Costa Rica

Table of Contents

I Executive Summary ................................................................

II Physical Setting..............................................................................

III Economy....................................................................

IV Legal and Political Environment........................................

V Labor Force................................................................

VI Culture......................................................................

VII Costa Rica's Attractiveness.......................................................

VIII References...........................................................................

Executive Summary

It is every ventures desire to gain market share and increase revenue. Both of these goals can be reached by expanding to a new market. It is our hope to bring new ventures to the developing country of Costa Rica. Costa Rica is a central location for the U.S. and South America. With it's position on the Caribbean Sea and North Pacific Ocean there is easy access for both freight and cruse ships. To our satisfaction Costa Rica has had a very stable government, reducing some political risks we could encounter. Initially Costa Rica seems to be a good market to enter and we feel would be very promising with research collected and reviewed.

I. Physical Setting and its impact on business

A. Location/Map

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(1) Located at 10 00 N, 84 00 W

(2) In Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama (Costa Rica)

(i) Easy Access by ship by both the Caribbean Sea and North Pacific Ocean.

B. Topography

(1) Area is 51,100 sq km (roughly about twice the size as Vermont) (Background Note: Costa Rica, 2004)

(2) Terrain is coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes

(3) Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

(4) Highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m(Costa Rica)

(5) Divided into 3 geographic division

(i) Meseta Central

(a) Rich agricultural valley is cradled by the flanks of the Cordillera Talamanca to the south

(b) San Josй, the capital, lies at its center

(c) Measures about 40 km north to south and 80 km east to west (Baker,2001)

(ii) Northern Lowlands and Caribbean Coast

(a) Broad, pancake-flat, wedge-shaped northern lowlands are cut off from the more densely populated highlands

(b) Impenetrable hardwood forest

(c) Low-lying plains or llanuras, which make up one-fifth of the nation's land area, extend along the entire length of the Rнo San Juan, whose course demarcates the Nicaraguan border

(d) Jungle ascending the steep eastern slopes of the central mountains, which run along a northwest-southeast axis

(e) Beautiful beaches, many of gray or black sand, line the Caribbean coast (Baker,2001)

(iii) Pacific Coast

(a) Deeply indented with bays and inlets and two large gulfs--the Golfo de Nicoya (in the north) and Golfo Dulce (in the south)

(b) Slender coastal plain is only a few kilometers wide

(c) orth of the Golfo de Nicoya, the coastal strip widens to form a broad lowland belt of savanna--the Tempisque basin (Baker,2001)

C. Transportation

(1) Airport

(i) In the capital city of San Jose (Staff, 2000-2005)

(ii) San Josй's Juan Santamaria international airport

(iii) Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, 217km (135mi) northwest of San Josй

(iv) Departure tax of around US$17 on international flights (Costa Rica Travel Tips, 2000)

(2) Trains

(i) Service is extremely limited in Costa Rica

(ii) Usually run in the Atlantic region (Staff, 2000-2005)

(iii) There is no passenger train service except for commuter trains near San Jose. (Relocation in Costa Rica, 2002)

(3) Automobiles

(i) Roads are in generally poor condition (Relocation in Costa Rica,2002)

(ii) Potholes abound in main streets in major cities lately, the roads have been well-marked (Staff, 2000-2005)

(iii) Legal

(a) Driving age is eighteen and over but if you're a foreigner, you must be 21 years old and always carry a passport; a tourist's driver's license is valid only for three months after arrival, after which he/she has to apply for a Costa Rican license.

(b) Speed limit