5. We are in the decade of Latin America, and Colombia in particular is
doing exceptionally well at the moment, positioning itself as one of the
region’s most dynamic destinations.
The last years were exceptional. We have managed to achieve positive
results in all our indicators, recording the highest level of direct foreign
investment in history, one of the lowest inflation rates in Latin America,
a positive fiscal situation that has come very close to equilibrium and
an unemployment rate that has exhibited a continuous decline every
month during the last 4 years.
Colombia is currently the third most business-friendly country in
Latin America, the greatest reformer in the region and the number
one country for investor protection, according to the World Bank’s
Doing Business Report. The country has also been recognised by the
Heritage Foundation as one of the markets where economic freedom
provides opportunities to generate positive and visible results in terms
of prosperity.
We have taken important steps towards integration in the global
community: free trade agreements with almost all the countries
of the Americas, including USA and Canada, with Switzerland and
Liechtenstein from the EFTA and with the European Union. Besides, 22
international investment agreements are in force, 11 undersigned or in
negotiation with over 40 countries and 16 double taxation agreements.
These are factors that make our nation a safe and strategic destination
for foreign companies with plans for expansion. We must also
highlight the capacity and creativity of Colombia’s human resources,
its geographical location, which makes it an attractive platform for
exports and connections with the rest of the world, as well as the
introduction of fiscal measures to ensure long-term sustainability and
a stable and efficient legal system that protects investment.
In this brochure, you will find specific information about Colombia
—based on figures and statistics sourced from both national and
international organisations— which demonstrates the benefits and
opportunities the country has to offer for profitable and lasting
investments.
International leaders, major companies and specialist media all know
that Colombia is one of the rising stars with greatest prospects for
economic expansion not only at a regional level, but also at a global
level. We are at an exciting moment in our development, so for those
who want to plant their seeds in profitable, safe and stable ground, the
answer is Colombia!
GREETINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT,
JUAN MANUEL SANTOS
Juan Manuel Santos Calderón
President of the Republic
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6. 11
8
22
30
15
34
38
17
13Macroeconomic stability and dynamic long-term economic performance
21Colombia, an investment-grade country with a positive outlook
23World-class technological infrastructure
26Easy access to global markets
29Maritime connections, transit times
31Extensive trade relations - main export destinations
CONTENT
Business-friendly
Dynamic internal market
Strong international integration
Established trade platform
COLOMBIA
ATRACTIVE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
INTERCONECTED WITH THE WORLD
AN ACTIVE ECONOMY IN THE GLOBAL MARKET
7. 40
48
53
60
55
58
84
86
47
49
51
45
54
81
Opportunities
An array of free trade zones
Colombia was one of the 20 main destinations for FDI in the world in 2012
The world talks about Colombia
The presence of Procolombia in the country
Procolombia in the world
Incentives for R+D
CONFIDENCE OF INVESTORS IN THE COUNTRY
SECTOR OPPORTUNITIES
WHO ARE WE?
In 2013, Colombia attained FDI flows that were almost 9 times greater
than those attained 10 years ago
SKILLED LABOUR
COMPETITIVE LEGAL FRAMEWORK
THE GOERNMMET’S COMMITMENT
TO DEVELOPMENT
9. US $58,822
billion
(2013-DANE)
US $56,622
billion
(2013-DANE)
47.6 million
inhabitants
(2014-DANE)
US $378,125
billion
US $8,021 US $11,188 4.7% 9.6 % 1.9 %
41 inhabitants/km2
(2013-DANE)
Spanish Colombian peso
(COP)
94.3%
(2013-DANE)
75 years
(2013-DANE)
(2013-Banco
de La
República)
Per Capita
(PPA, 2013-EIU)
Growth
(2013-Banco
de La
República)
Per Capita
(Nominal,
2013-Banco de la
República)
RATE
(2013-DANE)
UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE
(2013-Banco
de la
República)
INFLATION
EXPORTS IMPORTS
X MGDP GDP GDP GDP
LITERACY
RATEPOPULATION
POPULATION
DENSITY
OFFICIAL
LANGUAGE CURRENCY
LIFE
EXPECTANCY
SOCIAL INDICATORS
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
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The Insular Region
The Orinoquia Region
The Amazon Region
The Andean Region
The Caribbean Region
The Pacific Region
Panama
Ecuador
Peru
Venezuela
Brazil
The area of Colombia 1,141,000 KM2, is three times the
size of Germany and twice that of Texas (US).
AREA
1,141,748 km2
Terrestrial
2,070,408 km2
928,660 km2
Maritime
..............
................
.................
................
...
COLOMBIA
..................
Canada
United States
of America
Brazil
Mexico
Colombia
Venezuela
Greenland
(Denmark)
Iceland
Russia
China
India
Iran Pakistan
Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
Mongolia
Kazakhstan
Japan
Indonesia
Thailand
Australia
Turkey
EgyptLibya
Niger
Sudan
Ethiopia
Kenya
Republic of the Congo
Tanzania
Madagascar
Angola
South Africa
Namibia
Botswana
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Mali
Mauritania
Algeria
Spain
France
Germany Poland
Belarus
Ukraine
Romania
Italy
United
Kingdom
Norway
Sweden
Finland
Ecuador
Peru
Bolivia
Argentina
Cuba
Jamaica
Guatemala
El Salvador
Nicaragua
Costa
Rica
Panama
Honduras
Belice
Haiti Dominican
Republic
PACIFIC
OCEAN
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Colombia is located in the northwest of
South America and is the only country
on this part of the continent with both a
Pacific and a Caribbean Coast.
TOTAL
GOVERNMENT
Colombia is a social state under the rule of law, organized
in the form of a unitary decentralized republic with policy
centralization and administrative decentralization. The State has
three branches of public power, which operate independently:
Legislative, Executive and Judicial. These are made up of various
supervisory bodies including the Attorney General´s Office, the
Public Prosecutor´s Office, or Public Ministry, the Office of
the Comptroller and community Veedurías (citizen oversigth
entities). Juan Manuel Santos Calderón has been president of
the Republic since August 2012.
32 DEPARTMENT STATES
6 MAIN REGIONS
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GDP (PPP)-2015
BILLIONS-LATIN
AMERICA
GDP
PER CAPITA (PPP)
US$ 2000-2018
FAVOURABLE MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
COLOMBIA’S GDP PER
CAPITA IS ALMOST TWICE
SINCE YEAR 2000.
New
Zealand 167
Denmark
Singapore
257
Israel 301
299
Norway 373
Chile 380
Peru 400
Vietnam 420
Hong Kong 422
Sweden 455
Belgium 481
Switzerland 481
Philippines 535
599
Malaysia 606
Colombia
SouthKorea 1,790
1,176
Mexico 2,324
France 2,560
Brazil 2,644
Germany 3,688
Australia
2000
2011
2012
2013e
2014p
2015p
2016p
2017p
2018p
2010
2004
2008
2009
2007
2006
2005
2001
2002
2003
5,826
8,940
10,800
US $14,110
COLOMBIA IS
THE WORLD’S
28TH LARGEST
ECONOMY AND ONE
OF THE LARGEST
NON-OECD
COUNTRIES.
Note: GDP in accordance with Purchasing Power
Parity - PPP - prices - estimated.
Source: EIU - Economist Intelligence Unit, 2014.
Note: GNP adjusted to prices under
Purchasing Power Parity - PPP.
Source: EIU – Economist Intelligence
Unit – Income adjusted to Purchasing Power
Parity - PPP. p: projected - e: estimated.
*Economies are ranked in accordance with
the World Bank’s methodology. Low income
USD 1,035 or less; Middle-low income
between USD 1,036 and USD 4,085; Middle-
high income between USD 4,086 and USD
12,615; high income USD 12,616 or more.
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13. MACROECONOMIC
STABILITY AND
DYNAMIC LONG-TERM
ECONOMIC
PERFORMANCE
UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE
GDP
INFLATION
p: Projectable. e: Estimate.
12.0 11.8
10.8 10.4
8.5 8.8
8.1
7.4 7.1 6.8
7.7
20102004 2008 20092007200620052002 2003 2011 2012 2013 2014p 2015p 2016p 2017p 2018p
11.311.2
12.011.8
13.714.1
15.6
4.5
3.8
4.04.0
1.7
3.5
6.96.7
4.7
5.3
3.9
2.5
6.6
4.64.4
3.6 3.5 3.33.43.0
1.9
3.7
2.0
5.7
4.54.9
5.5
6.5
7.0
2.4
Source: DANE, Banco de la República. EIU - Economist Intelligence Unit, 2014.
4.3 4.5
GDP, inflation, and rate of unemployment 2002-2018, annual average % projectable.
In 2013, the country presented its highest level of international
reserves US $43.6 billion and a low level of inflation 1.94%. The
unemployment rate has been declining steadily over the last few
years, reaching a historic minimum of 8.5% at the end of 2013.
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15. COLOMBIA HAS
THE 24TH LARGEST
POPULATION IN THE
WORLD AND THE
SECOND LARGEST
SPANISH SPEAKING
POPULATION AFTER
MEXICO
*Forecast.
Brazil
Colombia
47.6
202.8
Mexico
116.20
Germany
81.67
Vietnam
78.09
Egypt
83.70
France
64.60
SouthKorea
50.50
Canada
35.60
Peru
31.60
Malaysia
30.20 Australia23.5
Chile
17.70
CzechRepublic
10.50
Sweden
9.70
Austria
8.50
Switzerland
8.10
HongKong
7.20
Israel
8.20
Norway
5.10
Singapore
5.50
NewZealand
4.60
Population: 2014* millions of inhabitants
Source: DANE; EIU - Economist Intelligence Unit, 2014.
