Bridgestone expands operations in Costa Rica

Tire manufacturer Bridgestone Corporation will build its new Latin America financial service center in Costa Rica, the company announced Wednesday.

The new center will allow the company to improve its information technologies infrastructure and standardize other processes, according to a press statement issued by the Costa Rican Investment Board (CINDE). 

The service headquarters would create about 100 new jobs. The company said it chose Costa Rica to build the center based on the country’s political stability and high skilled workforce.

“This new structure will improve the financial services for our business units throughout the Latin American region,” said Humberto Goméz, president of Bridgestone Latin America. “This center will help the company grow and strengthen the talent of our workforce.”

The business will put an additional $70 million into its manufacturing facility located in Heredia. The company invested $18 million into a springs factory located in Turrialba that opened in 2009.

“Costa Rica is an excellent place to do business,” said Gary Garfield, CEO of Bridgestone Americas Inc. “The workforce is highly skilled and motivated, so it’s strategic for us to invest in here.”