- The initiative is promoted in collaboration with the Costa Rica Aerospace Cluster (CRAC).
San José, October 18, 2023. From October 17 to 19, the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER) and 10 Costa Rican companies from the aerospace industry will participate in the sector’s most important trade fair: NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, in Las Vegas.
With more than 23,000 attendees and 1,000 stands in the aerospace sector, the fair is the meeting point for professionals and manufacturing companies in the sector, which have networking and exhibition spaces to position Costa Rica as a suitable destination and a reliable partner for foreign direct investment in the aerospace sector, generate new leads, maintain contacts with potential investors interested in establishing nearshoring operations in the country, as well as the follow-up of export business generated in previous editions.
The Costa Rican delegation, led by PROCOMER, is composed of the companies Avionyx, Aerocalidad, Camtronics, Olympic Precision Machining, BOF Construction Advisor, GJ Cargo, Grupo Mitah Escazú PREINSA, and TicoElectronics (both part of G.W. Lisk). All of which offer machining services, specialized software, electrical, electronics, logistics, real estate, as well as maintenance and repair of aerospace equipment.
Mario Sáenz, PROCOMER’s Export Development Manager, highlighted the importance for Costa Rican companies to participate in international events and promote the human talent that Costa Rica has to offer in a sector as specialized as aerospace. “NBAA is the most important event in the aerospace sector, where Costa Rican companies have the space and the necessary exposure to present creative solutions, explore innovations, and emerging technologies in the area. Therefore, it is vital to take advantage of the participation of key players and industry leaders, to position the country in this competitive industry.”
On the other hand, Esteban Carrillo, Executive Director of Costa Rica Aerospace Cluster (CRAC), a consortium that includes more than 30 companies of the aerospace industry in Costa Rica, added that “the participation of the Costa Rica Aerospace Cluster in NBAA 2023 marks an important milestone in the consolidation of the aerospace market. In a global context where regionalization and nearshoring are key trends, Costa Rica is positioned as a strategic partner for U.S. companies. Our political stability, logistical facilities, and advanced manufacturing expertise make us an attractive option for product transfer. With PROCOMER’s support, our goal is to promote business opportunities for companies,” he said.
Costa Rica at the forefront of the aerospace industry
Costa Rica is home to companies that encourage innovation, collaborative work, and the talent of Costa Ricans related to the development of new technological solutions that adapt to global trends in the aerospace industry. This is the case of Avionyx, a company specialized in the development of software engineering for embedded systems in aircraft, with trained professionals, innovative tools, and strict quality processes.
To support its aircraft type certification program with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), Joby Aviation, a U.S. company dedicated to develop an electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) for commercial passenger service, acquired Avionyx in 2022 as a subsidiary company to advance its operations, and is currently working with PROCOMER to promote aerospace exports.
Costa Rica not only has the necessary requirements for international companies seeking to invest in a country with highly qualified personnel, but also continues to expand exports for this industry worldwide. By the end of the first half of 2023, total exports amounted to $5.77 million, mainly to the United States, Ireland, and Panama.
