WASHINGTON – IDB Invest has signed a financing agreement of up to $5 million with Zona Franca La Lima (ZFLL), located in the province of Cartago, Costa Rica, to support the expansion of the industrial park.

The operation includes the potential acquisition of land and the preparation of spaces for research and development, strengthening the country’s capacity to attract foreign direct investment in high value-added sectors.

The financing also includes the option to build multi-tenant facilities, optimizing costs, reducing installation times, and facilitating access to high-quality infrastructure for international companies. This model is especially attractive for sectors such as medical devices, advanced manufacturing, and specialized services, aligned with Costa Rica’s productive strategy.

The financing will help consolidate Cartago as a competitive industrial hub, promoting economic development outside the metropolitan core and generating formal employment in a region with high productive potential. In a country where the free trade zone regime accounts for nearly 64% of exports and employs more than 250,000 people, the expansion of ZFLL reinforces the role of this model as a driver of growth, innovation, and productive linkages. Since its opening in 2014, ZFLL has attracted more than $1.186 billion in investment and generated more than 9,500 direct jobs.

The financing consists of a revolving line of up to $5 million, with an initial 18month term, renewable. The funds will support agile execution of investments aligned with the needs of international companies seeking to establish operations in the country under high operational standards.

In addition to financing, IDB Invest will provide technical advisory services to strengthen the park’s environmental and social sustainability, as well as its corporate governance. This includes support to obtain international environmental certifications that ensure efficient energy use in industrial operations and foster continuous improvement.

The operation also incorporates actions to improve mobility and transportation conditions for workers, with special attention to the needs of women, promoting safer and more accessible work environments.

About IDB Invest  

IDB Invest, a member of the IDB Group, is a multilateral development bank committed to promoting the economic development of its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through the private sector. IDB Invest finances sustainable companies and projects to achieve financial results and maximize economic, social, and environmental development in the region. With a portfolio of $22 billion in assets under management and more than 440 clients in 25 countries, IDB Invest provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the needs of its clients in a variety of industries. Visit our website: www.idbinvest.org/en.

About Zona Franca La Lima

Zona Franca La Lima is a business park located in Cartago, Costa Rica, developed by Garnier & Garnier. With more than a decade of operations, it has established itself as one of the country’s leading platforms for attracting foreign direct investment. It specializes in life sciences, advanced manufacturing, electronics, and high value‑added services, and hosts a community of more than 10,000 direct jobs. Since its opening, the park has surpassed $1.186 billion in cumulative investment and has generated exports of more than $4.577 billion. Eighty‑five percent of its talent comes from the province of Cartago, reflecting its direct impact on local employability and territorial development. La Lima has been recognized among the 50 most sustainable free trade zones in the world by the Global Alliance of Special Economic Zones (GASEZ) and is one of the first in the Americas to receive OECD certification for security and transparency.