Google Inc. is to open an office in Costa Rica, according to a government press statement yesterday, making this country a springboard for the internet giant's big plans for Latin America.

As internet use in the region advances, Google wants in, company CEO Eric Schmidt told reporters last week. Schmidt said his company, which operates the world's most popular search engine, is looking to buy technology firms and invest in Latin America, its fastest-growing region, Bloomberg reported.

The news of a Costa Rican Google office came yesterday during a meeting of more than 500 leaders and company executives at the World Economic Forum on Latin America held in Cancún, Mexico, the Casa Presidencial statement said. It did not mention a date for the branch's opening.

Google expects sales in Latin America will more than double this year, Daniel Alegre, vice president for Latin American business operations, said at the forum.