#San Jose #Costa Rica #PROCOMER #CRTIS

Costa Rica Hosts the CRTIS 2026

The Costa Rica Trade & Investment Summit (CRTIS) has launched its second edition, welcoming more than 400 buyers and investors from over 40 countries. This flagship event aims to connect domestic companies with international buyers interested in exploring their products and services. Additionally, it serves as a platform for investors to assess potential projects and opportunities for establishing or expanding their operations within Costa Rica.

Running for three days, the event features personalized schedules designed to facilitate over 3,600 one-on-one meetings between international delegates and the 1,000 export-oriented companies, multinationals, and local suppliers participating. Each agenda is crafted around specific purchasing and investment priorities, allowing attendees to compare options, validate capacities, and make informed business decisions.

"Costa Rica offers specialized talent, productive capacity, market access, and a robust network of suppliers that cater to the requirements of international buyers and investors. The country has proven its capability to develop complex, high-value operations. The CRTIS provides a firsthand understanding of these capabilities, allowing for strategic decisions regarding purchases, investments, and expansions that will boost exports, attract new investments, and integrate domestic companies into global value chains," stated Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER.

Diverse and Evolving Export Offerings

Costa Rica’s export portfolio underscores the transformation and diversification of its economy. Services constitute 34% of this export offer, followed by medical devices at 31%, and agriculture at 11%. Collectively, these sectors illustrate the country’s ability to engage traditional markets while participating in knowledge- and technology-intensive industries.

The CRTIS reflects this diversity, providing an avenue for international buyers to forge business relationships with companies in agro-industry, food production, specialized manufacturing, digital technologies, corporate services, creative industries, and applied innovation. The personalized meetings allow them to discuss technical requirements, production capabilities, commercial conditions, and supply possibilities.

Investors are keen on exploring new and expanding projects in areas such as agro-industry, advanced manufacturing, services, tourism infrastructure, and semiconductors. They benefit from tailored schedules to comprehend the available talent, infrastructure, installed capacity, and supplier networks necessary for their operations.

Direct Engagement with Costa Rica’s Productive Capabilities

Moreover, attendees will gain insights into Costa Rica’s potential directly within its productive zones. Delegations will tour agricultural operations in the northern and Caribbean regions, ornamental plant businesses in the west of the Central Valley, and advanced manufacturing companies situated in major research centers, free trade zones, and business parks.

Through site visits and tours, buyers and investors will observe operational processes, engage with business teams, and understand the existing capacities across various regions. This immersive experience allows for commercial and investment decisions founded on reliable, firsthand information regarding the productive environment in Costa Rica.

An Expanding Export Economy

The Summit is set against a backdrop of a steadily growing export economy. From January to July 2026, Costa Rican exports reached $13.821 billion, marking a 5% increase compared to the same period in 2025. This growth has reached all regions of the country and is fueled by both the free zone regime, which grew by 4%, and the definitive regime, with an 8% increase.

More than 1,000 companies with direct foreign investment operate in Costa Rica, employing 312,000 people. The presence of these firms, along with the growth of local exporting and supplier businesses, provides a solid foundation for developing new operations, increasing local purchases, and incorporating more Costa Rican capabilities into international chains.

Successful Business Model

The commercial value of the Summit extends beyond the meetings. In its inaugural edition in 2025, over 3,600 business meetings took place alongside 104 investment agendas. Following up, PROCOMER recorded $33 million in business finalized from negotiations initiated at the event. This shows the Summit’s effectiveness in transitioning initial connections into subsequent negotiation and closure phases.

The second edition aims to leverage this success to expand opportunities for Costa Rican businesses and decision-makers from international markets, further positioning Costa Rica as a leading player in the global business landscape.