DYNAMIC
INTERNAL MARKET
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Colombia is a young and dynamic country in which 55%
of the population is under 30 years of age.
17.6 MILLIONTotal population in the country’s 9 development areas.
City populations include surrounding metropolitan areas.
Source: DANE.
*Forecast.
Barranquilla
1.2
Cartagena
0.9
Bucaramanga
0.5Medellin
2.4
Bogota
7.7
Ibague
0.5
Cali
2.3
Coffee Cultural Landscape:
Pereira, Manizales,
Armenia.
1.1
Cucuta
0.6
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
The country is divided into 32 departments [states]
and six main regions (Caribbean, Pacific, Andean,
Orinoquia, Amazonia and Island Territories). Colombia
has many development areas and 9 metropolitan areas,
each of which has 500,000 or more inhabitants:
Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Cucuta,
Bucaramanga, Ibague and the Coffee Cultural Landscape
Region (Manizales, Pereira and Armenia).
IT POSSESSES MULTIPLE FACETS OF DEVELOPMENT,
WITH MORE THAN 9 CITIES / METROPOLITAN AREAS
HOME OF OVER 500,000 INHABITANTS.
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Colombia is the third most business-friendly and the
most reformative country in Latin America. Similarly,
it holds the sixth place in the world and first in the
region in terms of protecting its investors according to
the World Bank’s Doing Business Report, 2014.
RANKING DOING BUSINESS 2008-2014
CHANGE IN POSITIONS*
Chile
Peru
Colombia
Mexico
Panama
Costa Rica
Argentina
Brazil
Ecuador
Venezuela
Source: The Doing Business Report, 2014 - The World Bank.
Positive statistics indicate an improvement in business environment.
Colombia
23
16
1310
6
-1-7
-9-9
-17
Peru
Venezuela
Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Panama
Costa Rica
Mexico
Ecuador
Country
World
Ranking
2013
World
Ranking
2014
37
43
45
48
61
110
124
130
139
180
34
42
43
53
55
102
116
126
135
181
BUSINESS-
FRIENDLY
THE DOING BUSINESS REPORT RECOGNIZES
COLOMBIA AS BEING THE MOST
REFORMATIVE COUNTRY IN THE REGION
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20. The Economic Freedom Index, analyzing the policy
development of 186 countries, has recognised
Colombia as being one of the markets in the region
in which economic freedom is allowing it to generate
both positive and visible results in terms of prosperity.
ECONOMIC FREEDOM INDEX-2014
POSITION AMONGST 186 COUNTRIES
HongKong
Singapore
Australia
Chile
United
States
Colombia
Peru
Mexico
France
Brazil
China
Ecuador
Argentina
Venezuela
47
1 2
3
7
12 14
34
55
70
114
137
159
166
175
Source: Heritage Foundation. Drafted by Procolombia.
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COLOMBIA, AN
INVESTMENT-GRADE
COUNTRY WITH A
POSITIVE OUTLOOK
S&P (APRIL 2013) IMPROVED COLOMBIA’S RATING AND
FITCH (DECEMBER 2013) IMPROVED ITS LONG-TERM
FOREIGN CURRENCY SOVEREIGN DEBT OUTLOOK:
EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF FISCAL REFORMS COULD
ENHANCE THE FINANCIAL PROFILE, REDUCE DEBT AND
THE GOVERNMENT’S INTEREST BURDEN - S&P.
In December of 2013, Fitch increased Colombia’s Long-Term
Issuance Rating from BBB to BBB based on the improvement
in handling public debt, the consistency and predictability of
Colombian macroeconomics policies and the economy’s ability
to cope with external upheavals.
All three agencies have given a positive rating to Colombia’s
sovereign debt since 2011, which coincides with a reduction
in vulnerability to external upheavals, meeting its obligations,
Term Rating Date PerspectiveRating Agency
Stable
BBB
A – 2
BBB +
A - 2
24/Apr/2013
24/Apr/2013
5/Mar/2007
13/Dec/2007
Stable
Positive
22/Jun/2013
22/Jun/2011
22/Jun/2011
7/Feb/2012
F - 2
BBB+
Baa2
confidence in the country’s macroeconomics policies and an
improvement in security policies.
Source: Standard & poor’s Rating, Dinero magazine.
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According to Colombia Digital, Colombia is connected by
means of 7 undersea cables. The Government is currently
working on an optic fibre cable that will connect Colombia’s
Pacific Coast with the rest of the world, with a capacity
greater than 8 megabytes to lower data and internet
transmission costs.
According to MinTIC, the country increased its internet
connections from 2.2 million in 2010 to 8.8 million in 2013.
In 2013 Internet connections grew by 210% for strata one
and 138% in stratum two.
At the end of 2013 there are 50,295,114 subscribers
representing a growth of 2.5% vs. the fourth-quarter of
2012.
mobile subscribers-millions
2010 2011 2012 2013
44.4
46.2
49.0
50.2
97.70%
100.3%
105.3%
106.7%
RAPID GROWTH IN THE CONSUMER MARKET:
OVER 49 MILLION ACTIVE MOBILE USERSWorld-class
technological
infrastructure
Source: CRC–The Commission of Telecommunication Regulation (CRT). MinTIC, 2013.
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Internet
Subscribers
Broad band and
Penetration Index
Access to the
Internet has
tripled over the
last FIVE years
2010 2011 2012 2013
8,215,780
6,137,708
4,836,833
3,073,948
17.40%
13.20%
10.50%
6.80%
Penetration
Source: CRC - The Commission of Telecomunication Regulation
(CRT), MinTIC.
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25. In the year 2012, Vive Digital received the Government
Leadership Award at the Mobile World Congress,
becoming certified as the best ITC policy in the world
for its innovative policies on poverty reduction and
employment generation
through telecommunications.
Source: Vive Digital.
Liberta y Orden
In Latin America, Colombia is the leader in electronic
government and ranks sixth among the countries with the
highest level of electronic participation.
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easy access to
global markets
Colombia is situated on a focal point of maritime activity. It
is close in proximity to the Panama Canal, a crossroad for
the main lines of global trade communication, a strategic
connection point between North and South America —as
well as the East Coast of the United States of America and
Asia. These features present an opportunity by means of
acting as a commercial exchange platform.
over 2,000export routes via direct, connecting and regular
services provided by 32 airlines with cargo allowances and
access to 470 cities in the world.
thousand tons cargo were
transported in 2013.600
More than
Key strategic location
Over 850 direct international
flights per week
More and more airlines are adding
routes and flight frequencies, which
improve Colombia’s air connectivity
directinternationalflightshave
increasedby130%between2000and2010
Over 4,900 domestic flights per week
Over 20 airlines operate in Colombia
DEVELOPED
LOGISTICS
INFRASTRUCTURE
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The data includes routes flying out of
Barranquilla, Bogota, Cali, and Medellin
International Airports.
Air connections to the
world Transit times
CARGO AIR CONNECTIVITY
Bogota
24 h 40 m 23 h 35 m
Pekin Seoul
25 h 05 m
24 h 15 m
Tokyo
Hong Kong
14 h 10 m
13 h 45 m
17 h 35 m
19 h 40 m
17 h 00 m
Berlin
Rome
Cairo
Dubai
Moscow
11 h 15 m
9 h 40 m
9 h 40 m
Frankfurt
Madrid
13 h 20 m
Paris
10 h 40 m
24 h 30 m
Mumbai
4 h 20 m
4 h 45 m
City of Mexico
9 h 25 m
8 h 20 m
Los Angeles
5 h 35 m
5 h 35 m
New York
8 h 54 m
6 h 05 m
Toronto
Miami
4 h 30 m
3 h 00 m
8 h 25 m
6 h 15 m
Buenos Aires
5 h 10 m
Brasilia
1 h 20 m
1 h 20 m
Caracas
3 h 00 m
Lima
3 h 10 m
6 h 55 m
5 h 00 m
Santiago de Chile
1 h 30 m
1 h 30 m
Quito
5 h 50m
5 h 45 m
São Paulo
23 h 05 m
City of Cabo
Source: Routes and Tariffs – Tools for the Colombian
exporter. Processed by Procolombia.
Colombia:
competitive
location with
easy access
to global
markets
11 h 25 m
London
Lisbon
9h 55m
DIRECT AIR CONNECTIVITY*
*Direct air connectivity - passengers
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There are more than 3,300 maritime export routes
sailing from Colombian ports offering regular, direct or
connecting service on 30 steamship companies with
destinations in 480ports around the world.
More than 165 million tons of export and import products
were moved by ocean in 2013.
The data includes routes departing from the ports of Barranquilla, Buenaventura,
Cartagena, and Santa Marta.
Source: Routes and Tariffs – Tools for the Colombian exporter. Processed by
ProColombia.
Buenaventura
Pacific
Ocean
Atlantic
Ocean
San Andres
Tumaco
MARITIME
CONNECTIVITY
PRIVATE PORT COMPANIES
THAT OFFER PUBLIC USE
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MARITIME CONNECTIONS
TRANSIT TIMES
MARITIME CONNECTIONS
Vancouver
(14 days)
Veracruz
(6 days)
Los Angeles
(11 days)
New York
(6 days)
Valparaiso
(8 days)
Tilbury
(16 days)
Rotterdam
(11 days)
Colombo
(38 days)
St. Petersburg
(20 days)
Santos
(11 days)
Buenos Aires
(19 days)
Hong Kong
(30 days)
Tokyo
(27 days)
Sidney
(22 days)
Arab Emirates
(40 days)
City of Cabo
(25 days)
Valencia
(12 days)
Bogota
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31. China
US $5,102
million
Participation
of 8.67%
India
US $2,993
million
Participation
of 5.09%
Aruba
US $1,716
million
Participation of
2.92%
United States
US $18,459
million
Participation
of 31.38%
Panama
US $3,329
million
Participation of
5.66%
Brazil
US $1,591
million
Participation
of 2.70%
Ecuador
US $1,975
million
Participation of
3.36%
Spain
US $2,879
million
Participation
of 4.89%
Netherlands
US $2,266
million
Participation of
3.85%
Venezuela
US $2,256
million
Participation
of 3.84%
EXTENSIVE TRADE RELATIONS - MAIN EXPORT DESTINATIONS
MAJOR EXPORT DESTINATIONS - 2013
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EXPORTS, 2000-2013 US $MILLIONS
MORE THAN 8,000 EXPORT COMPANIES
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH IN EXPORTS: MORE THAN
4 TIMES THE VALUE IN 2013 THAN 13 YEARS AGO.
16,788 37,626 58,82213,158 56,915
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Source: DANE.
