The Coca-Cola company
The Coca-Cola company produces concentrates and syrups that are bottled and distributed by regional bottling plants around the world. Coca-Cola boasts a selection of thousands of beverage types making up 200 different brands. According to infobae and The Costa Rica Star, the 34,000 square meter Coca-Cola plant in Guanacaste, Costa Rica produces 164 different formulas for distribution across Central America and the Caribbean, and employs 130 workers.
https://seppelec.com/new-cc-concentrate-plant-in-costa-rica-liberia/
Local Impacts
William Segura, the Public Affairs and Communications Manager for Coca-Cola for Central America, told interviewers, “A large part of the human resources that we employ is primarily from the area. We use that to generate a series of skills for people who are originally from Guanacaste, who in the future may turn into leaders of one of the 18 concentrate plants that Coca-Cola has in the world.” The plant also maintains a near 50-50 split on male and female employees (CINDE). The location was chosen due to its proximity to international ports and the international airport in San Jose, theoretically cutting down on unnecessary carbon emissions. President Carlos Alvarado spoke highly of the company’s decision to invest in Costa Rica, stating that it will significantly impact local economic development. Dyalá Jiménez, The Minister of Foreign Trade, shared her excitement for the project saying that it will create high quality formal jobs outside of the Greater Metropolitan Area, something that is often lacking (The Costa Rica Star). Additionally, the Coca-Cola company promises a LEED Silver certification for their plant as well as the construction of an on site waste water treatment facility with the goal of recycling its water.
https://thecostaricanews.com/construction-of-new-coca-cola-plant-in-liberia-will-generate-250-jobs/
Global Economic Framework
To me, this move and investment by Coca-Cola best exemplifies a neoliberal framework. The company is utilizing global markets and proximity to ports to expand its reach and efficiency. The plant is limited in size and is not dominating the local economy in the way that an extractive and resource/labor intensive neocolonialistic operation would. Rather than a foreign entity extracting and exporting natural capital, or dominating particular public service, the Coca-Cola plant is manufacturing a product that is to be distributed locally and regionally.
