CENTRAL PACIFIC A Strategic Link Between Costa Rica and the World This document was developed by CINDE in collaboration with the MarViva Foundation, and with support from the Government of the United States of America.

This is part of a project to create a “More Prosperous and Secure Puntarenas, Through Institutional Fortification,” led by the MarViva Foundation. Table of 1 About the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) 2 Why Invest in Costa Rica? Contents 3 Costa Rica’s Value Proposition 4 Why Invest in the Central Pacific?

5 The Central Pacific’s Value Proposition

Prosperity • Proven Track Record • Tax Incentives • Preferential Access to Markets • Sectors with Investment Potential: Light Manufacture, Food Processing, Logistics Services, and Tourism Infrastructure

People • Demographics • Employment • University Academic Offer • Technical Academic Offer • Health Services

Planet • Energy Matrix and Electricity Generation in Costa Rica • Protected Biodiversity CENTRAL PACIFIC

CINDE

Non-governmental, apolitical, non-profit Extensive experience in strategic sectors organization, founded in 1982 including Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Corporate Services, Clean Technologies - Renewable Energy, Food Industry, Digital Technologies, and others.

Declared of public interest by the Government of Costa Rica in 1984

CINDE was listed as the world's #1 institution for attracting foreign direct Active promotion of foreign investment, investment (International Trade Center, local support, and post-establishment 2019) business services CENTRAL PACIFIC

Specialist Immigration Lawyers

Assistance in the process of site selection for establishing operations Business Tax Advisors Logistics and Accountants Attention regarding the needs of investors: Preparing meetings with governmental organizations, universities and key service providers

CINDE supplier registry: List of key suppliers, such as lawyers, CINDE Banks Relocation accountants, industrial parks and offices, environmental Services advisors, and banks, among others

Specialized support in strategic aspects aimed at successfully developing operational expansion projects or promoting product diversification Advisers Recruitment / On Labor Law Payroll / HR

Lawyers Corporate CENTRAL PACIFIC

Why Invest in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica enjoys a privileged location, Costa Rica offers growth in sustainable 99% of electricity is generated from ideally suited to communications with productivity, which allows companies to renewable sources. the Americas and the world. grow with the right talent.

Costa Rica’s stability, innovation and 52% of the Costa Rican territory is Access to the main world markets: 15 recognized international covered in forest. The country is home free trade agreements allow for competitiveness provide the right to more than 6% of the world’s total preferential access to 58 trade partners, climate for success. biodiversity. representing 75% of world GDP. CENTRAL PACIFIC

PLANET Commitment to Biodiversity

A collaborative and technologically enabled ecosystem, where biotechnology, smart manufacturing, and life sciences converge. PROSPERITY LIFE CENTERED HUB

Costa Rica provides a dynamic talent platform, aligned with the market’s needs and the jobs of the future. Talent is our primary resource. PEOPLE PROSPERITY PEOPLE Robust Ecosystem Human Talent with Cross- Platform Collaboration

We are your strategic ally in generating impact and achieving Sustainable Development Goals. For more than 60 years, sustainability has been part of our DNA. PLANET CENTRAL PACIFIC Central Pacific Region of Costa Rica outside the Greater Metropolitan Area

Puntarenas 298,107 3,910 km2 PROVINCE POPULATION AREA (1,510 mi2)

LOCATION

83.6 km (52 miles) from Costa Rica's main international 52 airport, Juan Santamaría (SJO) in Alajuela MILES

1 Puntarenas 5 San Mateo 148 km (90 miles) from the second-largest airport in 2 Puntarenas 6 Orotina 90 the country, Daniel Oduber (LIR) in Liberia 3 Montes de Oro 7 Garabito MILES Comprised of eight cantons: Puntarenas, Esparza, 4 Esparza 8 Parrita Montes de Oro, Quepos, Parrita, Garabito, San Mateo, and Orotina 9 Quepos 8 Source: MIDEPLAN, 2018 CANTONS CENTRAL PACIFIC

