With 23 multinationals, more than 10,000 direct jobs and US$1.186bn in investment, La Lima Free Zone Park, a one million-square-metre business park in Cartago recognised among the world’s 50 most sustainable free zones, has turned the Costa Rican province into one of Costa Rica’s strongest hubs for life sciences, advanced manufacturing and specialised services

As global industries seek more resilient supply chains and access to skilled talent, Costa Rica has strengthened its position as a strategic destination for high-value investment. Within this context, La Lima Free Zone Park has evolved from an industrial and business park into a platform that connects investment, talent and sustainability to support the country’s productive development.

Located in the province of Cartago, one of Costa Rica’s strongest educational and industrial regions, La Lima Free Zone Park has spent more than a decade building an ecosystem that extends beyond infrastructure. Its value proposition focuses on creating the conditions companies need to grow, innovate and compete in sectors such as life sciences, advanced manufacturing and specialised services.

Location has played a key role in this evolution. Cartago is home to more than 430 academic institutions, boasts one of the country’s most highly educated populations and offers a workforce with strong academic and technical preparation. The province also benefits from one of Costa Rica’s lowest employee turnover rates and a significant pool of talent that has historically commuted to other regions for employment. Together, these factors have helped to position Cartago as one of the country’s leading destinations for investment in knowledge-intensive, technology-driven and innovation-focused industries.

The results reflect the evolution of this model. In more than 10 years of operation, the park has attracted 23 multinational companies from six countries, generated more than 10,000 direct jobs, secured US$1.186 billion in investment and developed 257,000 square metres (2.7 million sq ft) of specialised infrastructure. These achievements have contributed to cumulative exports of US$4.577 billion, reinforcing Costa Rica’s integration into global value chains.

Growth continues. In 2025 alone, six new companies chose to establish operations at Zona Franca La Lima, representing more than US$173 million in investment and 50,500 square metres (544,000 sq ft) of new productive infrastructure. These projects are expected to create more than 2,000 additional direct jobs, further strengthening Cartago’s role as one of Costa Rica’s leading economic engines.

The strength of the ecosystem is also reflected in the profile of the companies that have chosen to operate within the park. Global leaders in life sciences, advanced manufacturing and specialised technologies carry out highly sophisticated processes in Cartago, including medical devices such as heart valves, electrophysiology, industrial automation, precision manufacturing, cardiovascular health solutions and technologies serving international markets. This level of specialisation has helped position Costa Rica as an increasingly relevant destination for high-value industries.

“Companies assess where they can grow over the next 10 to 15 years,” Fernando Carazo, General Manager of La Lima Free Zone Park, said. “That decision increasingly depends on the availability of talent, innovation capacity and the strength of the ecosystem surrounding their operations. Our approach has been to work across those three elements in an integrated way.”

Talent has become one of the model’s defining differentiators. Today, 85 percent of the people working within the park are from Cartago, reflecting a long-term strategy focused on strengthening local capabilities and expanding access to quality employment opportunities throughout the region.

This vision has fostered partnerships with technical schools, universities, research centers and specialised organisations to strengthen human capital development at different stages of education and training. The latest partnership is the signature of an MOU with Purdue University for R&D and talent development. Beyond responding to the current needs of companies operating within the park, the strategy seeks to build capabilities that will enable future generations to participate in increasingly sophisticated and technology-driven industries. Workforce development programs, employability, early education initiatives and projects focused on STEAM skills development are all part of a long-term vision that connects education, innovation and employment opportunities.

From its inception, La Lima Free Zone Park incorporated infrastructure designed to promote wellbeing, including more than 140,000 square metres of green areas (1.5 million sq ft), a 5.2km (3.2mile) internal cycle path, recreational spaces, sports facilities and areas created to encourage healthy lifestyles.

The strength of this ecosystem is also reflected in the international standards that support its operations. La Lima Free Zone Park has been recognised among the world’s 50 most sustainable free zones, thanks to a vision that integrates economic development with environmental and social sustainability. This achievement is complemented by the OECD Certification Framework for Free Zones, obtained by Costa Rica as the first country in the Americas to receive this recognition.

As part of this process, Zona Franca La Lima became the first free zone in the continent to be audited and certified without any recommendations for improvement, validating practices related to transparency, security, traceability, compliance and trade facilitation – factors that are increasingly valued by companies operating in global markets.

In an environment where companies seek ecosystems capable of supporting their long-term growth, the ability to connect education, employment, infrastructure and territorial development has become a strategic advantage. From Cartago, La Lima Free Zone Park demonstrates how this vision can translate into opportunities for people, growth for businesses and shared value for the country.

Further information
Produced with support from La Lima Free Zone Park. To find out more about the park and its investment opportunities, visit www.lalimafreezone.com

READ MORE: Smart manufacturing: why Costa Rica is quietly positioning itself as Latin America’s next industrial innovation hub. For years, Costa Rica has been internationally recognised for its environmental leadership, political stability, and thriving tourism industry. Yet behind the country’s global image as an eco-tourism destination, a far more significant economic transformation has been taking place – one that is attracting increasing attention from multinational manufacturers, technology investors, and global supply chain strategists.

Do you have news to share or expertise to contribute? The European welcomes insights from business leaders and sector specialists. Get in touch with our editorial team to find out more.