Exports and work

The Intel microprocessor plant in Costa Rica is responsible for 20 of exports and 4.9 of GDP. Costa Rica used to be known primarily as a producer of bananas and coffee. However, today has been accompanied by the export of cocoa, sugar, beef and pineapple. In recent years the country has successfully attracted foreign investments, especially the Intel Corporation, which employs about 3,500 people at its chip plant worth 300 million. Other multinationals settled in the country are Procter Gamble (which established their administrative center in the Western Hemisphere), Abbott Laboratories and Baxter Healthcare, Hewlett Packard (goal to reach 7000 employees), among others.In 2006, the Intel microprocessor plant was responsible for 20 of total exports and produced 4.9 of GDP. The contribution from the manufacturing and industry to GDP exceeded to agriculture during the 90s, led by foreign investment in the FTZs. Almost half of this income is the rise of tourism, which grew from 780 thousand visitors in 1996 to foreigners one million in 2000 and reached 1.9 million tourists in 2007. The country has or has not discovered fossil-fuel sources aside from small deposits of coal, but its abundant flow of rivers and rains that fall, have allowed the construction of more than a dozen hydroelectric power plants, becoming self-sufficient in all energy needs, except oil for transportation.Costa Rica exports electricity to other countries in Central America, and has the potential to become the largest electricity exporter if plans for new plants and regional distribution are performed. Its mild climate makes any unnecessary air conditioning systems or heating.