AGP Executive Report

Aviation & Tourism: Southwest Airlines plans its longest-ever international route later this year: daily Las Vegas–San Jose (Costa Rica) service, a first direct link between the two airports. EV & Exports: GAC Group reported May sales growth, with NEVs surging and proprietary brands driving momentum; the company also highlighted sharp growth in overseas exports, including a reported 733% retail jump in Costa Rica. Payments & Trade: PaidBy® (Xryma) and Mastercard announced a partnership to scale cross-border bank-to-bank (A2A) payments in local currency, aiming to simplify settlement for global merchants. Immigration & Labor: Costa Rica reactivated a special migration category allowing thousands of Cubans (plus some from Nicaragua, Venezuela and Colombia) to live and work legally even with rejected or unresolved asylum claims, starting Sept. 1, 2026. Environment & Risk: Costa Rica’s constitutional court moved to protect howler monkeys from electrocution after reports of power-line deaths tied to development. US Trade Pressure: The U.S. proposed Section 301 tariffs on 60 economies over forced-labor enforcement failures, explicitly listing Costa Rica among the targets.

U.S. Trade Policy: The U.S. Trade Representative proposed Section 301 tariffs on imports from 60 economies over alleged forced-labor enforcement failures, with rates ranging from 10% to 12.5% and a July 7 hearing—Costa Rica is explicitly named among the affected countries. Immigration & Work Rights: Costa Rica reactivated a special migration category letting thousands of Cubans (plus some from Nicaragua, Venezuela and Colombia) live and work legally even with rejected or unresolved asylum claims, starting Sept. 1, 2026, with two-year renewable work authorization. Medtech Investment: CINDE says Costa Rica’s medtech push is moving up the value chain toward AI-led healthcare, R&D and advanced manufacturing, with exports now topping US$10bn. Startup Acceleration: Costa Rica launched LEAPCR, a national program backed by the IDB and partners to speed up high-potential startups, attract investment, and create quality jobs. Business Leadership: Grupo Éxito named new C-suite leaders for commercial strategy and digital/technology transformation. Tourism & Travel: Guanacaste Airport reported a record pet-friendly surge, while Lufthansa announced new premium Allegris routes including San José.

Trade Policy Shock: The U.S. is proposing new Section 301 tariffs tied to forced-labor claims, with duties up to 12.5% on imports from 60 economies and a lower 10% rate for some partial enforcers; a public hearing is set for July 7. Regional Finance Linkages: A report says Panama’s banks rely heavily on external deposits—41.3% of deposits come from Colombia, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic—highlighting how regional flows shape Central America’s financial sector. Startup Push in Costa Rica: Costa Rica launched LEAPCR, a program run with the Inter-American Development Bank Group partners, aiming to accelerate high-potential startups, attract investment, and create formal jobs. Immigration & Work Rights: Costa Rica announced an extraordinary regularization program for Cuban, Nicaraguan, Venezuelan and Colombian asylum seekers with pending or rejected cases, allowing legal work. Tourism & Consumer Costs: Guanacaste Airport is seeing record pet arrivals and is expanding pet-friendly facilities, while BAC Credomatic introduced a 6% fee for foreign-cardholders who choose to pay in their home currency via dynamic currency conversion.

Immigration & Labor Access: Costa Rica has announced a special temporary regularization category for thousands of Cuban, Nicaraguan, Venezuelan and Colombian asylum applicants whose cases are pending or denied, letting them work legally starting September 1, 2026. Consumer Costs: BAC Credomatic is charging foreign cardholders a 6% fee when they choose “dynamic currency conversion” to pay in their home currency—travelers can avoid it by paying in colones. Energy Prices: Costa Rica’s fuel pricing is flipped again: super gasoline is cheaper than regular at the pump, tied to RECOPE’s shipment costs and ARESEP’s adjustments amid oil-market pressure. Aviation & Tourism: Delta will restart Costa Rica service from New York JFK to Liberia (LIR) starting Dec. 19, 2026, with weekly flights through spring 2027. Corporate Appointments: FIFCO has named Timothy Scott Hall—formerly a long-time Intel executive—as Director of Corporate Affairs. Trade Policy Watch: The USTR says it may add 10%–12.5% tariffs tied to forced-labor findings as US-India trade talks continue.

