The inauguration ceremony marked a milestone in the growth of manufacturing capabilities in Costa Rica. The new facility features clean rooms and highly specialized equipment that enable the production of Edwards’ patented state-of-the-art heart valves. The expansion, which required a $27 million investment, began in 2020 and has created more than 100 additional jobs in the city of Cartago.
The President of the Republic, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, praised Edwards Lifesciences’ commitment to science and innovation and highlighted the strategic choice of Costa Rica in 2016 as a location to expand its production network. In his words: “Apart from the technological wonders that are being produced here, we can say that this company is about saving lives through science and innovation.” He highlighted the preparation of the Costa Rican workforce and their extensive experience in manufacturing medical devices that change the lives of many people.
Foreign Trade Secretary Indiana Trejos emphasized the ability of national talent to produce sophisticated and unique medical devices. She noted that the medical device industry has created numerous jobs for women and by 2022, 55% of the industry’s workforce will be women. At Edwards Lifesciences, this number has increased to 61%, reflecting a real commitment to gender equality in employment.
Chester Zelaya, senior vice president of global manufacturing operations at Edwards, praised the exceptional team that shares a passion for developing innovative solutions that save lives. He emphasized Costa Rica’s strength as a medical technology manufacturing center and the significant contribution this expansion represents to the company.
Edwards Lifesciences, headquartered in Irvine, California (USA), established an office in Costa Rica in 2016 with around 200 employees. Since then, the company has grown its local workforce to nearly 2,200 employees and invested more than $150 million in two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities at La Lima Business Park.
The opening of these production facilities in Costa Rica represents an important milestone in the growth of the medical device industry in the country, stimulating the local economy and creating numerous jobs. Additionally, it demonstrates Edwards Lifesciences’ commitment to innovation and excellence in manufacturing medical devices that save lives worldwide.
