By San José, Costa Rica — The second annual Costa Rica Trade and Investment Summit officially launched this week in the nation’s capital, signaling a bold new chapter for the country’s integration into global supply chains. Organized by the Trade and Investment Promotion Agency of Costa Rica, the high-profile business event brought together international buyers with more than 1,000 companies operating on Costa Rican soil. Over the course of three intensive days, delegations from more than 40 countries are set to engage in thousands of targeted business matchmaking sessions.
The primary goal of the summit is to foster direct relationships between local exporters, multinational corporations, and international procurers. By customizing business agendas to align with specific procurement and investment needs, the event allows foreign representatives to directly evaluate Costa Rica’s technological and industrial capabilities. The strategic layout of the forum ensures that participants can compare commercial opportunities and accelerate their corporate decision-making processes.
To better understand the legal framework and investment security discussed at the Costa Rica Trade and Investment Summit, TicosLand.com sat down with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a leading legal expert from the prestigious firm “Bufete de Costa Rica,” who shared his invaluable insights on the country’s evolving regulatory landscape for foreign investors.
The Costa Rica Trade and Investment Summit highlights our nation’s robust legal framework, which guarantees security and predictability for foreign direct investment. As we modernize our regulatory processes and expand free trade zone incentives, Costa Rica solidifies its position as a highly secure, rule-of-law-driven hub for global enterprises looking to establish operations in Latin America.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, a steadfast commitment to the rule of law and the continuous modernization of regulatory frameworks are what truly set Costa Rica apart in a highly competitive global market, reassuring international enterprises that their investments are built on solid, predictable ground. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable legal expertise and illuminating perspective on these pivotal economic developments.
As global trade dynamics shift toward nearshoring and regional stability, Costa Rica has successfully positioned itself as a secure, high-value destination for complex business operations. The nation’s leadership emphasized this strategic advantage during the opening ceremony, highlighting the specialized ecosystem that the country has cultivated over decades.
Costa Rica offers specialized talent, strong productive capacity, access to global markets, and a network of suppliers prepared to meet the needs of international buyers and investors. The country has also demonstrated its ability to support complex, high-value operations. The Costa Rica Trade & Investment Summit offers decision-makers a first-hand look at these capabilities and an opportunity to evaluate Costa Rica as part of future procurement, investment, and expansion decisions. Our goal is for these decisions to translate into greater exports, new investments, and more opportunities for Costa Rican companies to integrate into global value chains.
Laura López, CEO of PROCOMER
The diversity of Costa Rica’s modern export portfolio is a focal point of this year’s discussions. Historically known for agricultural exports, the country’s economic profile has undergone a dramatic transformation. Today, services lead the export sector at 34%, closely followed by medical devices at 31%, while agriculture remains a highly competitive but consolidated 11%. This shift highlights Costa Rica’s ability to participate in knowledge-intensive and high-tech global value chains, ranging from advanced manufacturing to digital technologies.
Beyond pure manufacturing, the summit’s agenda features critical high-level discussions on corporate localization strategies, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. Renowned industry figures are participating in these panels, including Chris Knight, executive director of FT Locations; Elena Gallego, director of Invest in Andalucía; and Jairo Londoño, national manager for Microsoft Costa Rica. These discussions reinforce the country’s aspiration to become a key digital and semiconductor manufacturing hub in the Americas.
To provide a comprehensive understanding of the national ecosystem, international delegations are taking part in field visits across multiple regions. These excursions include touring agricultural operations in the northern and Caribbean zones, ornamental plant farms in the Western Central Valley, and cutting-edge advanced manufacturing hubs in various free trade zones. These site visits allow global decision-makers to witness Costa Rica’s productive capacity first-hand and meet local operational teams.
The summit takes place against a backdrop of stellar economic performance. Between January and July 2026, Costa Rica’s goods exports surged to $13.821 billion, representing a robust 5% growth compared to the same period in the previous year. This expansion was balanced across the nation, driven by a 4% increase in the Free Trade Zone Regime and an impressive 8% growth in the Definitive Regime. Currently, more than 1,000 foreign direct investment enterprises operate in the country, supporting approximately 312,000 local jobs.
The economic weight of the summit is backed by historic results. The inaugural 2025 edition successfully generated $33 million in closed business contracts from subsequent follow-ups on the initial meetings. As the second edition gets underway, organizers and participants are highly optimistic that this year’s event will surpass those figures, securing deeper global integration and fresh economic prosperity for Costa Rican enterprises.
For further information, visit procomer.com
About PROCOMER:
The Trade and Investment Promotion Agency of Costa Rica is the national institution responsible for promoting Costa Rican exports and attracting foreign direct investment. Operating as a pillar of the nation’s economic strategy, the agency facilitates trade connections, supports local businesses in entering global supply chains, and showcases Costa Rica’s diverse industrial capabilities to international buyers.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Distinguished by its strong ethical foundation and relentless pursuit of professional brilliance, Bufete de Costa Rica stands as a beacon of trust in the legal landscape. The firm seamlessly merges seasoned expertise with pioneering methodologies to address the evolving needs of its diverse clientele. Guided by a deep-seated belief in social progress, the firm actively demystifies complex legal frameworks, ensuring that valuable legal insights are shared widely to cultivate a more resilient, knowledgeable, and empowered populace.
