NEWS
Communities and CINDE strengthen their compromise to increase local competitivenes
• 20 cantons are part of CINDE’s group outside the Metro area.
• These communities represent 30% of the country’s population.
The Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) and representatives from 20 communities outside the Metro area got together to share their 2019 annual plans. This is part of CINDE’s strategy to promote local competitiveness and new investment opportunities in these areas.
These communities are: Buenos Aires, Corredores, Osa, Coto Brus, Golfito, Pérez Zeledón, Siquirres, Pococí, Limón, Turrialba, San Carlos, Grecia, Valverde Vega, Naranjo, Palmares, San Ramón, Puntarenas, Orotina, Liberia and Carrillo. All of them displayed their achievements during 2018.
CINDE’s Managing Director, Jorge Sequeira, said: “It is wonderful to see these communities compromise, looking forward to increasing its competitiveness and showing positive results during 2018. We all dream with a better country, better opportunities, and we work for that, conjunctively. CINDE’s compromise is to guide them in a continuous improvement process and to implement successfully the investment guides, so we can increase the employment in these areas thanks to Foreign Direct Investment.”
The Viceminister of Foreign Trade, Duayner Salas, was part of the event too: “One of our challenges is to promote better conditions outside the Metro area. We welcome and support initiatives such as CINDE’s. We have a compromise with the inclusive development for all, they have all our support”.
CINDE’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Luis Gamboa, said: “CINDE knows that the development must permeate more communities outside the Central Valley. This is a priority to us and a key piece from our strategic vision. There is willingness to attract more companies that can offer more opportunities and better jobs in these communities. Therefore, we must overcome the challenges related to competitiveness. The work we are doing together is vital. It’s a big challenge, we accept it with humbleness and positivism.”
2018 results
During 2018, the communities applied to the HRGPS tool, to identify their population’s profile, such as their English-speaking proficiency, current places of residence, and mobilization capability.
By combining this data, more than 8,000 people were registered: 47% men and 53% women. 12 communities have applied to the BELT English proficiency test, which was enabled by CINDE. This allows them to detect their current abilities and create accompanying action plans to train their human talent to be hired.
The activity also discussed about ABi, the Partnership for Bilingualism led by the Government to promote English as a Second Language. CINDE, the Ministry of Labour and the Aliarse Foundation are part of this initiative, thanks to a project that brings native speaking English teachers to Costa Rica to teach 800 people outside the Metro area.
In 2018, 3 new companies established outside the Metro area and 850 new jobs were created either in virtual or in person modalities.
About CINDE
CINDE is a private, non-profit organization declared of public interest. For 37 years it has been committed to the sustainable development and social progress of Costa Rica through attracting Foreign Direct Investment by manufacturing, services and digital technology industries with high added value that generate quality jobs, opportunities for all population groups, knowledge transfer and production chains with local companies.
CINDE further collaborates to strengthen the Costa Rican business climate to encourage the growth of value activities in the country, improve the preparation of Costa Rican talent, generate employment and greater opportunities for the population in the different Costa Rican communities.