Immigration & Labor: Costa Rica will create a new “Special Temporary Category” letting thousands of Nicaraguan, Venezuelan, Cuban and Colombian migrants regularize status and work legally starting September 2026, covering asylum cases filed between June 1, 2014 and May 7, 2026; applications open Sept. 1, 2026 and run through Sept. 1, 2027, with beneficiaries getting unrestricted access to formal employment. Business & Tourism: Costa Rica’s tourism operators are being urged to rethink their online hosting setups to handle peak demand and keep booking flows fast and reliable—an issue that matters as travel interest spikes around holidays and events. Agribusiness & Jobs: Dos Pinos is spotlighting women producers in Costa Rica’s dairy sector, noting women lead 25% of its 1,300 local producer businesses—an angle that ties farm leadership to productivity and rural economic development. Public Safety & Compliance: A proposed USD 336,000 FAA civil penalty targets Planet Nine Private Air over alleged administrative violations tied to international passenger flight plans involving Costa Rica, underscoring how cross-border aviation rules can quickly become costly. Culture & Media: Costa Rican filmmaker Paz Fábrega secured additional funding for her hybrid doc “To the Future,” with support including Costa Rica’s El Fauno Fund—another reminder of how local financing is feeding international co-productions.

Aviation & Compliance: The U.S. FAA proposed a $336,000 civil penalty against Planet Nine Private Air, alleging it filed passenger flight plans as general aviation instead of charter between the U.S. and destinations including Costa Rica; Planet Nine calls it an overreach and says the alleged issues were isolated. Tourism & Media Exposure: Costa Rica landed on the cover of National Geographic Traveller (UK) and a main feature, boosting visibility for its “coast to coast” nature-and-sustainability tourism pitch to a key European market. Climate Risk for Coastal Business: Oceanographers at UCR’s Cimar warn unusually warm Pacific waters could raise sea levels and intensify erosion and flooding risks later this year, urging close monitoring as El Niño effects loom. Local Mobility & Hospitality Ops: A Costa Rica-focused hosting guide highlights how small tourism businesses should plan for peak booking traffic and reliable, secure websites to protect revenue. Education & Credentials: Separate international coverage flags Ghana’s regulator warning the public about 70 unrecognized tertiary institutions, including one tied to Costa Rica—an example of why credential verification matters for employers and students. Tech & Security Services: PatrolTech says it’s digitizing security round traceability to reduce disputes and incidents, positioning the model for broader adoption across the region.

Education & Credentials: Ghana’s tertiary regulator GTEC warned the public about 70 unrecognized institutions, including a Costa Rica-listed university, urging students and employers to verify certificates before enrolling or hiring. Travel & Legal Compliance: A Costa Rican court ordered the State to compensate a traveler after a flight was blocked due to an administrative error tied to a child-support travel restriction—reinforcing that passengers must check their status in the official system and carry proof. Business & Markets: Chile-based Ticketplus filed for a U.S. IPO on Nasdaq (symbol “TP”), aiming to expand its live-entertainment ticketing platform across Latin America, including Costa Rica. Security Tech: PatrolTech says it’s digitizing security and concierge round traceability to cut incidents and disputes for residential clients. Tourism & Climate: Ocean scientists in Costa Rica warn unusually warm Pacific waters could raise erosion and flooding risks later this year, while National Geographic Traveller (UK) put Costa Rica on its June cover, boosting visibility for high-value tourism. Aviation Connectivity: Lufthansa announced new Allegris routes for winter 2026/27, including San José, Costa Rica.

Corporate Compliance Update: Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly approved extending the deadline for companies to register an official corporate email for legal notifications to Dec. 31, 2026, easing costs and red tape by allowing filings via a sworn digital declaration (no notary, fewer fees) and giving firms already incorporated until year-end to comply. Travel & Family Finance: A Costa Rica Judiciary portal lets people check whether they have an “Impedimento de Salida” (child-support travel ban), after a case showed how an administrative system error can still block a traveler despite a court-approved lifting request. Air Connectivity: Lufthansa says it will add 11 new Allegris destinations in winter 2026/27, including San José, Costa Rica, with service starting Oct. 25. Food & Nutrition: Local cooperative CoopeMontecillos highlights that 77% of Costa Rican lunches include meat as the main protein, tying beef to key nutrients like iron and B12. World Cup Consumer Watch: Experts warn Costa Ricans to avoid debt-fueled impulse spending during the World Cup, citing high household debt levels.

