Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Costa rican Company selected in Top 25 Energy Entrepreneurs

Daniel Yepez of United Biofuels of America (UBA) is one of an elite few has been selected by Shell Oil sponsored program - Energy Entrepreneurs.

UBA is based in Costa Rica and concentrates on Biofuel development. The various initiatives are part of the Million Gallon Challenge - a goal to produce one million gallons of green diesel per day.

UBA's most recent project is the Multi Purpose Real Estate. Investors in this program benefit from quarterly returns from Japtropha and maca-uba growing on their development land. These lots are part of a gated community and are fully serviced with water, electricity and road access.

Investors can choose to build sooner or later whilst their "oil field" grows them money every day. Alternatively the pure investor can benefit from the quarterly returns and the rapid appreciation of land prices.

To read more about Shell's Energy Entrepreneurs click here

To read more about this project click here.

To read more about UBA in The Costa Rica News click here

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Webinar Thursday 30th September 1:00pm Eastern

Avoid the mistake many investors make when investing in Costa Rican Real Estate.


Attend the webinar and you'll find out more about:

  • Costa Rica
  • Real Estate Purchase in Costa Rica
  • Real Estate Ownership in Costa Rica
  • Teak / Timber and the investment opportunity
  • That big mistake many investors make and how to avoid it

Or register at the link below

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/477352779

Monday, September 27, 2010

Costa Rican Economy expected to grow by 4.5% in 2010, 5% in 2011

Costa Rica's economy is expected to post solid growth of 4.5 percent this year and 5 percent in 2011 as it continues to invest in infrastructure and open up the telecommunications industry, the country's president said on Tuesday.

"We are efforting this push into Asian markets to increase the rate of growth. We have a very ambitious program," said Laura Chinchilla, President of Costa Rica, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The economy of this small Central American country, known for its eco-tourism and coffee production, will boost growth by improving infrastructure such as ports, and by opening and promoting markets such as electricity and telecommunications.

Costa Rica has trade agreements with China, Singapore and the European Union bringing the amount of free trade agreements to 42 and increasing trade to 92 percent of total exports. It is also starting negotiations with South Korea.

Chinchilla, the first woman president and just four months in government after succeeding Nobel laureate winner Oscar Arias, is set to increase competitiveness by continuing to educate and train its population of more than 4.6 million.

Costa Ricans take pride in the fact that they are the only country in the Americas without an army, and that since their independence about 50 years ago have established free education -- a competitive advantage difficult to emulate in a short period of time.

With a skilled work force, and political and social stability, Chinchilla's government hopes to capture $9 billion in foreign direct investment over the next four years.

In 2009 inflows of FDI reached $1.3 billion of which 57 percent were from the United States. Most of the inflows go to manufacturing, real estate, services, and tourism.

Economic growth has come from the services sector with 60 percent of gross domestic product, industry with 32 percent and agriculture with 8 percent.

"Today, after serious trade policies based on the promotion and diversification of exports and the attraction of foreign direct investment as key elements, Costa Rica exports more than 4,116 products to 135 countries around the world, with a net worth of $8.675 billion," Chinchilla said.

"Our total exports have increased over 60 percent in the last decade," she said. Imports however, reached $11.4 billion in 2009.

Chinchilla also stressed security and prevention of the high levels of organized crime that other neighboring countries have experienced as one of her key issues in her domestic agenda.

"We are trying to design a regional agenda in terms of security issues," Chinchilla said. "Our homicide rate is relatively low. We are just trying to prevent what has happened in other regional countries."

In terms of bond issues, the president of Costa Rica's promotion agency, Jose Rossi, said it would be favorable for the finance ministry to issue global bonds as global interest rates are low and as Costa Rica's credit rating was raised to investment grade earlier this month by Moody's.

The country has $1.25 billion in outstanding debt, divided into five different global bonds, one of them maturing next year. If and when the country issues, Rossi said part of the money will go to repay the maturity due, projects in infrastructure, education and other debt issues with multilaterals.

