Intel Corp has opened up its giant chip plant in Costa Rica, from which it plans to export some $700m worth of Pentium II microprocessors, some 33% of its worldwide production. That figure is equal to 90% of Costa Rica’s income from tourism, the country’s president, Jose Maria Figueres told attendees at the plant’s opening on Wednesday. The Intel plant, which covers 30,000 square meters, is 20 miles from Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, and currently employs 950 workers. The eventual figure is expected to be 3,500. So far, Intel has spent around 40% of the planned $500m budget for the La Ribera de Belen plant.