2013
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COLOMBIA’S IMPORTS
QUADRUPLED OVER THE LAST DECADE
The main products purchased abroad in the nonmining
segment and excluding coffee are: industrial machinery,
vehicles, other means of transport, telecommunications/
sound, and iron/steel manufacturing.
MAJOR IMPORT DESTINATIONS - 2012
Source: DANE. CIF values.
11,538
13,880
39,668
59,395
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
54,674
2013
IMPORTS 2000-2013
US $MILLIONS
United States
US $15,681.29
million
Participation
of 27.69%
China
US $9,841.59
million
Participation
of 17.38%
Mexico
US $5,299.81
millions
Participation of
9.36%
Brazil
US $2,457.30
millions
Participation of
4.34%
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34. PACIFIC
ALLIANCE
Currently, Colombia has 13 free trade agreements in force, and
8 that are signed or being negotiated, which will give preferential
access to a market of more than 1.5 billion consumers. The
country’s agreements network also includes 23 international
investment agreements (IIA)* between those that are in force,
signed, and being negotiated with more than 40 countries and
16 agreements to prevent double taxation (DTAs) which are in
force or being negotiated.
*Includes Investment Chapters within the FTA.
STRONG
INTERNATIONAL
INTEGRATION
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Agreements for the promotion and
reciprocal protection of investments - APPRI
CURRENT
Peru (agreement)
Spain (agreement)
China (agreement)
India (agreement)
EFTA (chapter V)
Lichtenstein (chapter V)
Chile (chapter IX)
Northern Triangle (chapter
XII)
Canada (chapter VIII))
Mexico (chapter XVII)
United States (chapter X)
European Union (chapter II)
Switzerland (agreement)
SUBSCRIBED
EFTA (Iceland and
Norway) (chapter V)
Japan (agreement)
United Kingdom (agreement)
Singapore
France
UNDER
NEGOTIATION
Kuwait
Qatar
Russia
Azerbaiyan
Turkey
Arab Emirates
Note: The International Investment Agreement (IIA) includes promotion and
reciprocal protection of investments agreements (IppAs) (agreement) and
free trade Agreements (FTAs) Investment section (chapter).
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CURRENT
CAN (Peru, Ecuador
and Bolivia)
Canada
Chile
Spain
Mexico
Switzerland
SUBSCRIBED
South Korea
India
Portugal
Czech Republic
UNDER
NEGOTIATION
Germany
United States
France
Holland
Belgium
Japan
Agreements for the avoidance
of double taxation and the
prevention of tax evasion - DTTs
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38. ESTABLISHED
TRADE
PLATFORM
Globalisation policies provide the country with tariff advantages
allowing preferential access to millions of consumers as a result
of free-trade agreements. To this effect, Colombia provides
expanded opportunities in European, Asian and Latin American
countries. In addition, the country’s geographical location has
turned it into a connecting point for the world, consolidating its
position as a starting point for exports to third-party markets.
Its access to both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans provides ports
leading to and from America, Europe and Pacific Rim countries,
furnishing shipping times, transportation and logistics that
enhance foreign trade.
25 markets have been identified for which Colombia could
become a platform for exporting products to the United
States and the Andean Community of Nations (CAN)
countries, as well as 12 markets in Europe, 6 in Asia, and 7
in Latin America and Canada.
PREFERENTIAL AGREEMENTS AND OTHER
PROMOTION TOOLS MAKE COLOMBIA
ATTRACTIVE TO BUSINESSES AROUND
THE WORLD WANTING TO REACH
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS.
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Colombia’s 13 current trade agreements with over 20 markets
allow the country to have tariff advantages for exporting
to these markets with highly competitive rates, as well as
logistical advantages.
Note: Tariffs refer to 2013 data.
Tariff Advantages to United States, Canada and Mexico.
COLOMBIA AS AN EXPORT
PLATFORM TO THE WORLD
AND FOR THE WORLD
City of
Origin
Destination City
São Paulo
Journey time Freight US $/kg
New York 9 h 35 min 6.17
Mexico City 9 h 15 min 4.70
Bogota 5 h 55 min 1.30
Country of
Origin
Sector
Tariffs charged for
USA Mexico
Brazil
Automotive and auto parts 10.9% 28.2%
Chemicals 4.4% 8.7%
Colombia 0% 0%
Someexamplesofexportplatformsbasedonlogisticaladvantages
of air freight.
Country of
Origin
Destination Country
United States
Transit time (days) Freight US $/kg
Brazil 40 155
Argentina 41 133
Colombia 11 54
Examples of the logistical (maritime) and tariff advantages of
using Colombia as an export platform.
Source: PROCOLOMBIA.
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According to Euromonitor International, Colombia had the
third highest number of graduates of the following subjects,
in the region during 2012: Social Sciences, Business, Law,
Engineering, Manufacturing, and Construction.
The availability of human resources is growing at a higher
rate than many other countries. According to the Growth of
the Workforce Index (IMD, 2013).
Colombia is ranked as eighth in the world and third in the
region in terms of both growth and labour force.
MORE THAN
44.6%
(MASTERS AND SPECIALIZATIONS)
22.6%TECHNICAL
33.2%
QUALITY AND
AVAILABILITY OF
HUMAN RESOURCES
IN THE COUNTRY
2012 COLLEGE GRADUATES
Source: Colombia’s Ministry of National Education.
COLOMBIA POSSESSES A
SKILLED AND DEVELOPED
WORKFORCE
300 THOUSAND
STUDENTS GRADUATE EVERY YEAR FROM HIGHER EDUCATION
UNDERGRADUATES POSTGRADUATES
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SOCIAL SCIENCES, BUSINESS
AND LAW GRADUATES 2012*
ENGINEERING, MANUFACTURING AND
CONSTRUCTION GRADUATES 2012*
.COLOMBIA, A LEADER IN THE
REGION OF ENGINEERING
AND BUSINESS GRADUATES
TOTAL NUMBER OF HIGHER EDUCATION GRADUATES 2011: 201,173
*2009 data for Argentina and the Dominican Republic; 2010 data
for jamaica
Source: Euromonitor international; Labour Market Data System
(Sistema informático del Mercadeo laboral) - Jamaica; Ministry of
Higher Education, Science and Technology (Ministerio de Educación
Superior, Tecnología y Ciencia) - Dominican Republic; UNESCO.
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“SENA” IS THE CHIEF
EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION FOR
TECHNICAL AND
TECHNOLOGICAL
TRAINING IN COLOMBIA.
IN ADDITION, IT IS
THE COUNTRY’S
ONLY EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION WITH
PRESENCE IN MORE THAN
A THOUSAND CITIES.
SENA HAS MORE THAN 1
MILLION SPACES AT THE
DEGREE LEVEL AND MORE THAN
800,000 TRAINEES WORKING AT
COLOMBIAN COMPANIES.
Technical
Specialists
Technicians 677,766
317,058
36,084
13,640
7,571
1,823
Technologists
Assistants,
Employment and
Unskilled Workers
Professional
Technicians
Technology
Specialists
The National Government also supports bilingual education
through initiatives such as iSpeak, a programme that provides
local and foreign companies with information regarding
Colombians holding certification in English fluency for
professional purposes. There are currently more than 26,000
professionals throughout Colombia holding such certificates.
Source: SENA. Figures applicable to 2013.
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44. LABOUR FORCE GROWTH, 2013
Argentina
Mexico
Colombia
Brazil
Peru
Chile
5
6
8
18
20
21
3.64%
3.62%
2.89%
1.58%
1.36%
1.30%
Source: IMD-World Competitiveness Yearbook, 2013.
Variation (%)
World ranking
amongst 60
countries
% Increase
in labour
force
COLOMBIA HAS ONE OF
THE HIGHEST GROWTH
RATES OF ANNUAL
LABOUR FORCE
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46. 1. For free zones applied for or approved before 31 December, 2012.
For free zones applied for after 31 December, 2012, income tax of 15%
must be paid + income tax for equity – CREE, for which the rate is 9%
for the years 2013 to 2015 and 8% for the following years.
EMPLOYMENT
INCENTIVES
INCOME TAX DISCOUNT AND
PARA-FISCAL
CONTRIBUTION BENEFITS, AS
WELL AS OTHER
NOMINAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
(DOES NOT INCLUDE JOBS GENERATED BY REPLACEMENTS OR MERGERS)
A STRONG GOVERNMENT
COMMITMENT EXISTS TO
PROMOTE INVESTMENT AND
STABILITY FOR INVESTORS
NUMEROUS NEGOTIATED PROMOTION AND RECIPROCAL
INVESTMENT PROTECTION AGREEMENTS.
FREE ZONES WITH INCOME TAX OF 15%1
, POSSIBILITY OF SELLING
TO THE LOCAL MARKET, EXEMPTION FROM CUSTOMS DUTIES (VAT,
TARIFFS) ANND ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS OF INTERNATIONAL
TRADE AGREEMENTS.