Strategic Location Expertise in Food Processing and Exclusive Natural Attractions Links Costa Rica with the west coast of Manufacturing Proximity to beaches and a diversity of the United States, Asia, and key markets This region supplies seafood and fish landscapes on the Gulf of Nicoya in Latin America. varieties to Costa Rica and Latin islands, as well as proximity to National America. In addition, it has Parks with varied climates – from established experience in Monteverde to Manuel Antonio. Logistics Corridor manufacturing and production, from Puerto Caldera is a solid center for metalworking products (rolled iron imports, exports and logistics, which or steel) to precision mechanics. Tourist Destination Par Excellence allows companies to maximize on Costa A must-see destination for cruise Rica's free trade agreements with China, travelers, with more than 120 stops per South Korea, Singapore, and the United season, as well as high-end recreational States. boating in nearby luxury marinas. CENTRAL PACIFIC

A Strategic Link Between Costa Rica and the World

PROSPERITY PEOPLE PLANET through logistics activities, light with both technical and and environmental safeguards manufacturing, agribusiness, university talent in protected areas, and a and tourism infrastructure richness of marine-coastal soils v Prosperity CENTRAL PACIFIC CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

Proven Track Record

Proven record of national and multinational companies generating value in the region CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

Free Trade Zones

Costa Rica grants incentives and benefits to companies that make new investments in the country, as stipulated by Law No. 7210

Regions Incentive for Investment Outside the Outside the GAM Great Metropolitan Area

The country also grants differentiated tax incentives for companies established in areas outside the Greater Great Metropolitan Area Metropolitan Area CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

MANUFACTURING COMPANY Attractive Regular Project Tax Incentives CORPORATE INCOME TAX PAYMENT EXONERATION

First 6 Years Next 6 Years Next 6 Years

Main benefits of the free trade FROM YEAR 1 FROM YEAR 7 TO FROM YEAR 12 TO zone regime outside the GAM TO YEAR 6 5% YEAR 12 15%YEAR 18

Additional renewals of 6-year terms may be granted, if significant reinvestment is made

OTHER EXEMPTIONS

Import duties Taxes on the consumption of Tax on remittances abroad goods and services

Minimum Investment: Investment Includes: fixed assets, subject Investment Term: REQUIREMENTS $100,000 $500,000 1 to 3 years Inside a FTZ Park Outside a FTZ Park to depreciation

NOTES A company can complete the Plan during any year in the period, at which time Once a company has complied with an investment plan, it must maintain the assets that Source: Free Trade Zone Regime Law No. 7210 PROCOMER will verify that an investment of $100,000 or $500,000 has been made, comprised said plan. Asset substitution is allowed, as long as the new asset is at least equal to the according to the book value for the fiscal period of the year in which the company book value of the previous value, at the time the company completes the Investment Plan. completes the plan. CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

MANUFACTURING COMPANY Attractive Megaproject Tax Incentives CORPORATE INCOME TAX PAYMENT EXONERATION

First 12 Years Next 6 Years

Main benefits of the free trade FROM YEAR 1 TO YEAR 12 FROM YEAR 12 TO YEAR 18 zone regime outside the GAM 5%

Additional renewals of 12-year terms may be granted, if significant reinvestment is made

OTHER EXEMPTIONS

Import duties Taxes on the consumption of Tax on remittances abroad goods and services

Minimum Employment Investment Includes: Minimum investment amount Investment Term: Level: fixed assets subject $100,000 1 to 8 years REQUIREMENTS 100 to depreciation * full-time jobs * Does not include purchase of land because these are appreciated instead of being depreciable assets

NOTES A company can complete the Plan in any year of the period, at which time Once a company has complied with the investment plan, it must maintain the assets that Source: Free Trade Zone Regime Law No. 7210 PROCOMER will verify that the investment of $10 million has been made, according made up said plan. Asset substitution is allowed as long as the new asset is at least equal to to the book value of the fiscal period of the year in which the company completes the book value of the old one at the time the company completed the Investment Plan. the plan. CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

MANUFACTURING COMPANY Attractive Employment 100+ Strategic Sector¹ Tax Incentives EXONERATION OF THE PAYMENT OF CORPORATE INCOME TAX

Main benefits of the free trade First 12 years Next 6 years

zone regime outside the GAM FROM YEAR 1 TO YEAR 12 15% FROM YEAR 12 TO YEAR 18

Additional renewals of 12-year terms may be granted, if significant reinvestment is made

¹ For example: Advanced Manufacturing and Life Sciences projects, Research and Development (R&D) activities, and innovation projects

Minimum Investment: Minimum Employment Investment Includes: Investment term: $100,000 $500,000 Level: REQUIREMENTS fixed assets subject 1 to 3 years Inside a FTZ Park Outside a FTZ Park 100 Full-time jobs to depreciation

