environment; similarly considered that this certification is offered as an innovative and fresh product to both national and foreign market.
"The importance is the mitigation of the environmental impact of the business environment and the contribution to the community in general. Certification and guarantee that the products used in the hotel are green products of first quality, that all construction since its inception followed the guidelines and processes required by LEED. And the most important guarantee for our customers that are contributing to choosing a product green, responsible and certified internationally," said Eduardo Carrasco, Manager of quality and service to the guest of the hotel.
Park Inn is the only hotel that has characteristics that are identified with development and sustainable construction. Recently the Hotel Holiday Inn located on the Prospero Fernandez highway in the canton of Escazú has certification for sustainable tourism.
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Costa Rica joins Global Alliance on the ground • costadevelopers.com

The country has been a point of reference the topic of environmental conversation to their counterparts in Latin America and around the world.

Costa Rica is part of the Global Alliance on the ground in conjunction with other countries of Central America and the Caribbean in addition to Mexico. This initiative aims to fight for more fertile soils, prevention and restoration of those soils which have been downgraded.
Some of the priorities of this initiative are to promote the establishment of national legislations enabling the protection of the resource soil and their sustainable management, as well as the relevant regulations for its implementation, as well as develop, share and transfer regional systems of information of soils that are consistent and updated to meet all the needs for your use and with best available techniques, among others.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Costa Rica, Tania Lopez Lee, recently participated in a workshop in the framework of the launch of the Global Alliance on the ground which was held in Havana, Cuba.
The workshop was directed toward the prevention and restoration of soils in Central America and the Caribbean region. It was given in celebration of the first plenary Assembly of the Alliance global soil which was held in Rome, Italy. In this activity an intergovernmental group with expertise in soils approved society of regional partnerships, such as the development and incorporation of action plans for the protection and recovery of soils.
The Deputy Minister Lopez told the national press that "allocate, book and run budgetary resources to programmes for the protection of soil and resume research and technical assistance for the proper handling of the soil as a natural resource, are part of the challenges in the future that we have proposed for the conservation of soils".
Additionally added that "Two years Costa Rica is working on this use and soil conservation project" said the Vice Minister, also added that it is important to note that the Costa Rican, Dr. Carlos Henríquez, who is a member of the scientific group of the section for Latin America.
The United Nations Organization for food and Agriculture (FAO) in its #144 Council of June 2012 set 05 December as the world day of the land.
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Costa Rica seeks to strengthen relations with Qatar • costadevelopers.com

The Chinchilla Miranda administration has increased the country’s international exposure level.

The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Ali Bin Fahed the Hajiri and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Costa Rica, Gioconda Ubeda met recently in order to strengthen and improve the bilateral relations between the two countries.
At a meeting held with the press, the Vice-Minister Úbeda and the representative of Qatar said that the main objective of this meeting was the promotion and strengthening of diplomatic relations between the two, especially in the field of culture, foreign investment and the stimulation of tourism.
"Have talked about the situation we have in some conventions and can materialize in the next months. I am referring to the conventions of technical cooperation and cultural cooperation agreements and we are also negotiating an agreement for the air theme" Ubeda told the press.
In addition, Ubeda mentioned that there is a relationship that is being built with great intensity and that there is a great interest on the part of both countries to accelerate strengthening and deepening in such issues.
Both Qatar and Costa Rica have an existing agreement on the issue of investment and expected that you for the next year sign-up tax and cultural cooperation agreements. One of the effects of this meeting was the creation of a Costa Rica-Qatar cultural week which will be held annually in way alternately in the two countries and its first edition will be the next year in Costa Rica.
Both countries will explore possibilities to relax formalities for citizens of Qatar on the subject of visas, as well as the possibility of creating a direct flight between Costa Rica and Qatar.
In the tourist aspect is considered to Costa Rica as a gateway to Central America, as well as Qatar corresponds to a port for the countries of the Persian Gulf.
To the Hajiri stressed that Qatar has defined plans for global investment for a lot of $ 100 billion for the next decades, with this amount it expects to benefit entrepreneurs and Costa Rican investors.
Both countries established diplomatic relations in 2004 and strengthened in the year 2010.
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Costa Rica participates in international dance contest • costadevelopers.com

In the country there are a number of academies that taught lessons of dance, ballet, and other disciplines.