INCOME TAX DEDUCTIONS OF 175% FOR INVESTMENTS IN
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
INCENTIVES FOR EMPLOYMENT GENERATION.
INCOME TAX EXEMPTION FOR VARIOUS SECTORS.
NEW employees
under 28 years
of age. Duration of
employer benefit:
NEW displaced
reintegrated
or disabled
employees.
Duration of
employer benefit:
NEW female
employees over
40 years of age,
unemployed for
1 year. Dration of
employer benefit:
NEW employees
who receive less
than 1.5 SMMLV.
Duration of employer
benefit:
46
PROCOLOMBIA.CO
47. *For Free Zones applied for/or approved before 31 December, 2012.
Income tax of 15%*
La Guajira
Cesar
Norte de Santander
Santander
Magdalena
Atlantico
Cundinamarca
Bogota
Meta
Boyaca
Bolivar
Valle del Cauca
Quindio
Risaralda
Antioquia
Cordoba
Cauca
Nariño
Huila
Departments with declared Free Trade Zones (FTZ):
Permanent FTZ declared by the DIAN (National Directorate of Taxes and
Customs): (27)–Multi-company.
Special permanent FTZ declared by the DIAN (67)-Single-company
extended FTZ: (3).
Source: MinTIC (Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism) – Report on Free Trade
Zones – June 16, 2014.
AN ARRAY
OF FREE
TRADE
ZONES
Colombia currently has over
100 Free Trade Zones, both
permanent and special
permanent.
The permanent Free Trade Zones are comperirive
thanks to the following characteristics:
Benefiting from Free
Trade Agreements
No local market sale
restrictions
Customs tax does not apply
(VAT, tariffs)
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49. INNOVATION
¯¯ The allocation of 10% of royalty payments to strengthen science,
technology, and innovation.
¯¯ Increase R&D investment by 0.16% of GDP to 0.5% of GDP by 2014.
¯¯ Increase value added exports (nonmining energy) by 31%, from US
$14,318 million in 2010 to US $21,000 million in 2014.
¯¯ To finance the education of 2,550 new PhDs by 2014.
¯¯ Promote an innovation ecosystem with 12 Business Angels networks
by 2014.
Infrastructure investment of 3% to 4% of GDP, which means, in Colombia’s
case, doubling current investment levels. This alongside other mechanisms
such as royalties and adjustment funds will allow the country adequate
levels of sector investment.
¯¯ Government objective: 1 million low-income (social) houses (VIS-
Spanish abbreviation).
¯¯ A plan is being worked on to donate 100,000 homes to single mothers,
displaced people, victims of natural disasters, and those not earning a
minimum salary.
¯¯ Mining and energy GDP will grow by 16.8% by the year 2014 and will
reflect a share of more than 25% of GDP in Colombia.
¯¯ The mining and energy sector will generate 100,000 new jobs between
2010-2014.
¯¯ Total sector exports for 2014 will surpass US $35,000 million.
¯¯ 2014 objectives include electrical power reaching 16,234 MW, hydrocarbon
production 1,150,000 bpd and coal mining production 124 million tons;
as well as extending geological coverage of the country to 80%.
¯¯ Colombia, third highest rate of precipitation in Latin America and 11th in
the world.
¯¯ Special Commercial Reforestation Programme: Taking advantage of the
country’s forestry potential (17 million hectares) pushing for commercial
¯¯ reforestation as a strategic element of the agricultural sector.
¯¯ Unique forestry “one-stop window”: An instrument created with the aim
of centralizing procedures and formalities required for commercial forestry
activities.
¯¯ Regulated forestry law.
¯¯ Agricultural technology innovation.
OPPORTUNITIES
INFRASTRUCTURE
HOUSING
MINING - ENERGY
AGRIBUSINESS
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The Productive Transformation Programme, PTP, is a public and private collaboration created by the Ministry of Commerce,
Industry, and Tourism in 2008. It fosters productivity and competitiveness within (high exporting potential) sectors by means of
more efficient coordination between the private and public sectors.
PRODUCTIVE TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME-(PTP)
Outsourcing of business processes BPO&O
Software information technology
Health tourism
Nature tourism
Electrical power good and service providers
A PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
COLLABORATION
CREATED FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF
WORD-CLASS SECTORS
SERVICE SECTORS
MANUFACTURING SECTORS
AGRO-SECTORS
Editorial industry and graphic communication
Fashion system
Auto parts and vehicle industry
Cosmetics and cleaning products
Metal mechanics and steel
Chocolate, confectionery and primary materials Beet
Palm, oils, vegetable fats and biofuels
Shrimp farming
Dairy
Fruits and vegetables
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In order to achieve these goals and foster new investment into R+D, and as a means of obtaining innovative processes, the following mechanisms
have been created:
Colombia is relying on innovation as a key component in transforming products and services, providing added value and skilled workers. To
achieve this, the National Government has allotted 10% of royalties generated by hydrocarbon and mining activities to bolster the Science,
Technology and Innovation System, with the goal of moving the country forward to a knowledge-based economy.
INCENTIVES FOR R+D
With the aim of strengthening business innovation and high-impact, innovative entrepreneurship, Bancoldex (Programme to invest in Private
Capital Funds) has created Innpulsa. This innovation and development unit cultivates financial and nonfinancial tools to promote and strengthen
business innovation and dynamic ventures. Its work is based on three strategic levels:
INCOME TAX DEDUCTIONS EQUIVALENT
TO 175% OF THE VALUE INVESTED INTO
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
AN EXEMPTION OF SALES TAX (VAT)
ON THE IMPORTATION OF EQUIPMENT
USED BY R+D CENTRES RECOGNISED BY
COLCIENCIAS
RESOURCES RECEIVED
TO FINANCE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL
PROJECTS OR INCOMES FROM INNOVATION
ARE INCOME TAX EXEMPT
PROTECTION OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS
EQUIPMENT AND DEVICES IMPORTED BY R&D CENTRES RECOGNIZED BY COLCIENCIAS WILL BE
EXEMPT FROM VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT)
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INNPULSA COLOMBIA IS
PRESENT IN ALL 32
DEPARTMENTS
231 BILLION
AND
BENEFITED
TOTAL RAISED FOR
ENTREPRENEURIAL
INNOVATION
26,793 BUSINESSES AND
ORGANIZATIONS
(MOSTLY BUSINESSES)
1.
We are promoting a mindset change: To
overcome barriers in our way of thinking that
prevent more cases of extraordinary growth
in businesses.
2.We fix mistakes in the market: We infuse
resources where lacking and connect to and
activate supply and demand.
3.We bolster regional forces: So they may foster
extraordinary growth by the businesses located
in their territories.
Source: Innpulsa.
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United States
Virgin Islands
Australia
Hong Kong
Russia
Chile
Luxemburg
India
Indonesia
Kazakhstan
Colombia
5
7
3
1
9
11
13
15
17
19
18
COLOMBIA WAS ONE OF THE 20 MAIN
DESTINATIONS FOR FDI IN THE WORLD IN 2013
According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report, Colombia was ranked among the top 20 countries receiving FDI
worldwide with US $16 billion in 2012.
Source: World Investment Report, Overview 2013; FDI Markets, Global Greenfield Investment Trends, 2013; CEPAL 2013.
168
75
65
57
51
30
28
26
20
16
14
IN 2013, COLOMBIA’S CONTRIBUTION TO
DIRECTFOREIGNINVESTMENTSINLATIN
AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN WAS
7.57%, OUTPERFORMING COUNTRIES
SUCH AS CHILE AND PERU.
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IN 2013, COLOMBIA
ATTAINED FDI FLOWS
THAT WERE ALMOST
9 TIMES GREATER THAN
THOSE ATTAINED 10 YEARS AGO
United States United Kingdom Spain Chile
US $25,980
million
Participation
of 24.0%
US $15,672
million
Participation of
14.5%
US $7,902
million
Participation
of 7.3%
US $4,383
million
Participation
of 4.1%
MAIN INVESTOR COUNTRIES / CUMULATIVE 2000–2013*
In 2013, Colombia reached its highest FDI flows in its
history: It went from US $1,720 billion in 2003 to US $16,772
billion. FDI growth also reached 8% in the period 2012-2013.
Colombia also became the country with the third highest FDI
flow as a percentage of GDP in the region.
Between 2000 and 2013, almost 50% of worldwide flows to
Colombia were generated by the United States, the United
Kingdom, Spain and Chile.
Source: Central Bank of Colombia – Balance of Payments
2012-2013, variation: + 8.0%.
*Share of the total number of countries with positive cumulative
investment includes profit reinvestment and investments in the
petroleum sector.
Note: The list of the main countries that invest in Colombia excludes
Panama, Anguilla and Bermuda.
Average
1994-2002
2011 2012Average
2003-2010
2,504
15,119
6,967
FDI, 1994-2013 US $MILLIONS
14,648
2013
8%
Variation
16,354
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Venezuela
1.1% / 4.14
Colombia
4.5% / 16.70
Brazil
2.7% / 58.75
Peru
6.3% / 13.19
Chile
7.6% / 21.40
Ecuador
0.6% / 0.59
Argentina
1.9% / 9.17
Flow received from FDI/PIB (%)
Direct investment received US $billions
Source: Banco de la República - Balance of Payments.
56
IN 2013, COLOMBIA
HAD THE THIRD
GREATEST
FLOW OF FDI IN
THE REGION AS A
PERCENTAGE OF GDP
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FDI FLOW - PRIMARY NONMINING
SECTORS SHARE % - 2013
Source: Balance of payments, Central Bank of Colombia. ProColombia calculations.
*Does not include FDI flows in the oil and mining sector.
Total FDI 2013:
US $16,355 billion
Total IED 2013:
US $8,469 billion*.