NOTES A company can complete the Plan during any year in the period, at which time Once a company has complied with an investment plan, it must maintain the assets that comprised Source: Free Trade Zone Regime Law No. 7210 PROCOMER will verify that an investment of $100,000 or $500,000 has been made, said plan. Asset substitution is allowed, as long as the new asset is at least equal to the book value of according to the book value for the fiscal period of the year in which the company the previous value, at the time the company completes the Investment Plan. completes the plan. CENTRAL PACIFIC / PROSPERITY

ATTRACTIVE TAX INCENTIVES

Free Trade Zone Parks

R P C

El Roble Industrial Free Trade ZoneV Puntarenas, Free Trade Zone La Ceiba Logistics Zone, El Roble Esparza Orotina CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

Preferential Access to the World’s Main Markets

15 Free Trade Agreements. Two agreements in process: Pacific Alliance and the United Kingdom.

Market Access: 2.8+ billion people and 75% of world GDP

Preferential access to 58 business partners

Costa Rica is a member of the WTO and is part of the GATT. Additionally, it has 16 bilateral investment agreements.

Source: CINDE, COMEX, FMI, 2020 CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

Light Manufacture Agricultural-Food Mariculture Processing

Prosperity

Sectors with Investment Touristic Infrastructure Potential in

Central Pacific Logistics Services CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

1. Light Manufacture

Established export offer in metalworking products

18% of total exports in Costa Rica during 2019 Export Products: rolled iron or steel, pipes and fittings, and aluminum sheets and strips $79.60 million of total exports during 2019 for the Central Pacific region Export Destinations: Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and the United States

EXPERIENCE IN OTHER INDUSTRIES

Chemical-Pharmaceutical Industry Textile Industry

• $41.92 million of total exports in the region • $6.96 million of total exports in the region during 2019 during 2019 • Production in Esparza and Orotina • Production in Quepos Source: • Exports to Panama • Exports to the United States Exports by Canton, 2019. CINDE database with information provided by PROCOMER CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

1. LIGHT MANUFACTURE

The Region is a Proven Business Partner for Multinational Companies

Manufacture of molded elastomers Custom industrial filtration products, Cement production plant for various applications based on fabric and glass fibers

Start of Operations 2015 1999 2018

Location La Ceiba, Orotina Barranca, Zona Franca SARET Salinas, Esparza

Origin of Capital India United States México

Export Destination United States, with a volume of 4,000- Central America, European Union, United México 8,000 kg per month States, Canada Employment: 200+ Employment: 100+ CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

2. Agricultural-Food Processing

Established export offer in the livestock and fishing sector

14% of total exports in Costa Rica Export Products: fresh, chilled or during 2019 frozen fish, shrimp

$52.99 million of total exports Export Destinations: United States, during 2019 from the Central Pacific Belgium, Hong Kong, and Holland region

AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD EXPORTS

Agricultural Sector Food Processing Sector

• $61.67 million of total exports in the region during 2019 • $27.48 million of total exports in the region during 2019 • Exported products: banana, melon, watermelons, • Export Products: animal feed, prepared and preserved fish

flowers • Exports to the United States, Holland, Belgium, and Spain Source: Exports by Canton, 2019. CINDE database • Exports to the United States, Holland, Belgium, and with information provided by PROCOMER Spain CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

2. AGRICULTURAL-FOOD PROCESSING The Region is a Proven Business Partner for Domestic and Foreign Companies

Fish processing and Processing and marketing of organic Manufacturing in canned aquaculture shrimp production

Beginning of operations 1982 2002 1975

Location Quepos Barranca, Free Trade Zone SARET El Roble, Puntarenas

Origin of Capital Mexico-USA Belgium Costa Rica

Export Destination Export volume: 4 million pounds annually, United States France, Spain y Canada to the United States Employment 350+ 100+ 1,200 CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

2. AGRICULTURAL-FOOD PROCESSING

National Projects Strengthen Regional Papaya Processing Plant Marketing of Apple Guava Mollusk Treatment Plant • Plant for the receipt, washing, drying, • Guava collection, processing and • Safe oyster production by oyster Experience in Food packaging, storage and distribution packaging center for national farmers and bivalve mollusks of papaya, located in Parrita marketing and export potential extractors throughout the region Processing • Export plan to Spain, Canada and • Located in Paquera • Located at the Marine and Coastal Central America, more than 200 Sciences Station of the National thousand kilos per week • INDER project - Coopeproguata: University, in Punta Morales coordination with local apple • INDER Project - CoopeParrita: guava producers • INDER invested 167 million colones promotion of papaya production and (approx. $275,000) in infrastructure economic revitalization of nearby and equipment communities • The Oyster Seed Production Laboratory, which supplies the treatment plant, is located adjacent to the plant. CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

