Page 168 - Caribbean-Central America Profile 2018

COSTA RICA

CARIBBEAN-CENTRAL AMERICA PROFILE 2018

EDUCATION account for over 80% of cargo handled. A small CONTACTS
Education in Costa Rica is universal, free and private port at Punta Morales handles sugar Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica
compulsory. English is taught in some thirty exports, and there are new terminals for cruise 300 Mts South Fuente de la Hispanidad,
eight percent of the public schools and in liners at Puntarenas and Limón. More than 20 San Pedro, Costa Rica
almost all of the private schools. The National shipping lines to worldwide destinations service Tel: (506) 2202-5600
Training Institute (INA) offers free technical the main ports of Limón and Caldera. Limón Fax: (506) 2234-6163
training in many fields. A total of ninety five handles about 80 percent of all cargo; Moín Email: cicr@cicr.com
technical schools and sixty universities prepare deals primarily with banana exports and crude Costa Rican-American Chamber of
professionals with the highest international oil imports. On the Atlantic coast, the Board of Commerce (AMCHAM)
standards. These institutions offer training Port Administration for Economic Development 300 m Noreste del ICE, Sabana Norte 300 m
in several areas such as: electronic, electric, of the Atlantic Versant (JAPDEVA) is in charge San José, Costa Rica
mechanical, and processing engineering. of its administration, while on the Pacific coast, Tel: (506) 2220-2200
it is the Costa Rican Institute of Pacific Ports Fax: (506) 2220-2300
For the past several years, Costa Rica has (INCOP) that is the entity responsible for its Email: info@amcham.co.cr
established a strong relationship between management.
industry and academia triggering and further Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency
enhancing the creation of specialized, Junta de Administracion Portuaria y de Plaza Roble, Edificio Los Balcones,
tailored skills & curricula required by leading Desarrollo Economico de la Vertiente 4th Floor, Guachipelin,
companies to succeed. In order to provide Atlantica (JAPDEVA) Ezcazú, Costa Rica
sufficient resources to finance the ambitious Apartado 1, Tel: (506) 2201-2800
national objective of guaranteeing universal Puerto Limon, Costa Rica Fax: (506) 2201-2867
access to quality education, the government is Tel: (506) 2233-1151 Email: invest@cinde.org
constitutionally required to allocate at least 8% Fax: (506) 2221-3090 Instituto Costarricense de Turismo
of the country’s GDP from its annual budget to Costa Rica Tourist Board
educational programs. Instituto Costarricense de Puertos del Bldg. in front of the east side
Pacifico (INCOP) of the Juan Pablo II Bridge,
Costa Rica’s literacy rate is 97 % and is one of P.O. Box 543-1000, la Uruca, Costa Rica
the highest in Latin America and developing San José, Costa Rica Tel: (506) 2299-5800
countries. Tel: (506) 2223-7111
Fax: (506) 2223-9685 Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad
INFRASTRUCTURE (ICE)
TRANSPORTATION AIR Apartado Postal 10032-1000,
LAND Airports: There are two international airports: San José, Costa Rica
Railroads: 424 km (262.9 mi.) Following lack the Juan Santamaría International Airport, 16 Tel: (506) 2220-7720
of investment and years of losses virtually all km north-west of San José; and the seldom- Fax: (506) 2231-5354
operations ceased in 1995. The railway still has used Daniel Oduber Airport, near Liberia (in Cámara de Industrias de Costa Rica
a handful of freight customers who use sections Guanacaste) and the north Pacific beach hotels. Chamber of Industry of Costa Rica
of the line, and occasional trains make tourist The Juan Santamaría International Airport is Calle 13-15, Avenida 7,
excursions from San José and Moín. Despite being expanded and modernised. Management San José Costa Rica
the potential for relieving the roads of freight of the airport, which handles up to 2 million Tel: (506) 2256-2826
traffic, there is no immediate prospect of a passengers per year and an estimated 92% of Fax: (506)2222-1007
modernisation of the railway. international traffic, was transferred to a private Email: cicrbid@sol.racsa.co.cr
Highways: There is an estimated 35,597 km consortium in May 2001 for a 20-year term.
(22070.1 mi.) of roads in Costa Rica, of which Airlines: Most major international carriers IN THE U.S.
17% are nominally paved. Paved highways conveniently serve San José, the capital city. Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency
link the centre with the ports of Puntarenas, 100 Park Avenue, 16th Floor
Caldera and Quepos on the Pacific coast, and TELECOMMUNICATION New York, NY 10017
Limón on the Caribbean coast. The fully paved Costa Rica has opened the internet and mobile Tel: (212) 984-0631
Pan-American Highway links Costa Rica sectors to private operators. The market openness Email: cindeny@cinde.org
with Panama and Nicaragua, and serves as a will be regulated by the Superintendence
backbone for a series of secondary roads, many Telecommunications (SUTEL). This body was Embassy of Costa Rica
of which are also paved. created to grant permits to operate in this sector. 2114 S Street, NW,
Forty five new companies are already authorized Washington, DC 20008
SEA to operate. They are offering many services such Tel: (202) 499-2984
Sea Ports: There are four main ports, at Limón, as voice / television over IP, internet access and Fax: (202) 265-4795
Moín, Puntarenas and Caldera. Limón and Moín private networks, among others. Email: concr-us-wa@rree.go.cr

C-10 Caribbean-Central American Action