THE OIL SECTOR ACCOUNTED FOR 29.3% OF FDI IN COLOMBIA WITH 4,909
BILLION, FOLLOWED BY MINES AND QUARRIES WITH 17.4% (US $2,916
BILLION) AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES WITH 15.9% (US $2,658
BILLION), AMONG OTHERS.
AMONG NONMINING SECTORS, MANUFACTURING, TRANSPORT, STORAGE
AND COMMUNICATIONS, AND FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS SERVICES,
REPRESENT MORE THAN 50% OF THE FDI FLOWS IN COLOMBIA IN 2013.
In 2013, sectors other than petroleum and mining represented
51.8% of FDI in Colombia with US $8,469 billion.
Furthermore, the petroleum and mining sectors accounted for
48.2% of FDI in Colombia.
FDI FLOW - PRIMARY SECTORS
SHARE % - 2013
Electricity,Gas,
and Water
4.7%
Transport,
Storage, and
Communications
17.4%
Other
11.9%
Commerce,
Restaurants, and
Hotels 16.6%
Finance and
Business
Services 19.0%
Manufactures
30.5%
Electricity, Gas,
and Water 2.4%
Manufactures
15,8%
Commerce,
Restaurants,
and Hotels
8.6%
Finance and
Business
Services 9.8%
Other
6.1%
Oil Sector
30.0%Transport,
Storage, and
Communications
9.0%
Mines and
Quarries
(Includes Coal)
18.2%
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58. INVESTORS HAVE
FALLEN IN LOVE WITH
COLOMBIA
A recent article from an American publication highlighted
foreigners’ optimism caused by the country’s economic stability
and legal certainty.
Nicole Hong, author of the article ‘Investors Can’t Get Enough
of Colombia,’ stated that “the country shows a positive growth
and very low inflation compared to other emerging markets
that failed to achieve such well-balanced growths. Colombia’s
outlook is promising, which obviously makes it attractive to
foreign capital.”
Wall Street Journal, March 12, 2014.
THE WORLD
TALKS ABOUT
COLOMBIA
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One of the news media with the most history and tradition
in Japan pointed out that due to its resistance to external
upheaval,
Colombia’s economy stands out in the region because of its
stability, legal certainty, growth potential, abundant resources
and investment opportunities.
El País Internacional, February 19, 2014.
The Financial Times, the United Kingdom’s most influential
news media, in its special report on “The New Colombia
2013”, emphasized that whereas other emerging-market
economies have downturns, Colombia continues giving signs
of growth.
The special section includes articles such as “Colombia:
A Country Rediscovered” and “The Peacemaker,” which
emphasizes the factors that have allowed the country to
improve its image internationally.
The New Colombia – Financial Times, June 4, 2013.
FINANCIAL TIMES
INTERNACIONAL
JAPAN’S WEEKLY ECONOMIST PLACED COLOMBIA
AT “THE HEAD OF ITS CLASS IN SOUTH AMERICA”
That’s how Ruchir Sharma, head of the investment bank at
Morgan Stanley’s Emerging Markets Department describes
Colombia when asked which Latin American country had the
best outlook, in an interview with the Spanish newspaper “El
Pais.” Sharma stated that “Colombia is the country with the
brightest future. It’s the most promising in Latin America,” and
he includes it in his list of nations comprising the “region’s new
gold coast.”
El País Internacional, February 19, 2014.
“THE MOST PROMISING NATION IN LATIN AMERICA”
THE NEW COLOMBIA
THE NEW COLOMBIA
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-- In 2012, Colombia became one of the 15
countries with the greatest increase in its oil
production (+35%), surpassing the growth of
powers such as China and the United Arab
Emirates (BP 2013).
-- In 2013, the Colombian oil sector received a
total foreign investment of USD 4,909 billion
(29.3% of the total DFI of the country), (Banco
de la República, 2014).
-- Upstream services (exploration and
production).
-- The country’s oil production has increased by
86.1% in the last 10 years (1,006 kbpd in
2013), (ACP 2014).
-- Midstream-Downstream Services (Transport,
storage and refining).
-- The country’s oil network is 5,325 km long,
with a transport capacity of 1,268 kbpd,
Reasons to invest
OIL GOODS
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
Huila
Putumayo
Meta
Bolivar
Cundinamarca
Santander
Casanare
Arauca
-- Colombia became the fourth largest oil
producer in Latin America, surpassing
Argentina, Ecuador, and Peru (BP 2013).
-- Colombia hosts 5 of the principal players
of the global Oil G&S sector (Schlumberger
Limited, Halliburton Latin America,
Baker Hughes, Wheatherford and Smith
International S.A.), who represent more than
30% of the global market in the sector.
Opportunities have been identified in:
the poliducts extend to 3,106 km with a
transport capacity of refined products of
336,000 kbpd (Cenit 2014).
-- The initiatives are aimed at increasing the
capacity of national oil pipelines by between
30% and 35%, with 380,000 additional
daily barrels. With the construction of
Bicentenario and the extensions of Ocensa,
ODC, and other pipelines, the system
expects to reach an average of 1.15 million
barrels transported per day for 2014 or 2015.
AND SERVICES
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• Voice BPO: telemarketing, collections, sales, customer service.
• Back office: financial and accounting services outsourcing, human resources, centres for
shared services, logistics services, 2nd level help desk.
• KPO: engineering services outsourcing, telemedicine, R+D+i, graphic design, business analytics.
-- The BPO industry makes up 62.4% of total
revenues for the entire outsourcing sector
in Colombia, reaching operating revenues of
US $3,272 billion and exports in the amount
of US $738 million. (Description of the BPO,
KPO, ITO, PTP - IDC sector, 2013)
-- The chief destinations for BPO services exports
are the United States, Spain and Chile, which as
a group account for 80% of the total exports by
this sector. (Description of the BPO, KPO, ITO,
PTP - IDC sector, 2013)
-- Colombia was included in the “Top 30
Destination Countries for Offshore Services”
report for the third consecutive year. This
report highlights the country’s strengths
as a location for call center operations and
transactional BPO work, the Government’s
proactive support of the IT sector and
competitive costs. (Gartner, 2013)
-- This Colombian sector is moving forward
to encompass activities that go beyond
customer care in Spanish, such as: billing,
human talent management, logistics and
information analysis. (Description of the
BPO, KPO, ITO, PTP - IDC sector, 2013)
-- As a result of the business sector’s potential
need for human talent certified in English
as a second language, the Ispeak program
was created by the Government. This
program certifies English proficiency levels
of Colombian citizens by using internationally
endorsed tests with an existing base of
more than 54,000 certified individuals up to
January 2013. (Ispeak.gov)
Antioquia
Caldas
Risaralda
Valle del Cauca
Cundinamarca
Santander
Atlantico
BPO
PRODUCTIVE
TRANSFORMATION
PROGRAM
Reasons to invest
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
Opportunities have been identified in:
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-- A strong presence of small and medium enterprises
in expansion and consolidation stages offering
opportunities for investment strategies for equity
funds management companies.
-- Sectors such as infrastructure, real estate, oil and
gas, micro-financing, energy, IT, tourism, health,
forestry, and agro-industry offer investment
opportunities. (Bancoldex)
-- There is an excellent opportunity to obtain local
capital resources from institutional investors such
as pension fund administrators and insurance
companies, which have had positive results in
recent years.
-- The presence of important international managers
supports the consolidation of the equity funds
industry in Colombia, with 40 million closed ended
funds with a committed capital which exceeds USD
4,300 billion. (Bancoldex)
-- Macroeconomic stability and favourable
long term economic performance. In 2012,
Colombia’s GNP grew by 4%, in 2013 it grew by
4.3%. Growth in the previous year was greater
than that experienced by the entire Latin
American region and the Caribbean (2.7%).
(DANE, Departamento Administrativo Nacional
de Estadistica [National Administrative Statistics
Department] and IMF)
-- In 2013, Colombia ranked 4th among 12 Latin
American and Caribbean countries because of
its favourable conditions for the development of
the private equity funds industry. (LAVCA)
-- Colombia has a growing middle class population
and the percentage of the adult population
with access to financial products is 71.5%.
(Fedesarrollo and Superbancaria)
-- The equity funds sector has government
support through the Bancoldex Capital
programme created to promote the industry in
Colombia and through the Colombian Equity
PRIVATE
Funds Association COLCAPITAL that seeks to
strengthen and promote the development of
the sector in the country.
-- One of Colombia’s strengths is its attractive
regulatory framework for the creation and
administration of private equity funds. (LAVCA)
-- The integration of the stock markets of
Colombia, Chile, and Peru has made them an
excellent exit strategy for private equity funds,
with greater diversification options for investors
and access to capital markets.
-- Colombia has made progress in the
implementation of reforms to improve the
business environment and currently, it is
ranked 43rd out of 189 economies. (Doing
Business 2014)
-- The country is also internationally recognised for
protecting investors, being ranked 6th in the world
and 1st in Latin America. (Doing Business 2014)
EQUITY FUNDS
Reasons to invest
Opportunities have been identified in:
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RAILWAYS
• Central Railway System: 1,045 km. Project currently being structured to initiate a public
tender process.
• El Carare Train Concession: 460 km, construction of second line on the Atlantic Railway
Network (45 km La Loma - Cienaga).
• The National Government plans to increase investment to US $10 billion in 2014 and US $30 billion in
2021.
• Colombia is the country with the third largest infrastructure needs in Latin America. It has 250 km of
paved road network per million inhabitants while countries like Chile have 1,000 km.
• According to BP, Colombia was the sixth biggest world coal producer in 2012, with an international
export
handling requirement of 110 million tons per year.
• Project to improve navigability and cargo transport
along Magdalena River.
• Orinoco Corridor: Meta – Orinoco – Atlantico.
