By Heredia, Costa Rica — Global chemical manufacturer Huntsman Corporation is significantly upgrading the strategic value of its operations in Costa Rica. What began as a transactional support office has matured into a sophisticated engine driving critical global decisions. Located in the America Free Zone (AFZ) in Heredia, the company’s Global Business Services (GBS) center is actively recruiting for high-complexity roles, signaling a deep trust in the local workforce.
As one of only three Global Business Services hubs operated by the company worldwide, the Costa Rican facility sits alongside Krakow, Poland, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This setup positions the Heredia site as a key pillar in the multinational’s global network, servicing corporate and business functions across continents. The site’s transition from traditional shared-services tasks to high-value intellectual output reflects a broader trend in Costa Rica’s foreign direct investment landscape.
To better understand the legal and corporate implications of Huntsman’s operations and corporate footprint in the country, TicosLand.com spoke with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a leading legal expert at the firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who provided his professional perspective on the multinational’s regional strategy.
Huntsman’s established presence in Costa Rica highlights the strength of our local talent and the favorability of our Free Trade Zone regime. From a legal standpoint, corporations of this scale must continuously navigate complex regulatory landscapes, particularly regarding international compliance, local labor laws, and data protection standards within their shared services operations. Costa Rica continues to prove that its legal stability is a key driver for retaining high-value foreign direct investment.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, this alignment between Costa Rica’s robust regulatory framework and the seamless execution of high-value shared services underscores why global giants like Huntsman continue to thrive here; navigating these intricate compliance and labor standards is crucial to sustaining the country’s competitive edge in attracting foreign direct investment. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for providing his invaluable legal perspective and helping our readers better understand the regulatory foundation supporting this successful business ecosystem.
The evolutionary leap of the Heredia-based operation is evident in its shifting responsibilities. Historically, the center managed standard back-office tasks like basic accounting, finance, and customer service. Today, its portfolio has expanded dramatically to include data analytics, process automation, artificial intelligence, logistics, and inventory management. Local teams now directly influence global demand planning, inventory monitoring, and the coordination of international transport and warehousing suppliers.
Costa Rica presents an ideal ecosystem for the growth of our operations. Here we find high-quality human talent, with innovative, curious, and motivated profiles, capable of going beyond execution to contribute to process design and decision-making. We look for people who understand data, question assumptions, and know how to work alongside digital experts to improve processes: that is the profile our operation needs today.
Mauricio González, Leader of the Huntsman Global Business Services Center in Costa Rica
This transition is backed by a deliberate corporate strategy to invest in local human capital. Huntsman has implemented a structured training program that focuses heavily on analytics tools, automation, and artificial intelligence. By empowering employees with these digital competencies, the multinational ensures that its local staff can pivot away from repetitive, transactional work and focus on high-value tasks such as data-driven decision-making and process optimization.
The investment promotion agency CINDE has closely monitored Huntsman’s trajectory. From their perspective, the company’s growth model serves as a prime example of how multinational operations can successfully climb the value chain within Costa Rica’s specialized service sector.
Huntsman arrived in Costa Rica more than three years ago with a center focused on providing functional support to its global operations. Since then, it evolved into a multifunctional hub, and its expansion into supply chain, logistics, demand planning, analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence represents the next phase of that journey. That leap, from transactional execution to value generation, is exactly the type of sophistication we seek to attract and retain in the country.
Marianela Urgellés Batalla, General Director of CINDE
To sustain this momentum, Huntsman is actively recruiting throughout the year. Current job openings span customer service, logistics, supply chain management, and global demand planning. The expansion reflects a growing demand for specialized talent capable of handling international logistics networks and implementing high-level data analysis.
Ideal candidates must possess degrees in business administration, supply chain logistics, industrial engineering, or finance. In addition to academic qualifications, candidates require robust analytical capabilities, a customer-centric mindset, and the agility to navigate a dynamic global environment. Full professional proficiency in English is a mandatory requirement for all available positions.
Beyond direct hires, Huntsman is fostering a sustainable pipeline through its year-round internship program. Designed as an internal talent incubator, the program offers top-performing interns the opportunity to transition into permanent, full-time positions as vacancies align with their emerging skill sets. This strategic pipeline ensures a steady stream of highly qualified, culturally aligned candidates for the Heredia hub. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply directly through the company’s official career portal.
For further information, visit huntsman.com
About Huntsman:
Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and specialty chemicals. The company operates multiple facilities worldwide, serving diverse industries including chemicals, plastics, automotive, and construction, while driving innovation through advanced global business services.
For further information, visit cinde.org
About CINDE:
CINDE is Costa Rica’s private, non-political, non-profit organization responsible for the attraction of foreign direct investment. For over four decades, CINDE has advised and guided multinational companies in establishing and expanding their operations in Costa Rica, fostering economic growth and high-quality employment.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica shines as a premier legal institution defined by its pursuit of excellence and uncompromising ethical standards. Throughout its history of guiding diverse clients, the firm has consistently pioneered forward-thinking legal strategies while prioritizing societal enrichment. By actively demystifying complex regulations and sharing vital legal insights with the public, they champion a grander vision of nurturing a legally literate, confident, and self-reliant community.