Costa Rican dance will be exposed to an audience varied in a contest in Panama where contestants from other countries will be presented in the active dance activity that promotes the exchange of experiences between Panama and the countries present.
Active dance competition will feature the participation of children and Costa Rican adolescents presenting six choreographies in the Panamanian National Theater in the coming days.
This event will include dancers from Mexico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and United States. The representatives of Costa Rica are part of the Body Language Academy.
This is the fifth consecutive Edition of dance activated, an event that has the support of the National Institute of culture of Panama.
Julieta García, who is the Director of the Association of Costa Rica, told La Nacion newspaper that his dancers will show six choreography in the competition, which is divided into two categories (junior and teen).
'We are 12 dancers, ages 8 to 17, for the respective modalities. They dance jazz, hip hop, lyrical jazz and tap", said the Director of the group having two years of existence.
The dance active activity will reward the first four places. It will provide a medal (diamond, gold, silver and bronze, depending on the position), as well as scholarships for studying in the Ballet Hispanico of New York, Joffery Ballet School in New York and Ballet from the sea of Venezuela".
Activity will also feature activities taught by talented and recognized professionals in the contemporary dance, ballet and hip hop.
Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy these workshops throughout the days of the event and it will be divided into different categories according to the age of the present.
The activity starts on October second activity and its awards gala will take place on October 6^th.
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Costa Rica could be country destination for pilot UN plan • costadevelopers.com

On the country for example is study data about natural disasters and how to improve the relevance of education.

Costa Rica could be the first country in Latin America that has a laboratory of Global Pulse, called press Lab, because the Government already requested the United Nations assess to Costa Rica as a destination country.
The Ambassador of Costa Rica to the United Nations, Eduardo Ulibarri started this year a rapprochement with Roberto Kirkpatrick, leader of Global press, after which the President of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla said in May the Secretary General of the UN, Ban-ki Moon to assess to the country as a destination to start operations with a laboratory.
Press Labs are centers of technological innovation that are installed in countries where there is a use of local knowledge and innovation, which are woven alliances and create approaches for monitoring data in real time to solve problems and opportunities.
Participate in these centers analysts, developers’ designers and staff from the public and private sectors, as well as members of the United Nations to explore ideas and develop tools able to recognize "smoke signals" digital arising from different data.
The United Nations decided to carry out a feasibility study in Costa Rica to contemplate the establishment of a press Lab in Costa Rica, followed, almost with certainty their implementation give the country.
This study which still does not have a specific date, would take about a month and a half and its cost would be around $20 thousand dollars. The funding is managed by Costa Rica. With these possible allies, local conditions would be identified and to what extent it could access data.
"They have shown interest because Costa Rica has certain technological and academic development, a set of resources suitable for a centre of this kind and there are historically a tradition of non-intervention of the Government, international agencies opening and a civil society responsive to these opportunities", told Ulibarri to La Nacion newspaper.
Currently there are laboratories in New York, Kampala in Uganda and another in Jakarta Indonesia. If the opening is given in Costa Rica, it would be the first country in Latin America to have press Lab.
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Costa Rica is number one in Latin America in human capital • costadevelopers.com

The quality of workers in Costa Rica has been key for the attraction of foreign direct investment to the country.

According to the first edition of the report of Human Capital by the World Economic Forum, Costa Rica took place 35 of 122 countries, ranking the first in Latin America to provide the best conditions for the development of its workforce and local talent. The general list is led by Switzerland, Finland and Singapore.
According to Gabriela LLobet, General Director of the Costa Rican Coalition of development initiatives (CINDE) investment that takes place in country in education and health, as well as the generation of quality employment jobs, have allowed the formation of a talented workforce and competitive.
"This new index positioning reaffirms us that the quality of our human resources stands out in the world and especially in the region" said Llobet.
According to the study prepared by the World Economic Forum, the index shows the virtuous circle that multinational companies represent for countries. In Costa Rica for example and in terms of attracting foreign direct investment, they operate more than 250 foreign companies of high technology, which the country carry out innovative processes and provide services of high quality to the whole world.
"These companies provide employees opportunities for work of high quality, where they interact with new technologies and learn new skills. This impacts positively the formation of worker and its quality", concluded the Director.
The methodology used by the Forum measures the ability of countries to develop healthy, well educated and capable workers through four pillars: education, health and welfare workers, employment, and environment facilitator.
In the country have entered many foreign companies specially dedicated to the provision of high-tech services, for this reason, national companies have invested in improving the conditions of attraction for these multinational companies.
Alajuela and Cartago are two of the provinces where large-scale industrial parks will soon open to hosts a significant number of international companies that will soon begin operations in Costa Rica.
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Costa Rica participates in flowers fair in Colombia • costadevelopers.com

Costa Rica representatives together with other 11 countries will participate in the sample shopping flowers most important of America, according to the agency EFE.

For the year 2012 Costa Rica exported flowers for a value of $36 million to 23 destinations around the world.

In activity is expected to attend 1500 buyers and suppliers from different countries.

According to the news agency, more than 180 companies will be present in the Colombian capital Bogotá with the motive of entering Proflora, where besides Costa Rica, Holland, Israel, Spain, United States, Russia, China, Germany and Italy will be present.

In this activity participants will have access to crops of species of both national and international exhibitions, as well as machinery, supplies and services in the industry. According to ProFlora and the Colombian flower exports Association (Asocolflores).

In this show, which will be held for about four days, stands out the presence of Holland, a country which will have representatives from 16 companies, specializing in technology greenhouses, irrigation, soil and logistics industry.

Holland controls about 50% of international trade in horticulture and floriculture, in Latin America Colombia is one of the important countries internationally in the trade of flowers.

This European country was constituted in 2012 as the top exporter of ornamental plants in the world, with a stake of 50.4% of global sales, according to information from the Embassy of Colombia.

"Colombia, when dealing with the second as the leading exporter of flowers, is a great potential to expand our bilateral economic relations in this sector", said in a statement the Ambassador of Holland in the country, Robert van Embden.

Activity will feature various attractions, such as exhibitions, golf tournament, competitions of decor and ambience, and a party to close the activity.

According to Asocolflores event means a business opportunity for interested companies around the world. Its first edition took place in 1991 and has become the most important fair of flowers of America.

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Theme parks of Costa Rica are attractive for tourists │ costadevelopers.com

In Costa Rica visitors theme parks have remained centres of tourist attraction both for domestic as for foreign

In the country are several theme parks, sites where visitors can interact directly with animal species and appreciate the wonderful nature that is in these places.

Some of them, are Africa Mia in Guanacaste province, INBioparque, rescue Zoo Ave Center and other more

While some of these sites have experienced difficult economic experiences, the arrival of visitors has kept them in operation for several years. The Costa Rican Institute of tourism

indicates that there are approximately about 32 theme parks in Costa Rica, within zoos, rural farms, coffee or chocolate tours, tourist sites of adventure and spaces to develop eco tourism.

Soon will be added to the country parks like Water Kingdom and Sun Ranch, these will be located in the province of Guanacaste, although still have not set a date for its opening, because the same construction has not started.

According to surveys carried out by the Costa Rican Institute of tourism 7 of every 10 visitors entering by the international airports of the country made some kind of adventure.
Activity

Within the most typical are the bird watching, hiking trails, canopy and visit to hot springs resorts. Some of these adventure activities are within the parks.

One of the most attractive offering these resorts correspond to the interaction of people with environmental

Tourists vary the activities engaged in, for example, foreigners are emerging as more visitors adventure parks, while the nationals are more prone to the natural attractions.

Some of the tourist parks are characterized by integrating a didactic variable on history, culture and nature.

Theme parks consulted by El Financiero newspaper are scheduled to carry out infrastructure improvements to become more attractive to national and international tourists.

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Costa Rica obtained $1335 million in FDI from January to July 2013 │ costadevelopers.com

Administration Chinchilla Miranda has focused on the promotion of foreign investment through participation in activities international.

During the first six months of the year, Costa Rica had a turnover of the sum of $1335, 3 million in foreign direct investment (FDI), in addition its exports totaled $2932,7 million, according to data from the Ministry of foreign trade (COMEX).

According to the relevant authorities in Costa Rica, the dynamism in the approach of foreign direct investment has benefited the exports of services, which in the first half of 2013 were 7.7% more compared to the same period in the previous year.

Foreign direct investment that arrived to Costa Rica between January and June of 2013 represents a 15.4% compared to the first half of the year 2012, according to data from the Central Bank.

Within industrial sectors most benefited with this dynamism were the real estate, manufacturing sector, textiles, biotechnology and paper.

"Was observed in the service sector, greater dynamism in the energy sector and information services related to digital images", they captured 50% of the foreign resources aimed at the services industry, reported in a press release.
Comex

"The sustained growth of exports of services shows the increasingly important role that this activity is within the national economy, representing a 33.7% of the total exports of Costa Rica during this first half," said Minister of foreign trade, Anabel González, in a statement.

"These results are a sample of the dynamism and sophistication of our exportable supply, directly linked with the effort that we made in the area of attracting investment," added Gonzalez.

Some of the services of exports from Costa Rica belong to the computer industry and business services, which recorded transactions by 892,2 million and 414,8 million dollars between January and June, respectively.

Services business and computer science are offered in the country, accounted for 44.6% of total services exports in the first half, recorded a growth of 8.9% over the previous year.

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EXPOMED seeks to promote medical tourism in Costa Rica │ costadevelopers.com

Medical tourism is one of the most prosperous businesses in the tourism industry in Costa Rica thanks to its quality of care and costs competitive.

The national forum of health tourism organizes the annual ExpoMed this coming October 29 at the Crowne Plaza Corobici Hotel San Jose.
Activity has the support of the Ministry of health, the Pan American Health Organization, the College of physicians, Procomer and Promed.
The 2013 Edition of the ExpoMed will bring together hundreds of professionals in the areas of dentistry, investors and professionals in tourism, companies of the tourism industry and health, in order to learn about best practices in the field of the promotion and dissemination of medical under the highest tourism and the guarantee to protect the image of Costa Rica.
Activity talks, workshops and advice will be provided and there will be a business conference, where more than 400 attendees can exchange experiences and information about the future of medical tourism in Costa Rica.
"With ExpoMED we want to emphasize the importance of quality and accreditation of services of health, tourism and recovery as the key to success in the promotion of the country as a destination for medical tourism. For which Costa Rica strengthen its leadership as one of the most attractive medical destinations have to redouble efforts in education, training and comply with international standards of quality and patient safety", said Dr. Jorge Cortes, President of Promed in national media.
The Ministry of health of Costa Rica and Promed recently signed a cooperation agreement to develop a plan of action between the two in order to educate patients on issues of quality and accreditation of health services and care that exist in Costa Rica, also seek development in health sector private, a continuous quality based on compliance with international standards to ensure the safety of patients.
"Thanks to the signing of this agreement there is a set a commitment to comply with specifications and regulations which have the Ministry of health and PROMED. The Convention includes specific actions such as the creation of working groups on specific topics, as well as the Organization of fairs, trainings and campaigns", said Dr. Francisco Gólcher, director Comptroller of services of the Ministry of health.
The country hopes to reach the goal of 100 000 tourists of health income in 2014 with an approximately $800 million in foreign exchange generation.
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Costa Rica seeks to attract new routes areas in fair in Las Vegas │ costadevelopers.com

Recently the country suffered the loss of some connecting flights who handled the TACA airline by what other companies have sought to supplement the missing.