• Amazon Corridor: Putumayo – Amazon – Atlantico.
• Construction of 1 new port in Dibulla (Guajira) and
2 new ports between Cienaga and Santa Marta.
• Expansion of new container ports in Cartagena and
increased oil export capacity via the Ecopetrol port in
Coveñas.
• Deepening of the Buenaventura access channel is
currently underway and will shortly be followed by
a deepening of the Cartagena access channel.
• The Ministry of Transport has been implementing a program called Roads for Prosperity, to improve 50,000
km of the tertiary road network over a four-year period.
• The Colombian Government plans to have 5,200 km of dual carriageway in place by 2021.
RIVER AND PORT PROJECTS
AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
• In 2014, passenger numbers will increase from 23.4 to
30 million.
• In 2014, works will be completed at the El Dorado
terminal and a new control tower will be built.
• By mid-2013, new airports will be built in Cartago,
Armenia, Neiva, and Popayan and the license to operate
the Ernesto Cortissoz Airport in Barranquilla will be re-
awarded.
• Civil works at Cali Airport and structuring of the new
airport in Ipiales.
OPPORTUNITIES
ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE
Source: National Infrastructure Agency, ANI.
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65. AIRPORTS
Ruta del Sol (sector 1, 2 and 3)
Coffee Triangle airports
Americas-sector 1
Autopista de la Prosperidad
Buenaventura-Bogota-Cucuta corridor
PORTS
RAILWAYS
Ports
Central Railway System
Atlantic Railway Network
Highland Railways
El Carare Rail Project
Pacific Railway Network Fuente Mapa: ANI.
Source: ANI.
MOTORWAYS FOR
COMPETITIVENESS
Airports under license
Northeast airports
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HOTEL AND TOURISM
INFRASTRUCTURE
-- The growth in the arrival of foreign visitors
to Colombia is above the global average.
International traveller arrivals to Colombia
grew from 600 thousand in the year 2000
to more than 1.8 million in 2013. (Colombian
Migration, 2014)
-- There are tax incentives such as income
tax exemptions for a period of 30 years in
hotel infrastructure, income tax exemptions
for a period of 20 years: Exempted income
provided by ecotourism services for a term of
20 years starting in the 2003 tax year and tax
and customs incentives for capital goods for
tourisms exports. (Plan Vallejo)
-- In 2013, the employed personnel increased
by 0.6% from the previous year, while the
percentage of hotel occupancy reached
52.5%. (DANE, Departamento Administrativo
Nacional de Estadistica [National
Administrative Statistics Department], 2014)
-- Real hotel revenues have grown on average by
4.7% in the last four years. (DANE, 2014)
-- Colombia has around 800 international airline
connections that link 20 destinations around
the world.
-- Colombia jumped 21 places (from 50th place
to 29th place) in the ranking of international
events produced by the ICCA (International
Congress and Convention Association)
between 2006 and 2012.
-- Tourism is the third ranked sector in producing
foreign currency for Colombia, after oil and
coal, and is ahead of traditional sectors such as
coffee, flowers, and bananas.
-- Important international hotel chains are
present in the country such as Accor, Hilton,
IHG, Wyndham, Meliá, Marriott, City Express,
Pestana and Starwood, among others.
Wellness Tourism:
Development of centres for thalassotherapy,
infrastructure for hot springs and spas - wellness
centres.
Nature:
Investment in “eco-luxury” hotels, ecogambling,
ecolodges and ancillary sustainable infrastructure
complementing nature tourism (nature trails,
observation towers, bridges, environmental
management infrastructure, etc.).
Opportunities have been identified in:
Sun and Beaches:
Development of luxury hotels, “luxury included”
resorts, and golf resorts.
Urban Hotels:
Construction of hotels with full, limited and select
services and for long-term stays in the secondary
cities of the country, where the market does not yet
cater for the demand for hotels.
Entertainment:
Construction of theme parks, show and event
venues (concerts).
Reasons to invest
San Andres
Bolivar
Antioquia
Choco
Cordoba
Santander
Boyaca
Guajira
Magdalena
Vichada
Valle del Cauca
Bogota
Amazonas
Atlantico
Coffee Cultural
Landscape
Altillanura
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
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Sources:
• National Planning Department.
• Conpes-National, Logistic Politic (2008).
• Port Supervision Authority.
• Ministry of Transport.
• Regional Port Authorities.
• Invias.
• International cargo market of 120
million tons (seaports only).
• Local cargo market of 160 million tons,
and an air cargo market of 680,000
tons.
• 75% of the world’s largest distribution
companies have access to the service ports
handling Colombian imports and exports.
• Over 80% of foreign trade, in volume
and value, is concentrated in 5 cities
and their service areas, but the country
has one of the longest average distances
• The privileged position of Colombia,
with coastlines facing the Pacific Ocean
and the Atlantic Ocean and as a gateway
to South America, enables it to have
connections with the world’s main ports
and production and distribution centers.
• Creation of logistics platforms
(transshipment platforms).
• Creation of dry ports.
• Creation of an infrastructure that will
allow for multimodal transport.
• Improvement of cold chain (division of
cold, dry, and frozen foods increase in
capacity of sorticontainers).
• Introduction of information systems to
enable real time monitoring of loading
and unloading of goods (at certain ports).
• Thanks to its trade treaties, Colombia
has preferential access to 1,500 million
consumers.
• Low freight charges compared with other
countries in the region for general transport
of goods to markets in North America, South
America, and Central America.
• Approximately1,000cargoflightfrequencies.
• Third most important market in Latin
America.
between centers of production and
consumption.
• Coal and fuel account for 75% of the
country’s volume of foreign trade.
Excluding these, 81% of the value of trade
is handled in containers, the rest in dry
bulk.
• 47% of cargo handled in the 4 main
port cities (Buenaventura, Santa
Marta, Cartagena, and Barranquilla)
consists of containers, the main port
being Cartagena. 22% is coal, mostly
handled by Santa Marta, and 20% is
solid bulk.
GENERAL INFORMATION
OPPORTUNITIES
BENEFITS
LOGISTICS
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68. TYPES OF LOGISTICS PLATFORMS
Urban distribution and cargo
consolidation logistics areas
Support at border logistics areas
Regional cargo consolidation logistics
areas
Port Logistic Actitivity Zones (LAZ)
Riohacha
Maicao
Valledupar
Sta. Marta
Barranquilla
Cartagena
Monteria
Turbo
BarrancabermejaMedellin
Manizales
Pereira
Armenia
Ibague
Buga
Neiva
Cali
Tumaco
Pasto
Ipiales
Popayan
Buenaventura
Sincelejo
Cucuta
Bucaramanga
Pto. Berrio
Tunja
Bogota, D.C.
Dry ports
Multimodal
platforms Source: CONPES.
Air cargo
centers
LOGISTICS
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Opportunities have been identified in:
SOFTWARE AND IT SERVICES
¯¯ In 2013, IT sales reached US $6,959 billion,
showing a growth of more than 22% during
the last three years (IDC, 2013).
¯¯ IT services account for 32% of the total
sales in the sector, reaching US $2,232
billion and concentrating on outsourcing
and development and support services (IDC,
2013).
¯¯ It is expected that IT service sales in
Colombia will double in the next 5 years
(IDC, 2013).
¯¯ Companies are demanding basic solutions
Reasons to invest
such as the management of corporate risk
and management systems for the supply
chain (BMI, 2013).
¯¯ Fedesoft expects to train 1,000 software
developers and provide 4,300 grants to
Colombian students in this sector (BMI,
2013).
¯¯ The industries that most require
Software and IT services are the
telecommunications sector, the financial
sector, the Government, the consumer
goods sector, the manufacturing sector
and SMEs (BMI, 2013).
¯¯ IT services: Development of phone and web applications, and the development of 3D, big data,
and cloud computing platforms.
¯¯ Software: Development of software for management of documents, developments in Java and
Oracle, and testing software.
Antioquia
Valle del Cauca
Cauca
Cundinamarca
Risaralda
Atlantico
Santander
PRODUCTIVE
TRANSFORMATION
PROGRAM
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
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Reasons to invest
Colombia is the fourth largest producer of
vehicles in Latin America, employing 2.6%
(24,783 direct employees) of the personnel
involved in the manufacturing industry. In
addition, the sector represents 4% of the
industrial GDP.
The Colombian automotive sector
comprises four assembling companies:
Renault Sofasa, GM Colmotores, Mazda-
CCA and Toyota-Hino.
During 2012, the number of vehicles
assembled in Colombia was approximately
150 thousand units, a number slightly less
than that obtained in 2011, which was
AUTOMOTIVE
154 thousand units. However, the
production of the assembly plants
during these two years is the largest
in the history of the Colombian
automotive sector.
The apparent domestic consumption
of vehicles has stayed above 300
thousand annual units. Vehicle sales
reached a historic high in 2011.
During 2012 and 2013, sales were
close to 300 thousand units. It is
expected that sales in 2014 will be of
302 thousand units and 314 thousand
units in 2015.
Opportunities have been identified in:
The assembly of low cost passenger vehicles.
The assembly of buses.
The manufacture of car parts for interior trim, electric components, and other engine
parts.
Risaralda
Cundinamarca
Valle del Cauca
Atlantico
Antioquia
PRODUCTIVE
TRANSFORMATION
PROGRAMME
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
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Reasons to invest
Opportunities have been identified in:
PRODUCTIVE
TRANSFORMATION
PROGRAME
-- The construction of production centres to
supply the growing internal market with the
facilities to obtain raw materials, qualified
labour and suppliers of packaging.
-- Establishment of centres for research,
development, and innovation that make use of
-- Sales in the sector grew at a rate of 6.9% between
2000 and 2013, and it is expected by 2018 the
sector will reach a growth of 7.4% in comparison
to 2013 (Euromonitor International, 2014).
