{
  "id": 11243494,
  "title": "Costa Rica FDI: Foreign Investment Rises 23.4% to US$2.74 Billion in First Half of 2026",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/costa-rica-fdi-foreign-investment-rises-23-4-to-us-2-74-billion-in",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-01T17:04:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Rio Times",
    "slug": "the-rio-times",
    "url": "https://www.riotimesonline.com/costa-rica-fdi-rises-234-percent-first-half-2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Costa Rica's foreign direct investment (FDI) surged 23.4% in the first half of 2026, reaching US$2.74 billion. This figure, reported by the state export and investment agency Procomer, was compiled using preliminary data from the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR). Most of the increase came from free zones, with investment rising 35% to US$1.74 billion, an additional US$452.6 million. Companies under the ordinary tax regime contributed US$569.7 million, a 46.9% jump. Free-zone investment outside the San José metropolitan area surged 37% to US$149.6 million. Manufacturing led the sector with US$1.95 billion, a 9.8% rise. Services attracted US$212.5 million, a stark contrast to the US$9.4 million recorded a year earlier. The United States accounted for 68.9% of the half-year total, followed by Switzerland at 5.7% and Spain at 5.1%. The results underscore Costa Rica's continued appeal as an investment destination. Procomer general manager Laura López pointed to double-digit growth outside the capital region. However, investment in tourism dipped 27% to US$157.9 million, reflecting a soft patch for the nation's largest employer. The capital inflow is also occurring as Costa Rica's external accounts loosen, with the current-account gap widening. Despite some sectoral declines, steady FDI remains a crucial tool for financing external gaps. The Central Bank data are preliminary and may be revised.",
  "summary": "Costa Rica FDI rose 23.4% to US$2.74 billion in the first half of 2026, led by free zones, while tourism investment fell 27%. What the Procomer data show. The post Costa Rica FDI: Foreign Investment Rises 23.4% to US$2.74 Billion in First Half of 2026 appeared first on The Rio Times .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}