The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) will participate in the World Routes 2013 international trade fair, which will take place from 5 to 8 October in the city of Las Vegas in the United States.
This event will feature the presence of 300 from airlines around the world, including for example KLM and Air France, two of the largest companies at the level of airlines.
The objective of this activity is to provide a space for these companies in the tourism industry to negotiate its services and products, through appointments previously scheduled with different entities from tourism agencies, business chambers and others.
Are some of the airlines that will be present in l activity in addition to KLM and Air France, British Airways, Air Asia, American Airlines, United Airlines and Lufthansa.
By Costa Rica, the Minister of tourism, Allan Flores, told the newspaper La Nacion that this participation aims mainly to consolidate existing relationships and create new linkages with other global airlines to strengthen and facilitate the development of new air routes from major markets for Costa Rica.
"Through this activity, create and strengthen relationships with airlines that represent or may mean a development of optimal air services for tourism in our country. In addition, the institution will release capabilities, strengths tourist and airport services", said Flores.The Costarican Institute of tourism
participates in activity accompanied by representatives of the two main airports of Costa Rica, the Juan Santa Maria International Airport and the Daniel Oduber international airport located in the province of Guanacaste in the North Pacific.
19 Edition of the 2013 World Routes will be attended by more than 3000 participants coming from 100 different countries around the world.
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Hard Rock Cafe and Starbucks announce new openings in Costa Rica │ costadevelopers.com

Costa Rica has been a point of attraction for hundreds of franchises from different parts of the world, especially in the food industry.

Hard Rock is a chain of restaurants that are open in Costa Rica. The restaurant will open its first business in the Central American country after making an investment of $3.2 million in the city of Heredia, 20 minutes from the capital San Jose.

Local to be located at the Wyndham San Jose Herradura Hotel in the canton of Belén promises to be at the height of the restaurants in the chain around the world.

The new Hard Rock will have space for 310 people and an area of concerts for 800 more. The arrival of the company in Costa Rica generate employment to about 100 people, while they already received 3500 job applications.

"We had 3,500 job seekers. Of those, 106 people we employ and will soon move on to 95. The subject of the service is really important to us. Other franchises do not have more than 40 employees" said Gustavo Araya partner of the daily La Nacion.

The employer emphasized that the concept of the Hard Rock Cafe is a family restaurant, themed around the music of any genre.

Hard Rock will not only have a place in the greater Metropolitan Area, but that they also plan to open a restaurant in the area of the North Pacific, especially for tourists visiting the region.

Playas del Coco and tamarind are places that currently tested for the opening of the second restaurant, but the place will be smaller, only for 100 people.

Starbucks, Cafe premises in hundreds of countries, will open a new store in the country over the next few days. This will be the third Café opened the company in Costa Rica, since they arrived in the country last year and they have consolidated a significant success in the Central American country.

The new town of Starbucks will be in the area west of the capital, San Jose, the American firm will employ nearly 100 people and soon will open a local room in a still-undefined area.

Franchises have generated you to Costa Rica an investment of $6 million, according to studies by the Chamber of Commerce.

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Mega projects taken Central Pacific │ costadevelopers.com

Central Canton and Garabito will receive investments by more than $211 million on the next 15 years.

On the next 15 years the canton central Pacific of Costa Rica and the canton of Garabito will receive investments of more than $211 million.

In the list of projects there are three real estate developments in charge of Costa Rican companies that seek to change the face of the province of Puntarenas, which has been lagging behind for several years.

While the canton of Garabito is one of the cantons more growing in the country and greater tourism boom, still seems that investors seek to invest more in it to consolidate it as the tourist area of greater affluence of the country.

Investments that are projected to be in the central cantons and Puntarenas-Garabito will reach $211 billion and will occupy about 164 hectares of land over a period of 15 years.

One of the projects planned for the area is Mystic, a mini beach town located in Playa Hermosa, Jacó in the canton of Garabito. The managers of Mystic, the company Desarrollos506, will build a community private's three stages focused a Costa Rican of class medium-high and high of ages between the 30 and 60 years.

