TECHNOLOGY

Technology-wise, Costa Rica is among the top 30 leading exporters of high tech products (Human Development Report, 2001). It ranks #43 in the top 50 among nations like United States (#6) and Singapore (#25), as compared to how Mexico (#54) and Malaysia (#59) fared (United Nations' Human Development Index (HDI) for 2002). The UNCTAD 2002 World Investment Report classifies Costa Rica as one of the six countries most successful in attracting Foreign Direct Investment ; this is also aided by a symbiotic interaction which takes place between the development of its local IT industry and the rapidly growing number of companies that use technology in their business activities. The result; an incredibly rapid and lasting incursion into e-commerce, e-banking and e-tourism. The boost in its technological profile is due to many factors, including its position as the country with the best quality of life in Latin America (Economist Intelligence Unit), its uninterrupted democracy, and its hardship rating. According to the latter, San José, Costa Rica is the best city for living in Latin America (Economist Intelligence Unit's Hardship Rating). Hardship is quantified in 3 categories: Health and Safety, Culture and Environment, and Infrastructure. Among Asian, African and Latin American cities, San José fared 7th , just behind Tokyo, Osaka, Hong Kong, and Seoul.

ELECTRONICS IN COSTA RICA

Besides the strategic location, political stability and well educated and highly productive work force Costa Rica offers investors, multinationals have in turn helped Costa Rica by providing high-skilled job opportunities and opening new horizons in which to expand. One of them is education, and Costa Rica certainly wasted no time tackling it. As the electronics sector employs 10,000 workers, ranging from operators to engineers, Costa Rica has instituted free training programs by the INA (National Learning Institute) to address local and international corporate needs in microelectronics, electro-mechanics, etc. Plus, its literacy rate of 95% and human development index of 6 in the hemisphere (Human Development Report 2002) make it an ideal location for technological development.

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