Business pulse

Industrial entrepreneurs consider the country's high electricity tariffs as the main factor affecting their companies’ competitiveness, as well as costs of social security, high fuel prices, bad road infrastructure, unfair competition from informal businesses, and high taxes.

A new enterprise seeks to introduce electronic payment for Costa Rica's bus systems.

President Luis Guillermo Solís received a tepid rating from the business community, but still better than the Legislative Assembly.

Three companies plan to fill a total of 900 jobs for interpreters and professionals in business administration and information technology.

Nearly 80 percent of private companies here are family-owned, according to a recent survey by the Costa Rican Chamber of Family Businesses.

Burger King is back in Costa Rica just eight months after the former franchisee closed its operations due to accumulated debt and other financial woes.

Despite having an Internet coverage of some 88 percent of the country, only 12 percent of consumers in Costa Rica shop online, a study on e-commerce released by consultant company Kantar Worldpanel showed.

A Canadian entrepreneur with Costa Rican ties dreams of helping people catch waves and join the jetset on the strength of hemp.

Morenitos, Violetas, Milanes, Guayabitas, Tapitas and other Gallito brand candies will no longer be made here. The century-old Gallito started as a small store in downtown San José.

Wariness about the country’s employment and economic situation caused a slight decline in confidence among business sector leaders during the first quarter of this year, according to a recent survey.

The best hiring prospects in the private sector during the next three months are for semi-professional and technical staff.

Costa Rica's capital leads the region in four of the 12 categories of “The World's Most Competitive Cities 2015” ranking that analyzes the most attractive cities for investment worldwide.

World Fuel Services (WFS), a company in the marketing and financing of fuel products sector, will expand its operations in Costa Rica next year, and it is currently recruiting 70 people, the Foreign Trade Ministry reported.

Casual Tex-Mex restaurant Chili's Grill & Bar on Monday opened a new location at Mall Paseo de las Flores in Heredia province, the chain's fourth in the country and the first outside the capital, San José.