Another of the projects scheduled for this area is Jaco Walk, located in the center of the city and will count with a investment of approximately $50 million of about 70 thousand meters square of construction with 600 parking. The project will begin to market their properties next month and is expected to be delivered in October 2014.

Jaco Walk will house banks, fast food, medical Tower and other offices. You will have access to the sea, to the main street and also mountain, projected that the property also has a future hotel. It will be developed by the company Interra.

"Today there are shops which are not in Jaco for lack of adequate infrastructure to operate with standards of international franchising; There are even others who are working in local inadequate", Alfredo Atmetlla Manager of Interra told the daily El Financiero.

Ready to open projects is Ocean Mall, a shopping mall of 22 thousand square meters with an investment of $20 million. The building would be ready at the beginning of 2015. Ocean Mall is part of an even more ambitious project of a mixed complex called Oak city, which will be from an Office Center, apartments, different amenities and residential condominiums.

Without a doubt Central Pacific region is emerging as one of the regions fastest growing in the country especially in the tourist and real estate industry of Costa Rica.

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Central America celebrated its independence on Sunday 15 September │ costadevelopers.com

Costa Rica has been characterized by having a solid democracy and a system of Government stable.

The independence of Central America was proclaimed in Guatemala on September 15, 1821. A month later, Costa Rica established the first Constitution, through the Concord Pact, which led to the first elections in December 1821.
Costa Rica celebrated its anniversary 192 years since independence with traditional parades in the streets of the country, starring students from schools.
In this country, as in the rest of Central America, was given responsibility in the Organization of the most important activities of this commemoration, to students, in order to teach them values, patriotism, honor and respect.
In Costa Rica on 15 September morning was filled with much folklore. The Second Avenue, one of the most important streets of the city of San Jose was visited by thousands of people who walked to the Central Park of San José to commemorate the independence. The activity had the presence of police who were in charge of the security of the event.
Activity was attended by President Laura Chinchilla, who had the opportunity to be surrounded by hundreds of children who walked the streets at the traditional parade.
Celebration brought together hundreds of people with authorities of the country around 8 a.m. and was loaded with speeches, hymns and delivery of certificates to students who have participated in civic activities.
Also participated in parades the traditional bands of schools who are prepared months in advance for this parade with much fanfare. The participation of the students has been traditional for many years, representing the importance of education in Costa Rica.
In other Central American countries also celebrates independence on 15 September. One of the most important activities is the traditional route with the torch across Central American borders in the hands of national students.
Nationwide festivities were also loaded with typical dances, traditional Costa Rican food, in addition to the singing of the national anthem at six in the afternoon.
Costa Rica boasts a traditional solid democracy and a stable Government, which has allowed him to promote themselves internationally as a country highly attractive for investors and tourists.
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Chilean companies visit Costa Rica to strengthen trade ties │ Costadevelopers.com

trade

Chile is one of the countries with better indexes both commercial human development in the region as Latin American.

Around 40 Chilean companies recently visited Costa Rica to strengthen and increase trade relations between the two countries, at a meeting called "I S Chile", according to the official spokespersons.

In the event which will have a duration of two days, participating companies of various industries, from pharmaceutical producers of containers, the information and communication technology, building materials environmental services and University services.

As the Director of the office in Costa Rica for the direction of promotion of exports from Chile (ProChile), Marcela Aravena, indicated in an interview with Acan-Efe, the main objective is to achieve a rapprochement between the Chilean manufacturing companies and services with potential business partners in the region of Central America, especially in Costa Rica.

"Want to know that Chile is not only food and drinks but a manufacturing industry. We see in Central America real opportunities for trade that are growing in time," Aravena said.

In accordance with Aravena, the Central American region is not one market for Chile, but by otherwise representing a suitable for the foreign trade area, especially products that diversify exports to Costa Rica and vice versa. Both countries maintain a free trade agreement since 2002, this meeting allows you to consolidate and capitalize on the negotiations that were established in the Treaty.

"We hope that within the framework of the FTA trade in Chile to Costa Rica continues to grow and be closer to our entrepreneurs with potential Costa Rican counterpart, which come more products like medicines, food industry, University services," said Aravena.

