Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Box 1
Government and Investor Support
In the four years between 1997 and 2000, a strong working relationship was forged
between foreign investors, CINDE and the government. A private-public sector
team the President, relevant ministers, top executives of established investors
and CINDE jointly promoted the country for investment. This cohesion was not
only visible within the country, but also abroad. Established investors, such as
Intel, Baxter, Conair, Sawtek, Bourns, and later Abbott Laboratories (now Hospira),
Western Union, P&G and Sykes, publicly endorsed the country in road shows across
the United States. The Presidents involvement and live testimony from these companies conveyed a message of strong involvement and investor satisfaction. Intel
actively participated in many promotional events as a signature project (that was)
working and successful, according to Intels Edwards.
President Figueres, and later President Miguel ngel Rodrguez, embraced the
concept of outreach, personally participating as keynote speakers in one or more
events CINDE organized abroad each year. In 1999 CINDE gathered top CEOs,
including Craig Barrett of Intel, at a gala dinner to present the case for Costa Rica
before potential investors in the Silicon Valley. In 1998, when President Figueres
turned the power to incoming President Rodrguez, high-ranking executives from
foreign companies were formally invited to the ceremony.