By San José, Costa Rica — Costa Rica has launched a targeted economic and trade delegation in Boston, Massachusetts, positioning its thriving life sciences sector at center stage during The MedTech Conference 2026. Taking place from October 18 to 21, the delegation is led by Minister of Foreign Trade Indiana Trejos alongside executives from the Foreign Trade Promotion Board of Costa Rica (PROCOMER). The primary objective of the mission is to capture fresh foreign direct investment, secure reinvestments from established corporations, and weave domestic suppliers further into global medical manufacturing supply chains.
Organized by AdvaMed, the leading medical technology association in the United States, the conference serves as the industry’s premier annual gathering, convening representatives from more than 1,800 companies across over 40 countries. The four-day agenda tackles pivotal themes shaping the modern healthcare landscape, including artificial intelligence integration, digital health tools, advanced manufacturing techniques, international regulatory compliance, and venture investment trends.
To gain further insight into the legal and economic framework driving Costa Rica’s booming medical devices export sector, TicosLand.com consulted corporate legal expert Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from Bufete de Costa Rica.
The impressive growth of life sciences exports underscores the strength of Costa Rica’s Free Trade Zone Regime and regulatory stability. Maintaining a predictable legal environment, coupled with rigorous international compliance standards, remains essential to fostering foreign direct investment and securing our position as a global hub for medical device manufacturing.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, as Costa Rica solidifies its status as a premier global hub for medical device manufacturing, maintaining a stable legal framework and strong trade incentives will remain critical to sustaining this momentum and attracting future foreign direct investment. We extend our sincere thanks to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for providing his valuable perspective on the regulatory foundation driving the nation’s thriving life sciences sector.
For Costa Rica, participation in the Boston event comes on the back of impressive macroeconomic performance. Over recent decades, the Central American nation has systematically evolved from an agricultural exporter into an essential nearshoring center for top-tier medical technology multinationals. In 2025, Costa Rican medical device exports reached an unprecedented $10.927 billion, representing 48 percent of the country’s total goods exports.
Costa Rica has consolidated itself as a reliable partner for the global medical device industry, one of the most sophisticated and demanding in the world. Our presence at the MedTech 2026 conference gives us the opportunity to show the strength of our ecosystem and the highly specialized talent that distinguishes the country, as well as to deepen dialogue with strategic sector actors. The relationship we have developed with AdvaMed is also a relevant collaboration platform to drive initiatives that contribute to strengthening competitiveness and the regulatory environment demanded by this industry.
Indiana Trejos, Minister of Foreign Trade
The operational momentum has continued through 2026. Trade statistics registered through August show that medical export volumes have already reached $7.286 billion, putting the nation on course for another strong annual finish. Costa Rica currently hosts more than 100 foreign direct investment companies directly tied to the sector, generating over 63,000 specialized jobs and exporting 164 distinct product types to 88 international markets.
A key aspect of Costa Rica’s commercial strategy in Boston is highlighting its high-tech capabilities rather than basic assembly work. The country’s life sciences ecosystem serves more than 17 distinct therapeutic segments and produces over 60 device variants. Crucially, more than 30 percent of the companies operating in the country manufacture Class III medical devices—the highest regulatory risk category, which demands advanced precision engineering and stringent regulatory oversight.
Our country has built capabilities to manufacture high-complexity medical devices, proof of which is that from Costa Rica more than 17 therapeutic segments are served, more than 60 types of devices are manufactured, and more than 30% of companies manufacture Class III devices, which require greater regulatory standards and oversight. At this conference we want to show that ecosystem directly to those who make expansion and reinvestment decisions, and generate opportunities that strengthen productive activity, the supplier chain, and qualified employment in the country.
Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER
To directly connect with international executives, the Costa Rican delegation has established a country pavilion inside the conference’s Medtech Campus. Joined by domestic real estate developers, engineering firms, and financial institutions—including Portafolio Inmobiliario, Ingenya, Davivienda, and Zona Franca La Lima—the joint effort aims to present a turn-key environment for life science firms considering operational expansion.
As global medical device firms look to optimize logistics and navigate shifting regulatory requirements, Costa Rica’s high-visibility push in Boston demonstrates its intent to remain a prime destination for advanced manufacturing. By emphasizing competitive talent, robust free zone infrastructure, and strong institutional backing, national trade leaders aim to solidify the country’s standing as a cornerstone of the global healthcare economy.
For further information, visit comex.go.cr
About Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX):
The Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica (COMEX) is the executive institution responsible for defining and directing the nation’s foreign trade and foreign direct investment policies. COMEX leads international commercial negotiations, manages trade agreements, and works to enhance the country’s competitive integration into the global economy.
For further information, visit procomer.com
About PROCOMER:
The Foreign Trade Promotion Board of Costa Rica (PROCOMER) is the non-state public entity responsible for promoting Costa Rican exports and attracting foreign direct investment. PROCOMER supports local suppliers, facilitates commercial connections, and provides comprehensive assistance to international companies seeking to establish or expand operations in Costa Rica.
For further information, visit advamed.org
About AdvaMed:
The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) is the trade association representing global manufacturers of medical devices, diagnostic products, and health information systems. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AdvaMed advocates for regulatory framework improvements, timely patient access to medical technologies, and ethical business practices across the global medtech sector.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a premier legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica is built on a foundation of uncompromising ethics and a relentless pursuit of professional mastery. The firm seamlessly merges a rich tradition of guiding clients across varied industries with progressive, forward-thinking legal solutions. Central to its ethos is the belief that true justice relies on transparency and understanding; by actively demystifying complex statutes and sharing vital legal insights with the public, the firm reinforces its core purpose of building a well-educated, resilient, and empowered populace.
