QCOSTARICA — The Asociación de Empresas de Zonas Francas de Costa Rica (AZOFRAS) – Association of Free Zone Companies of Costa Rica – calls for the need to have efficient, secure 5G technology with clear rules so that companies can operate in an environment with greater competitiveness and legal security.
“Access to state-of-the-art telecommunications, as well as the preservation and protection of information, is not only a constitutional right of people but is also a country necessity to compete internationally,” said Carlos Wong, president of AZOFRAS.
The 5G network and service must be agile and efficient, but above all secure. It is necessary to adopt a framework adhered to the most rigorous international regulations and aligned with the principles of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which allows risk mitigation, protection of infrastructure as a critical national asset, and the data protection of all citizens as a fundamental right.
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In turn, free zone and multinational companies require 5G connectivity that allows them to operate under the strictest controls. This implies safeguarding the security of your commercial information and that of your clients both nationally and internationally, as part of digital commerce. Costa Rica is an active part of this trade and exports more than $8 billion in knowledge-intensive services.
“Strengthening 5G technology and cybersecurity also represents a strengthening of the national services sector; given that both involve a potential positioning as a country in the international market, which would result in a strong demand for specialized talent,” said Wong.
The advance of 5G connectivity is essential for the country’s competitiveness and Costa Rica is lagging behind in its implementation, which is already a reality in 7 other Latin American countries.
AZOFRAS emphasizes its great concern about the loss of competitiveness that Costa Rica has been facing; as a result of high production costs and an exchange rate that has been considerably affecting the operation of export companies. Not having clear guidelines around 5G and the corresponding security protocols implies another variable that reduces the country’s competitive capacity.
Representatives of the sector call for prompt decision-making and the implementation of this cutting-edge technology that can bring greater well-being in the field of health, education and social progress in general to the entire population.
The Free Zone Regime contributes more than US$10 billion annually (15% of GDP) to national well-being. Furthermore, 81% of the national Foreign Direct Investment is made in this sector, currently this represents more than 184 thousand direct and 64 thousand indirect jobs.
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