BOTTOM LINE ISSUES:
ENHANCED INVESTMENT INCENTIVES

Costa Rican law also grants two exclusive labor incentives available only in the Puntarenas Free Zone (which can save you over 25% of your labor cost), and extended period over the income tax exemption. At Puntarenas Free Zone you will be 100% exempted from income tax during 12 years and 50% exempted for the following 6 years (6 years more than in other free zones in the country).

SUBSIDIZED TRAINING PROGRAM

New direct workers will receive free on-site traning for three months, in coordination with the National Training Institute. This is a continuous program during which the government pays 100% of the salaries for employees in training. Instructors and training facilities are also available free of charge at The National Training Institute modern training center in the PUNTARENAS FREE ZONE.

JOB BONUS

This is a five year program whereby companies established in Puntarenas receive a rebate in the form of a negotiable government bond, of an average of 11% of the total payroll paid by the company in that five year period. The rebate is granted based on the previous year's payroll, and begins at a 15% level, dropping 2 poins every year, down to 7% in the last year.

For example, during the first year a company could have labor cost savings of 25% or higher:

MARKET ACCESSDuty free or preferential acces to the following markets:

• USA- Free under CBI
• Mexico - Costa Rica Free trade Agreement
• Central America - Free under the CACM
• Colombia and Venezuela - Preferential through bilateral agreements
• Europe - Free through GSP