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This is actually a big project for Costa Rica, for this sterilization plant would be the first of its kind in the Central America area; and the best news is that it would actually be fully operational this year. The ones behind this initiative are none other than the people from the Baxter medical equipment company

Now before we continue, let’s find out a little more about them

The Baxter medical equipment company is a global medical products and services company with expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and also biotechnology. The company has approximately 46,500 employees worldwide.

Among some of the awards the Baxter Company has received I will mention the latest 3:

2007 U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs Award for Healthcare Product Data Quality

2007 Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing – Marion North Carolina US and Morelos Mexico.

2008 Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing – Cartago Costa Rica

The Baxter medical equipment company began operations in Costa Rica 19 ago, and currently has 1.350 employees on their payroll. Baxter also runs a “sister company” named Baxter Americas Services, which is a Costa Rican financial transactions center for Puerto Rico and the United States.

That said, let’s see some numbers!

The Baxter medical equipment company will invest a total of $6.5 million in the Costa Rica sterilization plant; which will have an area of 600 SM; and will be equipped with state the latest in “e-beam” to be operated by 12 experts.

With this new sterilization plant, the Baxter Company certainly consolidates its Costa Rica production process, not only in terms of enhancing the delivery times of their many products; but also facilitating more direct options to export those products to national and international markets.

Needless to say, this initiative from Baxter is quite a big sign of the company’s growth in Costa Rica, for they know the potential the country has to offer; especially if we consider the investment from similar companies like Boston Scientific, who decided to invest a total of $35 million to further develop its operation on Costa Rican soil.

As I mentioned before on one of my earliest posts: Why Costa Rica’s popularity is growing as the new “India” more and more companies are discovering another of the treasures of this country, the awesome potential of their people to exceed expectations.

There is a new “green” awareness in Costa Rica, as the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (I.C.E) is working hard at building new parameters to protect the well known treasures that have given the country its fame as a Central American Paradise.

Not only are they promoting the use of “white light” alternatives that are looking to replace the traditional light bulbs from the Costa Rican houses, as well as from a lot of different companies; but the I.C.E is also launching a campaign to replace different refrigeration tools (AC boxes and Fridges) working along different stores to provide credit plans for those that want to switch to a more efficient model.

The ICE latest Project is the development of its Laboratory on Energy Efficiency, whose main purpose is to test the quality and power consumption of the different products such as Lamps, AC boxes, electric home appliances and engines; in order to determine the best choices for the public.

The amount that will be invested on the energy efficiency initiative will be of a total $1.2 millions, (Approximately 596 million colones) the money will be use to improve the different lab facilities as well as the equipment.

According the Director of the Laboratory on Energy Efficiency, Mr. Virgilio Jimenez, the next step for the institution will be to include more electric home appliances such as electric kitchens; and eventually heavy industrial motors.

Currently the ICE create information tags that are applied to the products so the public can see how well the different home appliances performed during the tests that took place within the Laboratory on Energy Efficiency (Which is by the way, the only one of its kind on the Central America area.)

In addition to the money investment, Director Jimenez is also looking forward to receive a delegation of members from the Costa Rican Accreditation Entity (ECA) and another from the Mexican Accreditation Entity (EMA); whose future visit seeks to evaluate the facilities, personnel and procedures of the Costa Rican Laboratory on Energy Efficiency, in order to “raise the bar” in terms of consumer credibility.

The visit will take place this month; meanwhile the initiative to lower the electric consumption among the Costa Rica population continues, and I am certain that it will bring even more choices for all of us in the near future.

It is good to see the government investing in more green options, and making sure Costa Rica stays the way it has to be, green.

Costa Rica is the first Latin American country to host this type of show, and taking into consideration the reaction from the ticos, the producers are already planning a new event in the near future. And they have good reasons to start planning; for all the 53.000 tickets for the show were sold out in just a couple of weeks.

Even though I am not a fan of this type of shows (Probably because I did not get a lot of chances to see them back home when I was younger) all my kids are really eager to see these huge vehicles tearing the other cars apart. And I have to admit that it would have to be quite impressive to witness all the “metal action” from this 13 feet tall 1500 horse powered machines (Let me say that one more time, impressive, right?)

The Monster Jam show in Costa Rica is an initiative from the RPM TV group, whose president Manrique Mata contacted Monster Jam Director Mike Whales in order to bring the one of a kind show to Costa Rican soil.

The Monster Jam will be held from 2^nd to 4^th of May at the Saprissa Soccer Stadium in Tibas, (San Jose) who have been totally transformed for the event thanks to the people of Dirt Crew, a company of specialists that work for each and every one of the Monster Jam shows, making sure the Stadiums are not only fit to host the event; but also making sure that their infrastructure remains “unharmed”

The Monster Jam in Costa Rica will have the presence of 8 different monster trucks (A first for Latin America) Among those there is already a favorite (Or at least for my kids) The monster truck I am talking about is Grave Digger, who have been visiting several schools to promote the event.

So while the Dirt Crew finishes putting in place 1500 CM of stone along with 4000 of earth in the Saprissa Stadium, the 8 monster trucks are being put together, while a total of 56 staff crew members are already taking care of the final touches to make this show one of the most exiting events for this year in Costa Rica.

The Costa Rican government is ready to invest 7.000.000 colones (That is $14.200) to boost its production of: rice, beans and white corn in order to prepare itself to face a possible food crisis on a global scale. (It is always best to be ready; or as my Mom used to say: “Better safe than sorry”)

This initiative was presented yesterday by Costa Rica’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Javier Flores Galarza; who said that due to the growing trend in the world market to elevate the prices of rice, beans and corn, mostly to guarantee the intern supply. Costa Rica must be ready to face any future crisis in this area.

The first stage of the Costa Rican plan will be to invest on the local rice development projects to go from their actual 48% to an 80% of production in an average time of 2 years. Followed by the bean production area that is currently at 25% but will experience an increment to reach a 75% in a maximum of 3 years; and finally regarding the corn (White corn that is) the level will go from their actual 25% to 75%

Now even though we just view a lot, let’s take a look at more numbers!

According to Flores the production terrain will expand like this:

Rice - from 48.000 hectares to 70.000 hectares

Corn - from 6.000 to 20.000 hectares

Beans - from 10.000 to 24.000 hectares

Another part of the initiative seek to incorporate new alternatives in terms of insurance protection policies for the local food producers, as well as to work on more “friendly” terms between food developing projects and local and international banks.

Taking into consideration that Costa Rica has to import a little more than 50% of the rice that is consumed by its population, this initiative will bring a much needed dose of “fresh air” to the food business sector of the country .

This as usual presents a great opportunity for specialists and advisory companies with vision and experience on the subject; let us hope they are paying attention.