-- Availability of qualified labour for research and
production with more than 130,000 professionals
and technicians available for the cosmetics and
toiletries sector (Observatorio Laboral, 2013).
-- Existence of more than 300 packaging companies
for cosmetics (BPR Benchmark, 2013).
-- Between 2010 and 2013, exports of cosmetics
and toiletries increased by 10% CAGR and seven
times since 2000. There is a high probability of
maintaining this trend thanks to existing trade
agreements and those to be entered into in the
future (DANE, 2014).
-- A greater participation in foreign sales is generated
by the cosmetics segment since several companies
located in Colombia supply regional markets, as well
as important distribution centres for Latin America.
(Andi, Asociación de Empresarios de Colombia
[Colombian Businessmen’s Association]), (Cosmetics
and Toiletries Industry Chamber).
-- Colombia has a female market which is growing
in importance due to the growing participation
of women in the workplace. 42% of the labour
market is composed of women. The number of
female managers is greater than that of Latin
American countries and some industrialized
countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom,
Germany, Japan, and France.
-- The consumption of cosmetic articles and toiletries
in Colombia by men and adolescents is growing.
It is expected that by 2015, the male market
will account for 25% of the total, and in 2016,
the adolescent market will reach 10% (Dinero
magazine, 2012).
-- Incentives associated with Research and
Development such as the income tax deduction
equivalent to 175% of the value invested in R+D
and the exemption from VAT for the importation
of equipment and elements intended for R+D
centres. In addition, the revenues received by
companies to finance scientific, technological, or
innovation projects are not considered income.
COSMETICS
the tax incentives provided for R+D+i projects.
-- Establishment of centres for logistical distribution
to the rest of the Americas that make use of the
country’s strategic location and its 13 free trade
agreements.
Antioquia
Magdalena
Valle del Cauca
Cundinamarca and Bogota
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
AND TOILETRIES
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-- The production of paints and varnishes. Paint
production in Colombia has grown since 2009
by an average rate of 17.1%, reaching an annual
production of more than US $300 million. Sales
have demonstrated this same tendency, keeping
inventories at minimum levels.
-- The production of cement and lime and plaster
products. In the last three years, the operational
revenues of cement producers have grown on
average by 25%, while production has grown
-- The demand for materials has grown by an
average of 5.8% in the last five years, propelled
principally by building construction which accounts
for approximately 42% of the production, and civil
construction works which account for 32%. In
2011, internal demand reached US $10 billion.
-- The Colombia construction industry is the third
largest in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico
(US $109 billion between 2008 and 2012). The
industry is expected to double its size by 2020
going from US $28 billion to US $52 billion (a
growth of 8.5% CAGR).
-- The sector with the most growth during 2013.
With an increase of 9.8% the construction industry
occupied the top place among the sectors that
grew the most domestically.
-- Investment in infrastructure will reach 3% of
GDP in 2014 (US $10 billion). Of which US $3
billion will be invested in public works and US $7
billion through concessions. This investment is
allocated to the construction of new roads, the
improvement of the existing road network, the
improvement of airports, ports, and development
of railways (National Infrastructure Agency, 2013).
-- The construction of buildings grew by 11.1%
on average during the last five years, housing
being the sector with the most dynamism. The
latter has been targeted by government policies
that aim to build 1 million dwellings up to 2014,
increase household income and reduce interest
rates for mortgage loans.
Opportunities have been identified in:
Reasons to invest
CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS
close to 7%. A determining factor for the increase
in revenue is the increase in the price of cement
in the country (US $250 per ton). In addition,
the construction fabric of buildings has evolved
towards the use of prefabricated elements, which
has generated significant growth in the demand
for plaster and concrete panels.
-- The production of nonfired clay and
ceramic products, for structural use, such
as earthenware or porcelain toilets, kitchen
utensils, sinks and insulators.
Tolima
Cundinamarca
Valle del Cauca
Atlantico
Boyaca
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
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-- Steel and flat steel products and structural metal products.
-- Industrial machinery. In particular, machinery for agriculture, mining, construction and
machinery for the transmission of energy.
-- Electronic components such as electrical equipment and communication and energy cables.
Opportunities have been identified in
-- Metalworking industry production represents
12% of the country’s industrial production.
-- Close to 59% of the steel consumed in
Colombia is produced within the country. The
production of long steel accounts for 74.8%
of total steel production, equal to 1.3 million
annual tons. The production of flat steels
accounts for the remaining 25.2%, in other
words, 435,000 tons.
Reasons to invest
-- The metalworking industrial chain occupies
the second place among the principal sectors
which import raw materials. Approximately
15% of imports of raw materials in Colombia
during 2013, related to imports for the
metalworking industry.
-- Colombia has 9,752 companies in the
industry, of which 1,702 (17.4% of the total)
are part of the metalworking chain.
METALWORKING
DEPARTMENTS WITH POTENTIAL
Tolima
Cundinamarca
Valle del Cauca
Bolivar
Caldas
Risaralda
Tolima
Boyaca
Magdalena
Atlantico
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
INDUSTRY
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Opportunities have been identified in:
Reasons to invest
FASHION SYSTEM
-- Establishment of production units for textiles to supply the growing dressmaking industry.
-- Establishment of logistical distribution centres to Latin America and the Caribbean benefit from the
strategic location of the country and Colombia’s 13 free trade agreements.
-- A priority sector for the country driven by
the Productive Transformation Programme,
a public private partnership which promotes
the consolidation of the Colombian Clothing
industry into a World Class sector.
-- Throughout the last decade, the market of the
Colombian clothing industry has reached a
compound annual rate of 4.2% with a market
value of US $8,690 up to 2014, consolidating
itself as the third leading country in the region
after Argentina and Brazil. (Euromonitor
International, 2014)
-- A growing industry with an increasing demand
for textiles, imports in this category increased
at rate of more than 30%, in the last decade
to supply the requirements of the local market
and generate an exportable supply of finished
goods towards main trading partners such as
the United States, Mexico, and Ecuador. (DIAN,
Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales
de Colombia [Colombian Tax and Customs
Authority], 2013)
-- A dynamic internal market with a growth
between 2004 and 2014 of 4.2% in the
consumption of clothing articles, reaching
a total of more than US $82,487 million in
purchases for households in this category.
(Euromonitor International, 2014)
-- Incentives associated with research and
development such as the deduction of income
tax equal to 175% of the invested value in R+D
and exemption from VAT for the importation
of equipment and elements intended for R+D
centres. Additionally, the revenue received
by the companies to finance scientific,
technological, or innovation projects is revenue
which does.
Antioquia
Cundinamarca-Bogota
Risaralda
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
PRODUCTIVE
TRANSFORMATION
PROGRAMME
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Opportunities have been identified in:
AQUATIC
-- The country is located along the equator, a region
which is defined by a low incidence of hurricanes
and other natural phenomena which could
interfere with development along Colombian
coasts. (IGAC, insituto Geografico Agustin Codazzi
[Agustin Codazzi Geographical Institute]).
-- With 2,612 mm/year, Colombia has the highest
rate of rainfall in South America and the 10th
highest in the world, which allows it to maintain
stable fresh water supplies in reservoirs and lakes,
for its use in fish farming (FAO).
-- It has continental areas which comply with the
physical requirements needed to develop fish
farming developments for fish such as: tilapia,
cobia, trout, grouper, bocachico, and palmaro,
among others.
-- Productive partnerships for the reactivation
of disused farms and infrastructure for shrimp
cultivation on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts,
which had previously been productive and
profitable.
-- Strategic partnerships with local fish farmers
which seek to increase their production and
Bolivar
Sucre
Tolima
Huila
Nariño
Boyaca
Atlantico
Guajira-- The presence of research centres with wide
international recognition such as CENIACUA
(Centro de Investigación de la Acuicultura en
Colombia [Research Centre for Aquaculture
in Colombia]), that generate scientific and
technological knowledge for the development of
the industry through the establishment of better
practices in cultivation and production. In addition,
this centre has a genetic improvement program
that is nationally and internationally recognized.
-- Free trade treaties which are in force, agreed,
or in negotiation, with the principal centres of
international consumption.
-- Global trends indicate that for 2015, aquaculture
will overtake traditional fishing, becoming the
principal source of fish for human consumption
(Agricultural Outlook, 2013-2022, FAO-OECD).
Reasons to invest
Cauca
Valle del Cauca
Choco
Cordoba
Magdalena
PRODUCTIVE
TRANSFORMATION
PROGRAMME
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
realization of investments to improve the
returns of the fish farms.
-- Greenfield investment or Joint Ventures
for extensions and/or establishment of
processing plants aimed at covering domestic
demand and generating export surpluses for
fresh, as well as processed production.
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-- Colombia has a mandatory policy of mixing
biofuels, which depends directly on the
production of the domestic market. As a
result, when the amount of available biofuels
increases, the National Government has the
power to increase the levels of the mix, and
therefore, its domestic consumption will tend
to increase.
-- The existence of a pricing policy, where the
Government, through the Ministry of Mines and
Energy, establishes on a monthly basis, a price
to be paid to ethanol and biodiesel producers.
-- Sugarcane ethanol and palm oil biodiesel
produced in Colombia have been proven
to comply with and surpass the standards
required by the markets of the United States
and the European Union (EMPA-Life cycle
-- The construction of bio-refineries, biomass
transformation plants and the development
of transesterification centres which transform
palm oil into biodiesel. Colombia is in the
position to achieve an annual production of
close to one million tons (MinAgricultura,
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development).
-- Strategic partnerships with current biodiesel
producers, aiming to improve the current
production of 386,953 litres per day (the highest
in the country). (Fedebiocombustibles, Federación
Nacional de Biocombustibles de Colombia
[Colombian National Biofuels Federation], 2013).
