Opening of Business Park with 6 world-class companies 

With an investment of more than US$200 million, Evolution Free Zone is now a reality that boosts the Western Region of the country 

• Already 6,000 jobs are guaranteed, of the 20,000 that will be created over the next 15 years. 

• Works include the donation to the State of a road exchange and improvements to Route 1 with a private investment of more than US$12 million (¢6.24 billion). 

Grecia, October 22, 2024 –  With an investment of more than US$200 million and 6,000 direct and quality jobs already guaranteed, Evolution Free Zone has become a milestone in the economic and social development of Costa Rica, and more specifically of the Western Region. It was developed by CODE Development Group, a 100% Costa Rican capital company, with more than 20 years of experience in the development and administration of industrial parks and free zones. 

The arrival of the first 6 world-class companies to the facilities of this innovative high-tech business park will drive the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment and the creation of 20,000 quality jobs to transform this area of the country over the next 15 years.  

Prestigious leading Life Sciences companies, such as Johnson & Johnson MedTech, AVNA, Inari Medical, Accudyn Products Inc., Intricon Corporation and Trelleborg Healthcare & Medical, make this free trade zone a development pole that will enhance the value chains and competitiveness of the communities of Alajuela, San Ramón, Grecia, Atenas, Naranjo, Palmares, Poás, Zarcero and Valverde Vega. 

“With this free zone we are leading Costa Rica to take a decisive step towards the future, consolidating itself as a benchmark in attracting investment and promoting technological innovation in the region,” said Carlos Wong, Managing Director of CODE Development Group, the developer of Evolution Free Zone. 

“Evolution Free Zone opens its doors with six multinational companies that will create important direct jobs for the Western Region and with many opportunities for the female sector. It is a source of great pride to know that these multinational companies, recognized among the best in the world, found in Grecia, Costa Rica a home where they can grow, develop and provide new opportunities to the community. The companies in this industrial park will impact more than ten cantons outside of the GAM that make up the Western Region. We are convinced that this park will be an anchor for the growth of the region, differentiated by its focus on innovation, technology and sustainable development,” said the Minister of Foreign Trade, Manuel Tovar. 

“We celebrate the opening of Evolution Free Zone, a business park that will offer many opportunities and development to the Western Region. As we have noted before, foreign direct investment is on the rise in Costa Rica, motivated by a solid country value proposition that offers legal security and a favorable business climate, within which are free zone parks such as Evolution Free Zone, which provides ideal conditions for companies to operate. We wish them every success, which will undoubtedly permeate the entire investment ecosystem and the community,” said Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER. 

Thanks to a world-class infrastructure, Evolution Free Zone bases its value proposition on innovation, technology and sustainable development, an ideal platform to enhance the development of highly qualified human talent in sectors such as Life Sciences, Semiconductors, Smart Manufacturing and Knowledge Intensive Services. 

It is estimated that 80% of the job profiles at Evolution Free Zone will be composed of manufacturing operators and technicians. The main requirements include having completed at least the ninth year of high school education and having a basic knowledge of English.  

Operator skills will focus on sophisticated manufacturing processes. Technical careers in quality, manufacturing, metal mechanics and/or precision mechanics are desirable for technical positions. 

Thanks to its geographic location in Tacares de Grecia, the free trade zone is strategic for the development of innovative businesses in Costa Rica. On a 124-hectare site, it has direct access to Route 1, connection to the Pacific and Atlantic ports and proximity to the Juan Santamaria International Airport. Additionally, it offers high connectivity with important population centers in the country.  

The construction process, which began in 2022, has already provided close to 1,000 jobs and has had an immediate impact on the economic development of the surrounding communities.  

The first building has already been delivered to AVNA, a company that will start operations at the end of 2024 with a specialized focus on the manufacture of high-precision metal and plastic components for the medical device sector. At this moment there are also six buildings under construction that will start operations in 2025. 

As part of this free trade zone’s commitment to the Western Region and the country, Wong highlighted the construction of a road interchange and improvements to Route 1 to facilitate access to the facilities of the park, optimize connectivity and reduce travel times. 

This project was developed after the finalization of a successful public-private partnership, which combined the competencies of the State and a private investment of more than US$12 million (¢6.24 billion) from Evolution Free Zone, a project that was coordinated and supervised by the CODE Development Group team.  

The road includes a 1.2 km overpass with two lanes in both directions and an access traffic circle to the park, and will be donated to the State.  

Prior to the start of operations, this high-tech business park has been recognized for the second consecutive year as an Emerging Star, awarded by fDi Intelligence, a publication of the Financial Time group, which highlights the best free trade zones in the world and is a benchmark in terms of attracting foreign direct investment and economic growth.  

In addition, this year 2024, the Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER) recognized the excellence, quality, innovation and sustainability of Evolution Free Zone by granting it the license to use the Country Brand, esencial Costa Rica; a differentiating factor in the national and international market to attract more companies to establish their operations in Costa Rican territory. 

“This distinction allows us to raise the standards of competitiveness and strengthen our position as a key destination for the successful operation of global companies in Costa Rica,” said Wong during the opening of the Free Zone.  

About Evolution Free Zone 

Evolution Free Zone is a high-tech business park located on a 124-hectare site in Tacares de Grecia, Alajuela, Costa Rica, with direct access to Route 1. Committed to sustainable development, it plans to provide more than 20,000 quality jobs and growth opportunities for the Western Region of Costa Rica. 

Driven by technological innovation, sustainability and human talent, this free trade zone offers a state-of-the-art ecosystem for the successful operation of world-leading companies in the life sciences, smart manufacturing, semiconductor and knowledge-intensive services industries.  

Developed by CODE Development Group, a 100% Costa Rican-owned company with more than 20 years of experience in the development and management of industrial parks and free trade zones.