The delegation representative of Chile, said that the free trade agreement has been "very positive" for exports, also is expected in a medium square a significant growth of the Costa Rican sales in the South American region, using this country as a platform to cover a wider region market.

According to the data of the Ministry of foreign trade of Costa Rica, during the year 2012, exports to Chile reached $25.7 million and imports from that country $291,3 billion.

On the other hand, exports to Central America and the Caribbean increased by 17% since 2009.

Among other activities the business meeting "I S Chile" is organized by ProChile and also includes a seminar, technical workshops and wheels of negotiation.

Posted by Costa Developers 

Japan will help Costa Rica to protect wetlands │ costadevelopers.com

The support from the Japanese Government gives the country will its better capabilities for the conservation and management of wetlands.

The Agency of Japan International cooperation (JICA) provides training to personnel of the Vice-Ministry of water and a sea of MINAE on wetland conservation, the first course started in the month of May and consists of the "conservation and sustainable use of the biodiversity of wetland ecosystems in base communities".

"This training gave us tools to encourage the participation of the communities and the development of local plans that facilitate the conservation and rational use of biodiversity of wetland ecosystems", said engineer Jacklyn Rivera Wong, employee of the Vice-Ministry of water and seas of Costa Rica who received the training together with specialists from China, Malaysia and Mexico.

Back at the end of the courses, lessons learned will be reflected in an action plan for the conservation of the RAMSAR sites, this project involve also local communities on sustainable management of resources, initially a pilot scheme should be established in the area of Paquera, Puntarenas.

The RAMSAR Convention is of International Court and seeks global countries worry the wetland conservation through protection, the rational use of resources, international cooperation and training and training in this area.

Wetlands correspond to one of the sites of major ecological conservation on biodiversity, and one of the most important are: water purification and detoxification of waste, which seeks to reduce the concentration of elements in space.

Another of its main functions is in the regulation of climate change, through capture and broadcast of a large proportion of the carbon in the biosphere.

"On this site we will develop a project to strengthen citizen participation and participatory environmental education that supports the efforts of Area Conservation Pacific Central SINAC/MINAE for its wetland ecosystems," said Jacklyn Rivera.

Posted by Costa Developers

Costa Rica will have its first beach of freshwater │ CostaDevelopers.com

The region of the North of the province of Alajuela is one of the most popular places in the country among tourists.

The new project in the area will be established on the edge of the volcano: a beach of freshwater that will take approximately three years to develop, it promises to be one of the most significant tourist centers of the country.

San Carlos region is characterized by the number of activities that can be enjoyed by tourists in the area, not only is famous for its variety of sites suitable to enjoy the hot springs at Spa style, but is ideal for horseback riding and hiking in the Woods.

The project "manufacture" a freshwater Beach responds to the exploitation of the unique scenic beauty that shows great Arenal Lake , and until today had not been developed. This initiative has the backing of businessmen of the area and the Costa Rican Institute of tourism.

The beach of freshwater will be located at the Arenal lake, which boasts a surface of 85 km and it was built in 1979.

According to the President of the Chamber of tourism of the Zona Norte, Leovigildo Villegas, this is a project that has been pushing for a couple of years and which is currently in the phase of approval of various permits.

"There are many countries in America such as Chile and United States which have been able to exploit its freshwater lakes and this privilege that we have we have a beautiful Lake must take advantage", Villegas told Acan-EFE agency.

For some years at the Arenal lake have begun to conduct tours for tourists in small boats that allow you to enjoy the beautiful scenery, while the more adventurous can cross waters kayaking or rowing standing on tables similar to the of surf

According to businessmen involved in this project, the investment for the realisation of the freshwater Beach, will reach 3 million dollars, which will be provided by the Costa Rican Institute of tourism, business in the area and public institutions.

In addition to the conditioning of a beach, there will be restaurants, sites to perform concerts, conference rooms and other outdoor activities. You will also appreciate cultural and sports events.

Posted by Costa Developers