Intel says it will invest $80 million in its manufacturing plant in Costa Rica, this year. The investment is both to modernize equipment in order to produce 22-nanometer processors and to maintain the infrastructure of the Belén, Heredia, plant.
Follow RCR Wireless News – Americas on Twitter, Facebook and subscribe to our free periodic newsletters
It has been 15 years since Intel installed a manufacturing plant in Costa Rica and, to date, Intel noted that it has invested $800 million in the country. In the beginning, the plant had 500 Costa Rican employees and currently it has about 2,800 direct employees who are in charge of assembly processes and testing of microprocessors, development and engineering design and other services.
According to Mike Forrest, general manager of Intel Costa Rica, during this period Intel has contributed not only in the technology sector, but also to educational and social programs.
Back in 2006, the World Bank Group/MIGA unveiled a document analyzing the impact of Intel in Costa Rica nine years after the company’s decision to invest in the country. The report noted that while Intel has a large, high-profile project in Costa Rica, the lessons from the experience are nevertheless widely applicable in the practice of investment promotion, especially within the context of a developing cluster. (Read the document here).
Intel noted it has introduced new technologies and advanced equipment to assemble modern processors in the plant, which is home to the global service center. Costa Rica is in charge of all accounting, payroll and financial procedures, human resources and procurement for Intel’s operations throughout Americas.
The country is also responsible for the company’s IT support. Since February 2011, Costa Rica has also been home to an engineering and development center responsible for software and hardware designs and development for Intel.
