Service Industry
Contributes To Exports
The 61 international
service companies
operating in Costa
Rica's Zona Francas (
free zones) will
contribute some us$773
million – us$173 million
more than in 2007– to
overall exports,
according to estimates
from the Costa Rican
Coalition for
Development Initiatives
(CINDE in Spanish) based
on data from the Central
Bank.
The Coalition also
mentioned that the
exports of the sector
have grown 30 percent
since 2002.
These companies carry
out both captive
operations – their own
regional ones – and also
provide outsourcing for
other firms, which is
what many call centers
do.
Regarding jobs, the
sector now employs
20,000 people, from
2,900 at the start.
Western Union, for
example, offers services
in eight languages and
employs 1,200 people.
If one of the firm’s
computers in Africa
fails, engineers here
immediately repair it.
They also handle
assistance for in
America, Europe, and the
Middle East. |