To read the full story in Reuters by Manuela Badawy click here

Costa Rica - No Artificial Ingredients

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Webinar Thursday 16th September - avoid the major mistake most investors make


Attend this webinar and you'll learn lots more about the SIP formula, investing in Costa Rica (and the pitfalls to avoid) and the main mistake that most investors make and how to avoid it.


In this informative webcast, host, James Cahill of Costa Rica Invest will also outline the investment dynamics of the NATUREWALK offering of LAND + TEAK FORESTRY + DEVELOPMENT USE.

Find out why this investment model performs BETTER that most and why it is SAFER that most. With the recent trends in the market indicating a turnaround is in process in the real estate, tourism and forestry sectors of Costa Rica, how will this trend effect the Land, the Forestry and Development components at NATUREWALK.



For those who are not familiar with Costa Rica, a quick presentation on the Country is offered as well as information on the NATUREWALK PROJECT and it's socio-economic objectives. Joining for this session is Tim Alexander of PRG Canada, the Developers of the NATUREWALK brand of ecological developments who will highlight the growing importance and influence on real estate development of trends concerning the environment, social responsibility and corporate governance.

This interactive webcast presentation will last approximately 20 minutes followed by a Q&A session.

Title: NATUREWALK The SIP formula Explained

Date:
Thursday, September 16, 2010

Time:
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer




Costa Rica - The Ultimate Wellness Experience

Costa Rica is the place to go for the ultimate wellness experience. Allow your mind and body to relax, and feel whole, connectected and at peace with your self again.

The country is fast becoming one of the best places to visit for its fabulous wellness retreats offering spiritual awareness, guidance and natural foods and including Yoga, meditation, and rebalancing bodywork.

All of these life enriching activities can be enjoyed whilst taking in the beautiful views and appreciating the tropical climate.

Several of the wellness centres in Costa Rica have been internationally recognised for their commitment to the planet and individual health, as understanding nature helps us become more aware of ourselves.

you can read full story on Costa Rica's wellness experience in The Costa Rica News here

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Punjab seeks greenhouse farming techniques from Costa Rica

Indian representatives from the Punjab are currently visiting Costa Rica to investigate its greenhouse crop cultivation methods.

In total, they will be visiting 4 farms in the Alajuela region specializing in a number of different crops.

Hydroponics is the area of farming that is of most interest to the representives.

In the Punjab there is an urgent need for agriculutral diversification. the visit to Costa Rica is specifically to learn more about how crop yield and quality may be improved by using intensive hydroponic greenhouse farming methods.

Hydroponics is a technique of growing plants (without soil) in water containing dissolved nutrients.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Costa Rica to host environmental film festival

Costa Rica is hosting the first environmental film festival 25th September to 1st October in La Fortuna de San Carlos. It will be hosted by Costa Rican film maker Gustavo Solis-Moya and will include films from Europe, North America and Latin America.

To see the film festival website click here

To read the full story by Mike McDonald in the Tico Times Click here

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Webinar Thursday the 2nd of September


In this informative webcast, host, James Cahill of Costa Rica Invest outlines the investment dynamics of the NATUREWALK offering of LAND + TEAK FORESTRY + DEVELOPMENT USE.

Find out why this investment model performs BETTER that most and why it is SAFER that most. With the recent trends in the market indicating a turnaround is in process in the real estate, tourism and forestry sectors of Costa Rica, how will this trend effect the Land, the Forestry and Development components at NATUREWALK.



For those who are not familiar with Costa Rica, a quick presentation on the Country is offered as well as information on the NATUREWALK PROJECT and it's socio-economic objectives. Joining for this session is Tim Alexander of PRG Canada, the Developers of the NATUREWALK brand of ecological developments who will highlight the growing importance and influence on real estate development of trends concerning the environment, social responsibility and corporate governance.

This interactive webcast presentation will last approximately 20 minutes followed by a Q&A session for you to ask specific questions.




Title: "NATUREWALK The SIP formula Explained"
Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT

Register now by clicking the link below:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/271849042


After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows(R) 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Macintosh(R)-based attendees
Required: Mac OS(R) X 10.4.11 (Tiger(R)) or newer