Computer software giant Microsoft is the latest high technology company to increase investment in Costa Rica.

The local branch of the international company announced this week that it plans to invest an estimated $6.5 million in operations in Costa Rica this year. This represents an increase of 8 percent over its 2009 investment.

This announcement was paired with the presentation of a new general manager for the company, Juan Pablo Consuegra, who will head operations for Microsoft Costa Rica. Microsoft has been operating in Costa Rica for 15 years.

“During these years of work in the country, Microsoft has identified in Costa Ricans a high potential for their technological capacities and in innovation to develop their abilities,” Consuegra said on Wednesday. “The results seen over the course of the past 15 years has encouraged Microsoft to contribute more energy into developing their technologies in the country.”

Microsoft said that some of the increased investment will include the introduction of the latest technological tools, such as unified communications devices, improved messaging and collaboration services, a data center and business network and virtualization software.

Consuegra said Microsoft will continue to provide software to large corporations and will increase the services provided to small- and medium-sized businesses. Over the course of the next 18 months, Microsoft aims to provide service to 4,000 additional small- and-medium sized businesses. Currently, Microsoft provides services to 6,000, or 17 percent, of small and medium sized businesses in the country.