Corporate Compliance: Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly approved extending the deadline to register official corporate email addresses for legal notifications to Dec. 31, 2026, easing costs and red tape by allowing updates via a sworn electronic declaration with a digital signature. Aviation & Business Travel: Guanacaste Airport (Liberia) is investing about $6 million (Q3 2026–H1 2027) to add a new 354-square-meter VIP lounge, expand parking, and create a General & Business Aviation Terminal. Household Costs: ARESEP’s new fuel-rate adjustments—linked to RECOPE shipment costs amid Middle East-driven oil pressure—will raise gasoline prices starting next week. Legal & Mobility: Costa Rica is tightening enforcement around “Pensión Alimentaria” travel restrictions, including guidance on how to check an “Impedimento de Salida” online; one case also highlights a state system error that led to wrongful removal from a Costa Rica–Mexico flight. Food & Nutrition: New data from CoopeMontecillos says meat is the main protein in 77% of Costa Rican lunches, reinforcing beef’s role in local diets. Energy Security: UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi warned that attacks on nuclear plants are becoming a dangerous pattern in conflicts.

Airport Modernization: Guanacaste’s Liberia airport is investing about $6 million (Q3 2026–H1 2027) to add a 354-square-meter VIP lounge, expand parking, and build a General & Business Aviation Terminal, aiming to boost capacity and international competitiveness. Fuel & Inflation Pressure: ARESEP-approved fuel-rate adjustments tied to RECOPE shipment costs will raise regular gasoline by about ¢8 colones, with broader impacts on household budgets as Middle East-driven oil volatility feeds through to local prices. Legal & Insurance Fallout: Former OAS secretary general Miguel Ángel Rodríguez says he feared a 25-year INS reinsurance case wouldn’t end; a court acquitted him at least at this procedural stage, citing the funds as private (not public) resources. Tourism & Travel Demand: Costa Rica is positioning itself for higher visitor flows, including airport upgrades and continued travel promotion, while regional competition heats up as El Salvador markets itself as an easier, cheaper alternative for travelers based in Costa Rica. New Science for Conservation: Researchers described a new marine worm species, Sthenelais onca, found in Santa Rosa’s intertidal sands, underscoring how coastal ecosystems can support both biodiversity and tourism decisions.

Airport Modernization: Guanacaste’s Liberia airport is investing about $6 million in 2026–2027 to add a 354-square-meter VIP lounge, expand parking, and create a General & Business Aviation Terminal—aimed at boosting capacity and service for North Pacific travelers. Fuel Costs: ARESEP approved new fuel-rate adjustments tied to RECOPE shipment costs amid Middle East-driven oil volatility, with Regular gasoline set to rise by ¢8 colones starting next week. Immigration Enforcement: Costa Rica’s OIJ arrested a migration official in Curridabat (Caso Sombra) over alleged child sexual exploitation material, seizing devices for forensic review after a Meta alert. Tourism Competition: El Salvador is positioning itself as a faster, cheaper alternative for Costa Rica-based travelers, with easier access to surf hotspots like El Tunco. Business & Wealth Flows: A report highlights growing “plan B” migration by ultra-rich, noting measurable interest increases for Costa Rica alongside New Zealand and Thailand. Marine Science: Researchers identified a new jaguar-patterned marine worm species, Sthenelais onca, from Costa Rica’s Pacific coast—useful for conservation and coastal planning.

UN Leadership Race: UN secretary-general candidate Rebeca Grynspan says the organization must take more risks amid funding shortfalls and conflict gridlock, while IAEA chief Rafael Grossi argues the UN is “absent” from major wars and needs a stronger mediator role. Banking & Deals: Scotiabank expands in the U.S. by buying a Texas bank, continuing its push to reshape Latin America operations. Border & Immigration: A U.S.-Mexico border update reports more ICE/CBP funding moving through Congress, land-border deportations into Mexico paused for some groups, and ongoing controversy over detention conditions and Big Bend barrier plans. Costa Rica Infrastructure & Transport: Route 27 faces major disruption after a sinkhole near Coyolar forces a full closure, with temporary lane plans and a Bailey bridge expected early next week. Tourism & Community: La Fortuna Waterfall wins TripAdvisor’s “Best of the Best” (top 1%), highlighting community-run management that reinvests admission surplus locally. Marine Conservation: For the Oceans Foundation launches “Operation Peace for the Pacific,” a scientific expedition in Costa Rica’s South Pacific corridor focused on sharks, manta rays, sea turtles and more. Investment & Business: First Rock Real Estate Investments says it’s negotiating Costa Rica and Martinique property acquisitions worth about US$28m as it returns to profit. FDI Snapshot: A regional OECD-based report places Costa Rica among the higher FDI recipients in 2025 (US$5.733b), while Argentina records the lowest in the group.

