In 2016, Costa Rica made exports of services through technology, information and communication (ICT) for a value of $ 3,310 million, equivalent to 5.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This percentage is similar to what the revenues of agricultural activity in the country.
This data follows after Costa Rica became the first country in the world to quantify and characterize the exports of services provided through ICTs.
The study headed by the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR), emerged as an initiative of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX), the Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER), the Costa Rican Coalition of Development Initiatives (CINDE), and the Costa Rican Chamber of Information and Communication Technologies (CAMTIC).
The analysis took into account the information of the year 2016, which was provided by 984 companies that export technological services. The results were divided into the following categories:
Telecommunications services
Computer services (including software)
Sales and marketing services
Information services
Insurance and financial services
Management services
Administration and back office services
Licenses
Engineering and research and development
Education and training services.
Nearly 90% of the exported value corresponds to large companies, but there is a 7% participation of microenterprises. The remaining percentage is shared between medium and small companies. On the other hand, 61% of the capital of companies that export services via ICT networks originates in the United States, followed by Europe (15%) and Panama (13%). Regarding the destination of exports, 60% goes to the United States, 13% to Europe, and 12% to Central America.
Regarding the labor market in services exported by ICT networks, 66% of the positions are occupied by men and 34% by women. In addition, this field of work generates direct employment opportunities of 5% of the total employment in the country.