January, 2026. Over time, Free Trade Zones have become more than operational hubs; they have developed into strategic ecosystems where infrastructure, talent, innovation, and institutional stability converge. Costa Rica has steadily strengthened its position as a global destination for high-value industries, supported by a Free Zone Regime that has evolved alongside technological transformation and shifting global value chains.
As part of an ongoing reflection on the future of this model, we had the opportunity to speak with Ronald Lachner, President of the Costa Rican Free Trade Zone Companies Association (AZOFRAS). His perspective offers valuable insights into how Free Trade Zones in Costa Rica have evolved, what conditions sustain their competitiveness, and how this national platform translates into tangible results within specialized environments.
Costa Rica’s Free Trade Zone model: from operational platforms to strategic ecosystems
Costa Rica’s Free Zone Regime has matured into a central pillar of national development, enabling the country to attract investment, generate quality employment, and integrate into global markets. Beyond fiscal and regulatory frameworks, its true strength lies in the creation of environments where companies can establish long-term operations supported by mature infrastructure and institutional continuity.
According to Lachner, this evolution reflects a broader transformation in global manufacturing. Industries today demand precision, traceability, technological integration, and resilience; requirements that redefine what Free Trade Zones must deliver.
“We are seeing a sophistication of manufacturing. We have more automation, much more use of artificial intelligence in all processes, and much more research and development across all areas, so we are transitioning to much more sophisticated processes.”
This shift has elevated Free Trade Zones from production sites to innovation-driven ecosystems capable of supporting complex, regulated, and technology intensive industries.
The emergence of Free Trade Zones 5.0
As global industries evolve, Free Trade Zones must continuously adapt to remain relevant. Lachner describes this transition as the emergence of Free Trade Zones 5.0, a model that emphasizes integration, specialization, and operational readiness to support both manufacturing and services within increasingly complex global value chains. “Free Trade Zones 5.0 must have a foundation that allows these types of industries to establish themselves, feel comfortable, and have all levels of services, infrastructure, security, and additionally, the cluster or supplier support to be successful.”
Under this vision, Free Trade Zones are designed to deliver more than physical space. They must provide interconnected business ecosystems that enable digitalization, automation, research and development, and collaborative networks that support long-term competitiveness.
This approach aligns with Costa Rica’s ambition to move further up the value chain and consolidate its reputation as a destination for sophisticated operations.
A robust framework that enables investment to take root
The success of Costa Rica’s Free Zone model is deeply linked to the stability of its regulatory and institutional environment. With more than three decades of operation, the Free Zone Regime has provided legal certainty and continuity, two critical factors for long-term investment decisions. Lachner highlights this foundation:
“We just celebrated 35 years of the Free Trade Zones Association and of the Free Zone Law. It is a very robust law that includes a series of incentives, and that is part of its appeal, incentives granted by law.”
However, the true differentiator lies beyond regulation. Free Trade Zones in Costa Rica have fostered environments where investment becomes embedded within a broader network of talent, suppliers, and institutional support.
“Costa Rica already has an important name and brand in life sciences. There is an entire ecosystem around life sciences and medical devices. That support allows investment to take root, and when it takes root, new companies seek to establish themselves in a country that already has this reputation and potential,” added Lachner.
This capacity to attract follow-on investment reinforces the position of the country as a long-term strategic destination rather than a transactional manufacturing location.
Talent as the cornerstone of competitiveness
As Free Trade Zones evolve toward more advanced models, talent becomes the defining factor for sustained competitiveness. Infrastructure and regulation create the foundation, but human capital determines the ability to innovate and adapt.
Lachner emphasizes the importance of developing a workforce capable of evolving alongside technological change:
“As a country, we must have the talent supply that can meet the demand of these companies, which require sophisticated, trained talent, or talent that can be easily taken to other levels.”
Upskilling and reskilling emerge as strategic priorities, enabling professionals to strengthen existing capabilities while acquiring new competencies aligned with automation, digitalization, and advanced manufacturing.
Within this context, Free Trade Zones play a critical role as platforms for knowledge transfer, professional development, and collaboration between the industry and the academia.
Coyol Free Zone: a tangible expression of ecosystem driven development
Within Costa Rica’s Free Zone landscape, Coyol Free Zone represents a clear example of how specialization and strategic development translate into global relevance. From Lachner’s perspective, our trajectory reflects the potential of Costa Rican entrepreneurship and long-term strategic vision.
“Coyol Free Zone is an example of Costa Rican talent and entrepreneurship, and of what can achieve in this country. Undoubtedly, Coyol Free Zone is a pioneer in the industrial sector with a clear focus on high-value industries. It is a world-class industrial park, the first one to specialize in the Life Sciences industry, specifically Medical Devices.”
Beyond specialization, Coyol Free Zone’s strength comes from our cluster-based model, where companies, suppliers, and service providers operate within a fully integrated environment designed for operational excellence.
“Today, Coyol Free Zone represents the cluster because it has the companies, the OEMs, the suppliers, and the different service providers. It really has first world infrastructure that supports operations and puts Costa Rica on the map as a sophisticated destination.”
This integration enables companies to scale operations efficiently, reduce complexity, and operate within an environment designed to support continuous improvement and regulatory rigor.
From manufacturing to creation: shaping the next phase of value generation
Looking ahead, Free Trade Zones in Costa Rica are positioned to move beyond manufacturing toward higher-value activities such as design, process engineering, and innovation. This shift represents an opportunity to generate intellectual property and deepen the country’s integration into global innovation ecosystems. Lachner frames this vision clearly:
“A country like Costa Rica, with its talent and vision, has all the potential to create. That is where the true value of the country comes from.”
Coyol Free Zone contributes to this transformation by offering an environment where companies can evolve from production to knowledge of intensive activities, supported by infrastructure, services, and collaborative networks.