Route 27 Disruption: A major sinkhole near Coyolar in Orotina has forced a full closure of Costa Rica’s Route 27 (km 56), snarling traffic between San José and the Central Pacific after heavy rains damaged a culvert system; MOPT expects a temporary regulated lane for light vehicles by tomorrow and a Bailey bridge installation early next week while Globalvia continues emergency repairs. Energy Market Politics: President Laura Fernández withdrew the electricity harmonization bill from an extraordinary legislative session after opposition lawmakers resisted the plan, escalating a public fight that includes accusations of “communists” and “vagrants,” with the government arguing the reform is key for jobs and energy market opening. FDI Snapshot for the Region: OECD-based reporting shows Costa Rica attracted about US$5.733B in net foreign direct investment in 2025—higher than Argentina’s US$3.134B, which ranked last among major Latin American economies—highlighting how incentives like Argentina’s RIGI still haven’t unlocked sustained long-term capital. Tourism & Trade Links: China’s foreign minister told Costa Rican officials in New York that bilateral ties and a free trade agreement have served long-term strategic interests, while separate coverage notes Panama is willing to engage Costa Rica on trade under equal conditions. Business & Infrastructure Access: San José’s airport inaugurated a new arrivals area aimed at boosting capacity and efficiency, and Costa Rica’s airport partners with the U.S. Embassy on travel safety initiatives.

Electricity Market Clash: Costa Rica President Laura Fernández withdrew the electricity harmonization bill from an extraordinary legislative session after opposition lawmakers rejected the plan, while she escalated rhetoric by calling them “communists” and “vagrants,” arguing the reform is key to jobs and attracting companies. Trade Talks: Panama and Costa Rica opened a dialogue to settle agri-food trade differences under “equal conditions,” aiming to avoid a wider diplomatic fight. Insurance Ratings: AM Best affirmed Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS) in Costa Rica with an “A (Excellent)” financial strength rating and stable outlook, citing strong capitalization and market leadership. Mining Pressure: Costa Rica’s geologists warn of major gold deposits—especially around Crucitas—while illegal mining continues amid limited enforcement, raising environmental and security concerns. Tourism & Mobility: San Jose airport expanded arrivals capacity, and Costa Rica promoted itself to travelers via Formula 1 Montreal and a partnership with the U.S. Embassy on travel safety. Regional Investment Snapshot: OECD data showed Costa Rica attracted about US$5.733B in foreign direct investment in 2025, trailing only Brazil and Mexico among the listed regional economies.

China-Costa Rica Diplomacy: Chinese FM Wang Yi told Costa Rica’s Manuel Tovar Rivera in New York that bilateral ties serve both countries’ long-term interests, citing China’s stable policy and past free-trade and strategic partnership milestones. Regional Trade Talks: Panama says it’s open to dialogue with Costa Rica on agri-food trade under “equal conditions,” aiming to prevent a wider diplomatic fight. Insurance Ratings: AM Best affirmed Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS) in San José with an “A (Excellent)” Financial Strength Rating and stable outlook, noting INS’s strong capitalization and leading market share. Airport Accessibility: Juan Santamaría International Airport joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, training staff to better support travelers with non-visible conditions. Tourism & Safety: Guanacaste’s Liberia airport partnered with the U.S. Embassy to promote the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and expand safety messaging for U.S. visitors. Mining & Environment: Costa Rica’s geologists warn illegal gold mining is expanding around Crucitas and other deposits, driven by limited enforcement and high global prices. Business Growth: Transcat reported double-digit revenue growth in Q4 and FY2026, with Latin America expansion via SCM Metrology. Sports Discipline: Costa Rica’s national team excluded three players after a shooting incident outside a bar ahead of a pre-World Cup friendly vs England.

Airport Accessibility: Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) has joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, training frontline staff to better support travelers with non-visible conditions. Tourism & Safety: Guanacaste’s Liberia airport partnered with the U.S. Embassy to promote the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), adding safety alerts and water-safety guidance for U.S. visitors. Regional Trade Diplomacy: Panama and Costa Rica agreed to a diplomatic truce at the UN, with business groups urging technical dialogue to resolve disputes over agricultural trade. Energy & Data Centers: Kio Data Centers signed a 10-year power purchase agreement with Celsia for its Panama data center operations, aiming for long-term energy certainty. Business & Markets: Logistic Properties of the Americas (LPA) said BTG Pactual initiated equity research coverage, highlighting nearshoring and e-commerce tailwinds. Corporate Results: Transcat reported double-digit revenue growth in Q4 and FY2026, with expansion in gross margins and a push toward higher-margin rental offerings.