3. Tourism Infrastructure

Varied Natural Resources to Diversify Our Tourist Offer

425 Kilometers (265 Miles) of Coastline Transitional Tropical Forests, from tropical dry with varied beaches, islands (144 in total), forest to tropical rain forest bays, and marine ecosystems home to many species of flora and fauna Scenic Coastal Beauty: Located on the road that connects Puerto Caldera with Quepos and 3 Climate Types: dry, rainy and transitional Manuel Antonio (from dry to rainy)

VARIED HOTEL OFFER

Categories: all inclusive, boutique, Successful Tourism Developments: Including Los conventional rooms, and cabins Sueños Resort, Isla Chiquita Glamping Hotel, Villa Caletas, Tulemar, and DoubleTree, among others CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE

Exuberant Tourist and

Natural NATIONAL PARKS AND NATURAL GULF ISLANDS AND BEACHES RIVERS OF ADVENTURES RESERVES Attractions • Herradura Beach • Tárcoles River • Manuel Antonio National Park • Ballena Bay and Tambor Beach • Savegre River • Carara National Park • Montezuma Beach and Santa • Barranca River • Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Teresa Reserve • Barú Beach • Curú National Wildlife Refuge • Cabuya Beach • Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve • Islands of the Gulf of Nicoya: Isla San Lucas, Isla Chira and Isla Venado CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

3. TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE

Tourism infrastructure that serves as a traveler’s home base to explore strategic points throughout the region

Local Airports: Cruise Terminal Routes 2 Tambor and Quepos 1 (Puntarenas) 2 Ferry CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

3. TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE A robust infrastructure allows for tourist transit to strategic points throughout and within the region

AIRPORTS CRUISE SHIPS FERRY

Two Local Airports: Tambor and Puntarenas Cruise Terminal Ferry Puntarenas – Naranjo Beach Ferry Puntarenas - Paquera Quepos • Connects Puntarenas with Nicoya, • Puntarenas is linked to the Nicoya • Tambor Regional Airport: located • Pier: 553.44 meters long Santa Cruz Peninsula: Paquera and Cobano on the Nicoya Peninsula, Cóbano district • The highest number of visits was • Provides maritime cabotage • Transportation service through recorded in 2019, with a total of services for vehicles, products, and maritime cabotage of vehicles, • Quepos Airport offers commercial 131,564 cruise passengers people products and people and charter flights between San José and Quepos. Duration: 25min • Duration 1h: 15min CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

3. TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE

A robust infrastructure allows for tourist transit to strategic points throughout and within

the region Floating and Dry Docks Floating Docks • 200 spaces in the water and 116 spaces out of the • More than 195 floating docks for boats up to 200 feet water, accommodating vessels up to 35 feet long in length • Up to 14 feet depth at low tide Fuel Docking Station • 65 gallon-per-minute pumping system, oil changes, Dry Storage extractions, bulk service for all lubricants, and • 40 spaces available to accommodate vessels up to 38 complementary sanitary tank discharge services feet in length • Services includes fuel charge, battery recharge, and Facilities for sportfishing boats and luxury yachts washing, among others

Shipyard • 200-Ton Conveyor Crane, Maritime Forklift, Lifting and Hanging, Service, and Repair Source: www.lossuenos.com and www.marinapezvela.com CENTRAL PACIFIC PROSPERITY

4. Logistics Services

Proven Port Capacity: Puerto Caldera and Quepos Terminal

From 2016 to 2019, 29% of the cargo North America and Asia are the main export mobilized in Costa Rica transited through destinations from Puerto Caldera Puerto Caldera Eight export products account for about 66% of the value of Puerto Caldera's exports: 2,415 ships were mobilized (22% of the pineapple, sugar, coffee, gold, wood, national total), accounting for 1,157,159 TEU aluminum waste, bananas, and ethyl alcohol (19% of the total)

Puerto Caldera is #41 of 118

According to the 2018 Report on Port Activity in Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), regarding port movement in TEUs, by port and port area

