Iconic rum maker Bacardí inaugurated a regional service center in Costa Rica on Wednesday, where the Caribbean company will provide administrative support to other countries throughout the Americas.
The center, located in Escazú, southwest of the capital San José, opened with 135 employees. The company estimates staff could increase up to 200 by December.
The center provides financial support services, including accounts payable, inventory, general account management and reports.
At the opening ceremony, Bacardí’s vice president of business solutions, Jorge Rodríguez, said that the quality of Costa Rican talent and strategic coordination with government officials were the two key factors in its decision to locate in Costa Rica.
The company had considered seven other countries.
Foreign Trade Minister Alexander Mora Delgado said he was very pleased with the company’s presence here.
“We are deeply honored that Bacardí has chosen Costa Rica. We want to give them a warm welcome and we predict success in what we trust will be a long association of mutual benefit to both Bacardí and Costa Rica,” he said.
The service center will be managed by Bacardí Corporate Solutions S.A., a subsidiary of Bacardí Ltd., based in Hamilton, Bermuda.
According to the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE), Bacardí joins more than 140 companies in the services sector, which currently employs some 50,000 people.
In 2014, 18 investment projects in the services sector generated approximately 3,500 new jobs, according to CINDE data.
Those interested in applying for jobs in finance, monitoring, account management or customer service at Bacardí must send their résumés by email to: crcareers@bacardi.com.
