On July 24, the technology company Intel announced the closure of its microprocessor assembly and testing plant in Costa Rica. A day later, Qorvo, an American semiconductor company, also announced its withdrawal from the country after 30 years of operation.

Unlike Qorvo, which will completely leave the country, 77% of Intel will remain in Costa Rica, specifically in the sector intended for the company’s operation and the manufacturing of its components.

Intel will move its Assembly and Test facility to Vietnam and Malaysia in the coming months. This sector is responsible for assembling, testing, packaging, and sending the products that the company sells directly to the market.

For some businessmen, Intel’s decision is related to the advantages offered by South Asian countries due to their low wages, tax breaks, low electricity costs, and better roads.

Some business leaders have even used this announcement to advocate for the controversial 12-hour workweek or «4×3 workweek,» a bill that aims to spread 48 work hours over a period of four days.

The reality is that the departure of Intel and Qorvo is tied to the decisions of the President of the United States. Trump called for repealing the Science and Chips Act, promoted by Joe Biden in 2023, which supported local investment in semiconductors; Costa Rica was designated as a strategic ally in this law.

The repeal of this law meant the end of millions of dollars allocated to semiconductor research and development ($280 billion in total). The law sought to reduce U.S. dependence on Taiwan and compete with the Chinese market.

According to Bloomberg, Intel announced a 15% reduction in its global workforce with the goal of closing some 75,000 jobs worldwide. Due to these cuts, some 300 people could be affected in Costa Rica.

Faced with this panorama, the Central Bank reduced the percentage of economic growth to 3.5% projected for 2026, which is due to the “reduction in exports due to the departure of two companies dedicated to manufacturing electronic components.”