Source: • Institutional Report of the MOPT • Central American Port Statistical Information System, (COCATRAM) 2020 • PROCOMER statistical portal • Report on port activity in Latin America and the Ca v People CENTRAL PACIFIC CENTRAL PACIFIC / PEOPLE

Labor Force Demographics

149,265 148,842 298,107 Men Women Total

Cantonal Population Age Distribution

137,863 23,386 Puntarenas Orotina

25,016 19,676 Garabito Parrita

37,527 14,186 Esparza Montes de Oro

32,483 7,076 Aguirre (Quepos) San Mateo

Source: CINDE based on information from INEC, ENAHO 2019 - CCSS Statistics Portal 2018 CENTRAL PACIFIC / PEOPLE

Labor Force 78,196 44,489 122,685 Employment Men Women Total

Laboral Force 2% Financial and Insurance Activities

2% Artistic Activities and Entertainment

2% Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities Accommodations and 14% Food Service Activities 4% Healthcare

4% Administrative Service Activities

Wholesale and Retail 5% Teaching 13% 6% Transport and Storage

7% Building

Others 11%

10% Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

Service Activities 10% 10% Manufacturing Industries

Population – Economically 137,863 37,527 32,483 25,016 23,386 19,676 14,186 7,076 Active Puntarenas Esparza Aguirre (Quepos) Garabito Orotina Parrita Montes de Oro San Mateo

Source: CINDE based on information from INEC, ENAHO 2019 - CCSS Statistics Portal 2018 CENTRAL PACIFIC / PEOPLE

Academic Offer 18 Technical Training Centers National Institute of Learning Professional Technical High National Technical Technical (INA) schools University (UTN)

Training 2014-2018 Percentage Institution Centers Graduates of Total

INA 5 13.383 76%

MEP 12 2.982 17% UTN 1 1.228 7%

Total 18 17.593 100%

Technical Graduates by Technical Graduates by Qualification Level Overview of Productive Sector 2014-2018 Technical Graduates Skilled Worker 61% Commercial and Services Middle Technician 17.12% 51% Industrial Women Technical 13.92% Agricultural Diploma 7.05%

17,593 3,519 49% Specialized Technician 0.91% Total Graduates Annual Average Men

Source: HIPATIA, 2020 CENTRAL PACIFIC / PEOPLE

Academic Offer Universities

4 Public Universities 5 Private Universities CENTRAL PACIFIC / PEOPLE

Graduated University Electricity Generation in the Region

Talent Central Pacific Region Graduates Percentage Bachelor’s 1.389 33,10% Licentiate 2.492 59,39% Graduated Professionals Master’s 268 6,39% during the 2000-2018 period Professional Specialty 44 1,05% Ph.D. 3 0,07% Total 4.196 100%

Cantons Graduates Percentage Puntarenas 1916 45,66% Esparza 798 19,02% Orotina 433 10,32% Concentrated in Puntarenas, followed by Esparza and Orotina Montes de Oro 371 8,84% Quepos 271 6,46% Parrita 149 3,55% Garabito 147 3,50% San Mateo 111 2,65% Total 4.196 100%

Central Pacific Region Graduates Percentage Medical Sciences 1.792 42,71% Engineering and Technology 1.682 40,09% The largest number of graduates are in the Exact and Natural Sciences 548 13,06% area of Medical Sciences Agricultural Science 174 4,15% Total 4.196 100% Source: Own elaboration, based on HIPATIA, 2020 CENTRAL PACIFIC / PEOPLE

Health Services 28 11 EBAIS Locations Health Areas and 73 Basic Teams in Comprehensive Health Care

81 2 Periodic Hospitals: Monsignor Sanabria in Puntarenas and Visiting Positions Max Terán Valls Hospital in Quepos

New Hospital in Puntarenas $217 316,000 (by 2022) Million Total Capacity v Planet CENTRAL PACIFIC CENTRAL PACIFIC / PLANET

Costa Rica and the Central Pacific are allies in making a positive impact and achieving sustainable development goals

Sustainability has served as the country's roadmap for more than 60 years

99% of electricity is derived More than 6% of the world's from renewable sources biodiversity

The only nation capable of Champion of the Earth - reversing deforestation United Nations 2019 CENTRAL PACIFIC / PLANET

Clean Energy Matrix to Achieve Sustainable Development

About 99% of all electricity generated 99.43% of national electricity coverage Some Industrial Parks have redundancy, during 2019 came from Renewable (CNFL, 2020) as they are connected to a second energy sources electrical substation through the (CENCE, December 2019) national interconnected system.

Impact of Renewable Energy Abundant water supply: Costa Rica is Generation: Costa Rica is one of the five located in one of the most water-rich Clean Energy Production: hydroelectric, best-evaluated countries in the energy regions of the world. The country has geothermal, biomass, solar, and wind transition index, within the dimension of 113 billion m3 of internal renewable environmental sustainability freshwater resources per year. (World Economic Forum, 2019) (AQUASTAT, FAO 2014 – Last Available ) CENTRAL PACIFIC / PLANET

Electricity Generation in the Region

In total, the region contributes • 94.4% Electricity Coverage Index in the Central Pacific Region Electricity Generation 389 MW to the country's generation, which represents and 11.5% of the total national • 5 electrical substations: Telecommunications generation Located in 4 cantons and 5 districts of the Province of Puntarenas

2 hydroelectric plants and 3 thermal plants

Four plants operated by ICE and one by the Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (CNFL)

Favorable Connectivity

Second-best connected region • Average electrical penetration per 100 inhabitants in the Central to the country's fixed network, Pacific is 17.02%, higher than the national average (16.88%). surpassed only by the Central Region

Source: Open Data Electric Substations, Energy Administration - Regulatory Authority of Public Services. 2018–2034 Electricity Generation Expansion Plan. Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), May 2019. CENTRAL PACIFIC / PLANET

Electricity Costs for Medium Voltage Electrical Costs a / US $/ kWh According to Load Factor

Load Factor

Load factor refers to average energy consumption divided by maximum demand during a time period

The higher the load factor, the lower the average cost of electricity

In Costa Rica, most multinational companies operate with a load factor between 60% -80% ICE

ESPH NOTES

a /: Includes charges for power and energy Exchange Rate: 1US $= 600 b /: Large electricity consumers are those whose colones High Voltage Cost b /: $0.085 per kWh with a load factor of 80%. Includes energy delivery point is 138,000 volts or more ARESEP updates the rates every quarter transmission cost of $0.023 per kWh

Source: CINDE with Aresep database; October 2020 . CENTRAL PACIFIC / PLANET Protected Biodiversity

NATIONAL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION 26 REFUGES 4 AREAS

Central Pacific Conservation Area: 60% of NATIONAL flora and more than 70% of the mammals 9 PARKS in Costa Rica

Isla del Coco Marine Conservation Area: Among them, Manuel Antonio, Isla San UNESCO World Heritage Site Lucas, and Carara Tempisque Conservation Area WETLANDS 7 Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area

BIOLOGICAL ABSOLUTE NATURE 6 RESERVES 2 RESERVES

Source: ICT, Source: Electricity Generation Expansion Plan 2018–2034. Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), May 2019 . CENTRAL PACIFIC / PLANET

Blue Economy Projects Protected Biodiversity

OYSTER FARMS SAN LUCAS ISLAND COCOS ISLAND

• Three oyster production farms – located on Isla • Isla San Lucas, a National Wildlife Refuge • Ecosystem of wild and marine biodiversity, Venado, Isla Chira, and Costa de Pájaros in and former penitentiary (closed in 1991) with great potential for scientific research Puntarenas – are part of the government operates as a Costa Rican cultural, strategy to promote sustainable aquaculture historical, and natural tourist • In 1998, UNESCO recognized Isla del Coco and support coastal communities (50% destination. National Park as a Natural Heritage Site of progress). Humanity; in 2002, it was also categorized • Declared a National Park in August 2020 as a Ramsar Site. • Families received technical support from the and reopened to tourist visits INA and the Marine Biological Unit of the • Cocos Island is recognized worldwide as a National University (UNA) of Puntarenas, on • 324 million colones invested into the reservoir of biodiversity and endemic life, as the oyster culture procedure and basic construction of trails, sanitary services, a site of exceptional scenic beauty, and is management tools. collection centers, water pumping also considered one of the top ten sites for systems, and structural intervention recreational diving in the world. • The initiative is part of the Blue Economy projects and also the 2019-2023 Strategic Plan • The project is carried out in coordination • It is one of the most privileged natural sites for Aquaculture in Costa Rica, which promotes with the Puntarenas Chamber of in the world the use of sustainable practices and Tourism. technologies in coastal communities throughout the country. Central Pacific A Strategic Link Between Costa Rica and the World