I recently visited Costa Rica and it struck me that not only the vegetation but also the types of plants and agriculture produce is similar to what's available in Africa, particularly West Africa. Costa Rica has managed to use their topography and their environmental and sustainable ecosystem to build an eco-ecotourism and business environment that is helping to contribute to the economy of Costa Rica. It also serves as a good location for businesses with low barriers to entry and investment as well as being a gateway to South America.

I started thinking that I should do a comparison of Costa Rica and a possible similar country in Africa. After doing some research, l feel a comparative country to Costa Rica in West Africa would be Sierra Leone. Why Sierra Leone? Because their topographical make up would support an eco-tourism focused economy. The topographical makeup of Sierra Leone includes a coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, and mountains in the East. Costa Rica has a population of over 5 million people and Sierra Leone has a population of over 8 million people making them similar in population. The land area of Costa Rica measures at over 51,000 square kilometers approximately without taking into account the sea territory and the landmass for Sierra Leone is over 72,000 square miles.

General Investment Overview of both countries

Costa Rica has a favorable investment climate and a business environment that's attractive to many investors and exporters. However, there are some unique aspects to the business culture that can impact how business is conducted in the country.

Investment Culture in Sierra Leone is diverse and abundant, with opportunities across sectors such as agriculture, telecommunications, and tourism. The government has instituted reforms to improve the business and investment climate. In recent years, Sierra Leone has undertaken several initiatives aimed at creating a conducive environment for prospective investors. These measures include streamlining business registration processes, improving regulatory frameworks, and promoting public-private partnerships and the establishment of the National Investment Board (NIB). However, small and medium-sized enterprises in Sierra Leone still require substantial pre-investment support to become viable impact investment prospects. public-private partnerships.

Business

A permanent residency visa is not needed to start a business in Costa Rica. One can start or buy a business in Costa Rica even if in the country on a 90 day visa.

Before you start a business in Sierra Leone, it is important you know that unlike other countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, it takes approximately 12 days for one to start or register a business in Sierra Leone.

Agriculture

Only 3.8 percent of Costa Rica’s GDP came from Agriculture in 2023 which included forestry and fishing. Between 2020 and 2022, 60 percent of Sierra Leone’s GDP came from Agriculture

Healthcare

Costa Rica is known for having one of the best healthcare systems in Latin America and the world. The country provides universal health care to its citizens and permanent residents. There are two healthcare systems, both public and private, that are accessible for expats. The healthcare system in Costa Rica contributes to the high life expectancy and quality of life of its people. The Sierra Leone health care system is organized into two tiers of care: Peripheral Healthcare Units (PHUs) with an extended community health program and secondary care which includes 21 district and three referral hospitals; there are also 45 private clinics and 27 private hospitals, mostly in the Freetown area. Business Culture - Personal relationships are important in business, and negotiations are often made over dinner in a relaxed setting. Decision making - Business decisions are made consensually and involve many people, which can slow down the process. Time management - There's a relaxed attitude towards time, and meetings may be delayed. Bureaucracy -There's a lot of bureaucracy to navigate.

The general business culture of Sierra Leone is characterized by well-defined hierarchies, communication styles, and negotiation practices that emphasize respect, patience, and mutual benefit. The business sector faces challenges due to a lack of proper legal, identity, and credit systems, leading to risk-averse behavior and reduced trust and collaboration.

Resources

10 Facts About Starting a Business in Costa Rica - The Fortunate Investor

Big Markit - Sierra Leone National Tourist Board

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (% of GDP) - Costa Rica | Data

Costa Rica Business Regulations: Key Points to Know

Costa Rica GDP From Agriculture

Foreign Investment in Sierra Leone: Open and Restricted Sectors Explained

Healthcare in Costa Rica

Investing in Sierra Leone

Universal Health and Preparedness Review (UHPR) - National Report Of Sierra Leone November 2023

Solar Power – Africa’s long-term Energy solution

Energy Access in Africa

Over one billion people worldwide lack access to electricity. and In Sub Sahara Africa (SSA), over 620 million people, and approximately 60% of the businesses, do not have access to reliable power. Any real development and progress in Africa will only be attained with sustainable access to electricity.

Overview of the Solar Energy Industry in Africa

Africa is a viable location for solar power installation and usage, especially with the price of solar power technology and equipment getting cheaper.

The solar power industry is a viable option for all African countries based on several factors:

1. Africa has an abundance of sunshine to provide a viable resource for solar power.

2. Most countries in Africa have an average of 12 hours of daylight. Countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa had over 12 hours of daylight in 2016, according to USNO - Africa Universal Time.

3. The price for solar power infrastructure has gone down considerably since its early days.

4. Solar power presents an opportunity for small and mid-sized organizations as well as some non-profit organizations to provide the infrastructure and service to customers. This is unlike the traditional forms of power energy, which require significant investment and large organizations.

The one question to ask is why it has taken some of the governments of Africa, so long to jump on the Solar Power energy bandwagon? And why, even with the move forward, there are still some African countries that have not fully adopted and implemented a solar power program? One would think that with the natural resource for solar power in such abundance on the African continent, African countries would be making full use of this form of alternative energy

On the other hand, it may be better that they have not made the leap till now. Like the communications field in Africa, which leapfrogged over communications infrastructure and adopted and embraced mobile communications at the time the price was lower and accessibility greater, this may be the right time for Africa to adopt and embrace this alternative energy which can now be made available to a wide audience.

Past and current barriers and problems for establishing Solar Power in Africa

1. Until recently, investment in solar power infrastructure, materials and installation was expensive. However, with the introduction of new technology, cheaper resources and equipment, solar power is becoming more accessible and cheaper. New programs are being initiated that may make alternative energy use even cheaper for the poorer population of the continent.

2. The availability of petroleum and coal, traditional sources, in some countries has meant that the installation, support and use of solar power and establishing solar power infrastructure has not been a priority in the past.

3. With more money flowing in from petroleum and other current energy resources, those governments and the energy industry itself did not feel the need to pursue less expensive resources. The drop-in petroleum prices and loss of revenue is helping to change that thinking.

4. Another problem is that both the government and citizens of the African countries, though open to adopting new technology, have been very slow about adopting changes to their electrical supply. They have gotten used to the old ways in which electricity has been delivered with frequent cuts in power and an unreliable resource in some of these African countries.

5. The absence of a coordinated regulatory and legal framework, in some of the African countries, is an ongoing barrier.

References

Renewable energy in Africa
Green Mini Grid Country Support Programmes - Expression of Interest- African Development Bank - Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa