Costa Rica exports $148 million in computer software

Costa Rica started selling software in 1987, with a text-spelling corrector that was old in Panama and Puerto Rico. Since then, the selling market of computer programs increased 430% up to now. The production of these programs is generated by 3,000 engineers and technicians who make an average of $50,000 each.

In the production, four dollars out of each five dollars represent the added value just for the Costa Rican intellect. Based on this and other characteristics, Costa Rica is the second largest producer and exporter of software in Latin America.

Costa Rican companies create different softwares to survive technological platforms that are obsolete and even special programs for enterprises to operate. Other enterprises work with outsourcing. This means that the software companies are hired to create programs for specific purposes depending on the industry.

There are many situations that lead Costa Rica to this progress:

The installation of Intel in 1998.

The excellent quality of the local talent generated in the past.

The creativity and innovation.

In order to continue growing it’s necessary to have more human resource (about 1,300 engineers) trained in the needs of the sector and improve their English, too.