Costa Rican services exports during the first half of 2013 totaled $2.9 billion, an increase of 7.7 percent over the same period in 2012, the Foreign Trade Ministry (COMEX) reported.
According to the agency, exports of computer services and business services are driving the numbers with figures of $892 million and $414 million, respectively.
“The successful attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has consolidated these solid figures for Costa Rican services exports,” the COMEX report stated.
Together these two sectors generated revenues of some $1.3 billion, or 44.6 percent of total service-sector exports in the first six months of 2013.
Services accounted for 33.7 percent of Costa Rica’s total exports during the first half of the year.
“These results are a sign of dynamism and sophistication of our exports, directly linked with our efforts to attract foreign investment,” Foreign Trade Minister Anabel González said.
Central Bank data show that FDI for the first half of 2013 totaled $1.3 billion, which is 15.4 percent more than during the first half of last year.
Positive FDI figures were boosted mainly by a 97 percent growth in real estate investment and by a 5 percent increase in the manufacture sectors of biotechnology, textiles and paper, the report said.
