Evolution Free Zone Stands Out as the Best Free Zone in the Americas and Enters the Global Top 10

October, 2026. Global leadership in record time! With just two years of operation, Evolution Free Zone is recognized as the Best Free Zone in the Americas and enters the Global Top 10 Free Zones.

The awards also placed it in second place worldwide in the Industrial Zones category and fifth place worldwide in the Excellence Award for AI Readiness, which recognize its preparedness for artificial intelligence.

In total, Evolution Free Zone received four international accolades that highlight its regional positioning, its global projection and its preparedness for the changes transforming the business environment. The awards were granted by fDi Intelligence, a division of the British Financial Times Group specializing in foreign direct investment, whose analyses are a reference for multinational companies and executives evaluating where to expand their operations or invest.

These results represent a milestone for Evolution Free Zone, which in just two years managed to stand out in an international evaluation alongside Free Zones with long track records around the world.

“Ranking third in the Global Top 10 Free Zones in the Park’s first years is a source of pride and, above all, a commitment to continue raising our standards of development, quality and governance. From the beginning, we designed a proposal that transcends traditional infrastructure, offering companies the ideal conditions to innovate, expand and consolidate their operations in Costa Rica,” said Jorge Monge Víquez, Managing Director of CODE Development Group, the developer of Evolution Free Zone.

With a value proposition that integrates cutting-edge infrastructure, state-of-the-art buildings, technology, value-added services, specialized talent, sustainability and socioeconomic dynamization, the results of this business park are tangible: 127,521 m² built to date, eight companies and the creation of the first 6,000 confirmed jobs.

Among the Global Elite

Among the four awards, fifth place worldwide in the Excellence Award for AI Readiness stands out. This distinction takes on special relevance in light of the new possibilities that artificial intelligence and other digital tools offer to improve processes and transform business management.

These accolades add to those obtained in previous editions of the fDi Intelligence awards, where the Park received the Highly Commended: Rising Star distinction and an honorable mention in environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. Together, these milestones reflect the continuity of its efforts to consolidate its development and international projection.

Evolution Free Zone also holds the Essential Costa Rica country brand license, granted by PROCOMER in 2024 in recognition of its alignment with national values. This seal complements its international credentials and reinforces the Park’s commitment to positioning Costa Rica as a key destination for business and investment.

The Evolution Toward Free Zone 5.0

Backed by more than 20 years of experience, and in response to the changing demands of nearshoring and advanced manufacturing, the leaders of CODE Development Group set out to innovate with Evolution Free Zone.

“Evolution Free Zone arrives to transform the Free Zone model in Costa Rica and respond to the demands of the industries of the future,” states Álvaro Carballo Pinto, President of CODE Development Group. The strategy is based on the Free Zone 5.0 concept, which integrates smart infrastructure, advanced technology, human capital and sustainability. Thus, the approach not only offers operational spaces, but also drives competitiveness and local productive linkages in the face of new market demands.

“Since its origin, Evolution Free Zone was conceived to harmonize with its surroundings and minimize its environmental footprint. This vision translates into concrete design, construction and management decisions that prioritize the efficient use of resources, clean energy and human well-being. We place people at the center of every operation,” concluded Carballo.

With four new accolades, Evolution Free Zone consolidates its international projection and strengthens its position as a magnet for attracting investment to Costa Rica. Located in Tacares de Grecia, Alajuela, this business park drives development outside the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM), with a projection of generating 20,000 jobs over the next 15 years.