COUNTRY COMMERCIAL GUIDE
                             TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.     COMMERCIAL OVERVIEW (EXECUTIVE SUMMARY)               1

       -    Overview of Important Market
       -    Brief Synopsis of Commercial Environment/Host Country
            Business Attitude Toward the U.S.
       -    Major Business Opportunities
       -    Major Roadblocks to Doing Business
       -    Nature of Local and Third Country Competition

II.    LEADING TRADE PROSPECTS FOR U.S. BUSINESS             4

       -    Best Prospects Products and Services for U.S.
            Industrial and Agricultural Exporters

III.   ECONOMIC TRENDS AND OUTLOOK                           5

       -    Major Trends and Outlook
       -    Principal Growth Sectors
       -    Government Role in the Economy
       -    Balance of Payments Situation
       -    Trade and Investment Barriers
       -    Labor Force
       -    Major Local and Third Country Competitors
            in Specific Sectors
       -    Infrastructure Situation Re:  Goods/Service
            Distribution
       -    Major Infrastructure Projects Underway

IV.    POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT                                17

       -    Nature of Bilateral Relationship with the U.S.
       -    Major Political Issues Affecting Business Climate
       -    Synopsis of Political System, Schedule for
            Elections, and Orientation of Major Political
            Parties

V.     MARKETING U.S. PRODUCTS AND SERVICES                 19

       -    Distribution and Sales Channels
       -    Use of Agents/Distributors; Finding a Partner
       -    Franchising
       -    Direct Marketing
       -    Joint Ventures/Licensing
       -    Steps to Establish an Office
       -    Selling Factors/Techniques
       -    Advertising and Trade Promotion
       -    Pricing Product
       -    Sales Service/Customer Support
       -    Selling to the Government

VI.    TRADE REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS                      26

       -    Tariffs and Import Taxes
       -    Customs Valuation
       -    Import Licenses
       -    Export Controls
       -    Import/Export Documentation
       -    Temporary Entry
       -    Labeling
       -    Marking Requirements
       -    Prohibited Imports
       -    Standards (e.g. ISO 9000 usage)
       -    Free Trade Zones/Warehouses
       -    Membership in Free Trade Arrangements
       -    Special Import Provisions

VII.   INVESTMENT CLIMATE                                   32

       -    Income, Employment and Poverty
       -    Major Economic Resources
       -    Infrastructure
       -    Principal Growth Sectors
       -    Major Exports and Imports
       -    Economic Outlook
       -    Principal Economic Policies
       -    Openness to Foreign Investment
       -    Transfer Policies
       -    Expropriation and Compensation
       -    Dispute Settlement
       -    Performance Requirements/Incentives
       -    Right to Private Ownership and Establishment
       -    Protection of Property Rights
       -    Regulatory System: Laws and Procedures
       -    Efficient Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment
       -    Political Violence
       -    Bilateral Investment Treaties
       -    OPIC and other Investment Insurance Programs
       -    Labor
       -    Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports
       -    Capital Outflow Policy
       -    Foreign Direct Investors

VIII.  TRADE AND PROJECT FINANCING                          53

       -    Banking System
       -    Foreign Exchange Controls Affecting Trading
       -    General Financing Availability
       -    How to Finance Exports/Methods of Payment
       -    Types of Available Export Financing and Insurance
            Project Financing Available, Including Leading
            From Multilateral Institutions and Types of
            Projects Supported
       -    List of Banks with Correspondent U.S. Banking
            Arrangements

IX.    BUSINESS TRAVEL                                      58

       -    Business Customs
       -    Travel Advisory and Visas
       -    Holidays
       -    Business Infrastructure

                               APPENDICES

A.     COUNTRY DATA                                         62

       1.   PROFILE

            -  Population
            -  Population Growth Rate (percent)
            -  Religion
            -  Government System
            -  Languages
            -  Work Week

       2.   DOMESTIC ECONOMY (for 1993, 1994 and 1995 estimate
               in USD millions, except where noted)
            -  GDP
            -  GDP Growth Rate 1993, 1994, 1995 (percent)
            -  GDP per Capita
            -  Government Spending as Percent of GDP
            -  Inflation (percent)
            -  Unemployment (percent)
            -  Foreign Exchange Reserves
            -  Average Exchange Rate for USD 1.00
            -  Foreign Debt
            -  Debt Service Ratio (Ratio of principal and
               interest payments on foreign debt to foreign
               income)
            -  U.S. Economic/Military Assitance

       3.   FOREIGN TRADE (1993, 1994, 1995)

            -    Total Country Exports
            -    Total Country Imports
            -    U.S. Exports
            -    U.S. Imports
            -    U.S. Share of Host Country Imports (percent)
            -    Imports of Manufactured Goods (HS, SITC,
                 CCCN, BTN)
            -    Total (from World)
            -    From the U.S.
            -    U.S. Share of Manufactured Imports (percent)
            -    Manufactured Goods Trade Balance with U.S.
            -    Projected Average Annual Growth Rate from U.S.
                 through 1996
            -    Imports of Agricultural Goods
            -    Total (from World)
            -    From the U.S.
            -    U.S. Share of Agricultural Imports (percent)
            -    Agricultural Goods Trade Balance with U.S.
            -    Trade Balance with Three Leading Partners in
                 1993
            -    Principal U.S. Exports (Top 5 by 4 digit
                 tariff item)
            -    Principal U.S. Imports (Top 5 by 4 digit
                 tariff item)

       4.   FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

            -    Partial list of Foreign Business Firms with
                 Operations in Costa Rica

B.     BEST PROSPECTS                                        68

       1.   MATRIX OF BEST PROSPECTS FOR INDUSTRY AND SERVICE
            EXPORTS

       2.   MATRIX OF BEST AGRICULTURAL EXPORT PROSPECTS FOR U.S.
            EXPORTERS TO COSTA RICA

C.     U.S. AND COUNTRY CONTACTS                             94

D.     MARKET RESEARCH                                      102

E.     TRADE EVENT                                          104