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Costa Rica is a growing and stable economy with a large population of women entrepreneurs also the second country in Latin America with the highest participation of women in politics according to CEPAL. The Costa Rican government is committed to supporting women-owned businesses, and the Commercial Service is always looking opportunities for U.S. companies to partner with local businesses.
Costa Rica has improved in gender equality over the past last decade. The Costa Rican Ministry of Economy, Industry & Commerce (MEIC) launched a program called “Mujer Mypime” which focuses on providing Costa Rican female entrepreneurs tools to improve their management skills as well as access to technical assistance and financing for their companies. Since 2010, the Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce has been developing the program “Mujer Empresaria”, which aims to empower women in topics such as leadership and business skills, while creating a platform to promote equality and opportunity generation to reduce the existing economic gaps between genders. Also on the Academia portion, several universities provide scholarships to women in business aimed at helping them grow a current business or found a new business.
Costa Rica’s total imports from the U.S. were $6.6 billion in 2021 and total two-way trade between the two countries accounts for 40% of Costa Rica’s exports and imports. The U.S. is also Costa Rica’s top investor, accounting for more 73% of the country’s total FDI in 2022.
Learn about the opportunities available to you in Costa Rica, a strong market for women-led businesses.
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If you are a women executive or women-led, women-founded, and women-owned businesses looking to start exporting, Costa Rica can be a natural market to begin your journey. The best prospects sectors for U.S. companies in Costa Rica are Healthcare (medical devices, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies); Construction Equipment and materials, Cosmetics; Cybersecurity; Automotive, Safe and Security, Electric Power and Renewable Energy Systems, Information and Communication Technology (ICT); Infrastructure; Processed Food and Beverages, Hotel and Restaurant equipment, and Travel and Tourism.
- There are many reasons to do business in Costa Rica. Proximity and a free trade agreement in place are major benefits.
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With a population of over 5 million people, and easy access from both coasts: Caribbean and Pacific, this is a diverse market for you to tap into.
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Costa Rica has a stable and growing economy and a growing middle class with purchasing power, which allows the entrance of high-end products.
The U.S. Commercial Service has organized a Webinar Series focused on business opportunities in Latin America for Women-Owned Businesses (Panamá, Colombia, and Costa Rica).
We'll introduce business opportunities in Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia markets, which in 2022 took in U.S. exports worth $41.2 Billion. The webinars will answer your questions about the markets, how to do business in these countries, and the details of the GDEI Trade Mission to Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia + Opportunities for Woman-Owned Businesses in the Americas Conference March 10-15, 2024.
Whether you currently export to Colombia, Costa Rica, or Panama or are new to exporting, the importance of developing a strategic approach to these markets is critical to your success. This webinar series, from the U.S. Commercial Service, has been designed to help businesses strengthen the skills necessary to effectively do business in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama. Come learn how your company can be added to this impressive trading ecosystem.
The cost for each Webinar is just $25. Your organization can participate in one, two or all Webinars. For more information or if you want to purchase more than one webinar in the series, please contact Trade.Americas@trade.gov.
Webinar Schedule:
- Business Opportunities in Colombia for Women-Owned Businesses – October 24, 2023
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Business Opportunities in Costa Rica for Women-Owned Businesses – October 31, 2023
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Business Opportunities in Panama for Women-Owned Businesses – November 14, 2023
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Resources and Financing for Women-Owned Businesses Looking to Increase Export Sales – November 28, 2023
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ECommerce, Digital Access, and Supply Chain Considerations for Women-Owned Businesses – December 12, 2023
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Export Skills Training, Legal, Compliance, and IPR Considerations for Women-Owned Business – December 19, 2023
Thank You to Our Platinum Sponsors
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