MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF COSTA RICA AS AN OFFSHORE DESTINATION

Costa Rica has the advantages of nearshore physical proximity and similar time zone, both of which mitigate cost. Costa Rica's political and economic stability combined with the infrastructure necessary to deliver services, project an outlook of lower risk and mitigated labor costs. Costa Rica is in the U.S. time zone, and much better placed than the Middle East for the interactive development of systems. Middle East countries use a proximity development concept involving the setting up of a local development center, which is much more expensive. Costa Rica has easier access to domain and quality expertise since most of it is available in the USA.

On the other hand, a recurrent theme in our work over the last 7 years has been the cultural tendency in other countries to "do as they are told" and be "uncreative and unquestioning, and lacking the ability to think outside the box". This has sometimes limited the ability of projects outsourced to Middle East to move on to a high-value chain. This is yet another advantage Costa Rica has over other countries, its "creative and questioning abilities". Costa Rican culture, additionally, is regarded as "friendly to US people, US people feel safe in Costa Rica."

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