3,600 people have been hired by Coyol Free Zone recruitment services in recent years
June, 2021. In 2020, of the 16,500 people who were working in the 30 companies located in the Coyol Free Zone (CFZ), 55% were women and 45% were men, most of whom were working in manufacturing across the different companies in the park.
According to figures given by the free zone, in the last two years, 3,600 people have been hired to fill primarily manufacturing positions. This has been made possible through the recruitment services that the park offers to companies, allowing candidates to find a quality job according to their level of education, and at the same time, improve their standard of living.
Marielena Carballo, Project Manager of Coyol Free Zone commented, “The free zone enhances employability alongside gender equality, and has implemented training processes to fit the needs of the companies and the academic reality of the workers; it is a win-win situation ”.
In Coyol Free Zone, employees, who have completed ninth grade and have their high school diploma, have the possibility of continuing their academic training, by taking advantage of the different professional technical training options offered in partnership with Costa Rica’s Institute of Technology (TEC). Thanks to this, during 2020, 1,052 people enrolled in a course of study and 347 graduated from the different training options offered by FUNDATEC.
Through this educational partnership, free courses, technical specialties and Master’s degrees are made available to workers as part of the academic program that includes 20 training options.
In addition, in 2020, Coyol Free Zone began an innovative project of on-line training programs in response to the reality created by the pandemic. This project was a virtual platform called Academia Coyol, where the implementation of the Intégrate Coyol program was developed and people can now study from home. This came with the INA partnership which promotes courses for park employees and supports those who are looking for a job opportunity.
In spite of the great challenges being created by COVID-19, Coyol Free Zone continues to place its efforts in contributing to sustainable development and caring for the planet to build a more equitable, inclusive and just society through compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) established in its Sustainability Strategy.
According to data from the 2020 Sustainability Report, Coyol Free Zone’s companies have exported US $2,071 million in medical devices – a figure that exceeds Costa Rica’s GDP by 1%
“Coyol Free Zone is an important generator of formal, inclusive and quality employment, which facilitates technology and knowledge transfer, promotes productive linkages with national suppliers and fosters corporate social responsibility that greatly benefits vulnerable populations through inclusion and job opportunities,” highlighted Carlos Wong, CEO of Coyol Free Zone.
In balance with the environment
Coyol Free Zone’s first Sustainability Report also highlights a series of indicators that show that this is a free zone that enhances the economic growth and reactivation that Costa Rica so requires, and in balance with the environment.
Carlos Wong reiterated that, “Without a doubt, environmental management is one of the pillars of our sustainability strategy. Some of these projects focus on the optimum use of water resources, sustainable construction, wastewater management, reforestation of 13% of the total area of the park, in addition to ensuring sustainable real estate development (a total area of 122,546.20m2 of green areas) and sustainable transport.”
Since 2020, as part of a process of growth and continuous improvement, Coyol Free Zone has been strengthening environmental management, improving the recording and analysis of consumption indicators as well as the planning of projects with environmental benefits. “Our commitment since the park opened until 2021 has been to give continuity to this process and strengthen the work team, and to continue implementing initiatives that reduce the impact of our operations,” added Carlos Wong.
Support for country and community amid the pandemic
During 2020, thanks to its responsibility and commitment to the country and the community, the free zone has managed a series of economic support programs, aimed at attending the national COVID-19 emergency. Of these, it is important to highlight:
- Contribution of $307,000 in medical equipment to organizations and affected populations (Abbott equipment and 5000 reagents for PCR tests to INCENSE)
- Donation of 36 sliding glass doors to the Hospital de Alajuela for the care of COVID-19 patients
- Contribution of 50,000 masks for the “Put a mask on your heart, too” campaign – an initiative led by the Costa Rican Red Cross.
Coyol Free Zone is the leading park in medical device exports in Costa Rica, generating $2,000 million a year, which is 58% of the exports coming from the manufacturing segment of the country’s Free Trade Zone Regime. It was recognized as the Best Free Zone in Latin America, the Most Innovative Free Zone of the Year, and Business Center for Life Sciences and Advanced Manufacturing, according to The European magazine. It is ranked # 7 in the Top 10 Free Zones in the world by the international investment agency, fDi Intelligence, and is part of the Top Free Zones 2020 ranking, according to Site Selection Magazine.