-- There are projects which are currently in
development that need a strategic partner to
enter into the production stage. In addition,
there are new projects to develop which
need capital investors to commence their
production stage.
-- Greenfield investment in research projects for
the development of second generation biofuels
led by local partners with experience in the
sector. These types of biofuels will be the
future of the industry thanks to the potential
and benefits linked to their production and
consumption.
BIOFUELS
Meta
Bolivar
Valle del Cauca
Cesar
Santander
Casanare
Magdalena
Analysis of Biofuels).
-- Once local demand is satisfied, surplus
production can be earmarked for international
markets by making use of the benefits of
access to those markets provided by existing
free trade agreements.
-- Ethanol produced in Colombia reduces the
emission of greenhouse gases by 74% and
biodiesel achieves reductions of 83%.
-- Easy access to a network of R+D+i centres
to provide support to the industry, The
Centre for Research and Technological
Innovation for Palm Oil (CENIPALMA, Centro
de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica en
Palma de Aceite and CENICAÑA, Centro de
Investigación de Caña de Azúcar de Colombia
[Research Centre for Colombian Sugarcane]).
Reasons to invest
Opportunities have been identified in:
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
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Reasons to invest
-- Reasons to invest in the cocoa, chocolate, and
confectionery sectors:
-- The Colombian cocoa bean is well-known in
international markets for its unique taste and
outstanding aroma, and has received awards
from the International Cocoa Organization
(ICCO), because of these characteristics that
only 5% of global beans possess.
-- The country has edaphic, topographic, and
climactic conditions which are suitable for the
production of cocoa (MinAgricultura, Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development).
-- The cocoa, chocolate and confectionery sector
are part of the Programme for Productive
Transformation (PTP) of the Commerce, Industry
and Tourism Ministry, which seeks to improve
the competitiveness of the sector through
public-private partnerships and business plans.
-- Colombia offers income tax exemptions for
investments in new slow-maturing plantations,
cocoa among them. This benefit covers
plantations established up to December 31st of
2014 and extends for 10 years counted from the
commencement of production.
-- The country has policies for agricultural and
livestock technological innovation by means of
research and innovation agendas by productive
chain, headed by CORPOICA (a joint venture
which provides knowledge and solutions to the
agricultural and livestock sector, with 7 research
centres, 8 testing centres and 270 researchers).
(2010-2014, National Development Plan).
-- Strategic partnerships with local partners for
the construction of plants which allow the
transformation of cocoa into products such
as cocoa butter and cacao liquor. Colombia
can supply an annual production of close to
100,000 tons of cocoa (MinAgricultura, Ministry
of Agriculture and Rural Development).
-- Investment in development aimed at
increasing the average productivity of 400
kg/ha/year to 1,200 kg/ha/year and reaching
productivities of 1,800 kg/ha/year in modern
plantations (Ten Year Cocoa Plan, 2012-
2021).
-- Productive partnerships with local cocoa
producers to connect to small producers
that own lands in the joint development of
medium and long-term projects where there
is a commitment to supply raw materials.
COCOA, CHOCOLATE
AND CONFECTIONERY
Huila
Tolima
Meta
Bolivar
Antioquia
Nariño
Norte de Santander
Santander
Casanare
Arauca
-- Act 939 of 2004, Article 1. In any case, companies are subject to CREE (2013-2015 9% and 8% from 2016).
-- Act 939 of 2004, 2nd Article.
Opportunities have been identified in:
PRODUCTIVE
TRANSFORMATION
PROGRAMME
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
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-- With the fourth largest production of beef in
Latin America, a per capita beef consumption
which is on the increase (2% CAGR in the
last 6 years) and a significant contribution
to international markets in beef products,
Colombia has positioned itself as an attractive
direct foreign investment destination for the
beef sector.
-- Since 2009, the World Organization for Animal
Health, OIE, provided the certification which
completes the Colombian map as a country free
from foot and mouth disease with vaccination.
-- 99% of cattle in Colombia is 100% pasture fed.
Important advances have been made in the last
-- Joint ventures with local partners or
Greenfield projects in the improvement of the
refrigeration chain from the freezers up to the
distribution chains and final destinations.
-- Greenfield investment or joint ventures with
local partners for the manufacture of products
deriving from the cattle industry, such as,
BEEF
three decades in cattle and pig genetics, which
is an important factor in the quality of the meat.
-- Colombia offers incentives to promote
investment in meat sector projects, significant
among which are the duty-free zones (multi-
user and individual) and the Vallejo Plan.
-- Aiming to make the best use of international
trade and existing trade agreements, Colombian
companies are currently authorized to access
countries such as Venezuela, Peru, Russia,
Egypt, Curacao, among others.
-- Sanitary protocols are being produced to be
able to allow beef products to have access to
markets such as the Chinese and South Korean.
fertilizer, leather, among others.
-- Installation of freezers near production centres
to obtain access and high-quality standards in
international markets.
-- Processed foods: Joint ventures with local
partners or Greenfield projects in the
processed meats industry.
Santander
Meta
Cordoba
Antioquia
Caldas
Sucre
Atlantico
Reasons to invest
Opportunities have been identified in:
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
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HORTICULTURE
-- With more than 600,000 hectares and 8.5
million tons of fruit production, Colombia is
the third country of Latin America with the
largest farmed area with fruit trees and has
the fourth highest production in the region
(FAO).
-- Colombia is one of the countries with the
greatest availability of soils and variety of
climates in the world for the cultivation of
fruits and vegetables. Due to its nature as a
tropical country located along the equator,
the entire country benefits from increased
daylight, allowing harvesting throughout the
entire year.
-- Colombia has a variety of ecosystems where
more than 95 types of fruit trees are grown,
among which are native species, as well as
others brought from areas along the equator
in other continents.
-- The construction of plants for processed
food such as pulps, jams, sauces and other
products derived from fruits and vegetables in
order to commercialize the production in the
internal market and explore export markets.
-- Assembly of plants with Individually Quick
Frozen (IQF) product lines with the aim of
exploiting the access of this kind of products
into countries with whom there are trade
agreements and into other countries.
-- Installation of hydro-thermal treatment plants
to facilitate sanitary access to fruits such as
papaya, pitahaya and mango, among others.
Opportunities have been identified in:
Reasons to invest
-- Colombia has two of the most prestigious
research centres, the International Centre for
Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and the Colombian
Corporation for Farming and Livestock
Investigation, CORPOICA.
-- Colombian fruits and vegetables, as compared
to those of other subtropical countries, in both
northern and southern hemispheres, are of
higher quality from an organoleptic point of view,
in particular regarding their colour, taste, aroma,
and greater content of soluble solids and Brix
values.
-- Five fruits and two vegetables are part of the
Productive Transformation Programme (PTP,
Programa de Transformación Productiva)
of the Commerce, Industry and Tourism
Ministry (MinCIT), which seeks to improve the
competitiveness of the sector through public-
private partnerships and business plans.
-- Installation of Colombian industrial and fruit
collection centres for their correct selection,
preparation, and exportation. The existence
of ports on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts
provides easy access to international markets
in order to benefit from the 13 free trade
agreements (MinCIT, 2014).
-- Strategic partnerships with local horticultural
owners and producers in order to exploit more
than seven million hectares with fruit growing
potential found within the country (Asohofrucol,
Asociación Hortifruticola de Colombia
[Colombian Horticultural and Fruit Association]).
Bolivar
Antioquia
Caldas
Santander
Norte de Santander
Casanare
Boyaca
Valle del Cauca
Huila
Atlantico
Cundinamarca
Quindio
Tolima
Meta
PRODUCTIVE
TRANSFORMATION
PROGRAMME
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
79
InvestinCOLOMBIA
80. 80
PROCOLOMBIA.CO
DAIRY
-- Colombia is the fourth largest milk producer
in Latin America with an approximate value
of 6,398 billion litres per year, surpassed only
by Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina (Fedegán,
2012).
-- The quality of the milk produced in Colombia
contains percentages of protein and fat that are
greater than those of important global producers
such as New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland,
Canada and the United States (Fedegán, 2012).
-- For the production of dairy products such
-- Greenfield investment or joint ventures
with dairy cooperatives in Colombia, for the
construction of cooling, pasteurizing and
milk powder producing plants, which allow
local producers to suitably conserve the raw
material and in this way replace the large
dairy industries.
-- Partnerships with local partners for the
production of dairy derived products such as
powdered milk, cheese and yogurt. Colombia
possesses departments that are able to supply
3.1 million annual litres of milk for the dairy
Antioquia
Cesar
Caqueta
Nariño
Boyaca
Cundinamarca
as yogurt, flavoured milk and other types
of dairy products, Colombia offers a large
variety of frozen processed fruits (IQF).
Fruits such as pineapples, mangos, papayas,
strawberries, melons, gooseberries and
bananas stand out among the processed
fruits produced by Colombia.
-- Colombia offers various incentives which can
benefit the transformation of dairy products
in Colombia: (i) duty-free zone regime,
which includes a special regime for dairy
products, (ii) incentives for formalization of
businesses, (iii) incentives for job creation.
industry located in this region (National
Dairy Council - National and Departmental
Collection of Raw Milk, 2013).
-- Greenfield investment in the development
of certified enterprises such as organic and
environmentally friendly products, since these
have a growing importance in the Colombian
market, as well as globally.
-- Productive partnerships with local producers
to improve the quality of products and
guarantee access to international markets.
PRODUCTIVE
TRANSFORMATION
PROGRAMME
Reasons to invest
Opportunities have been identified in:
POTENTIAL DEPARTMENTS
80
PROCOLOMBIA.CO
82. 82
PROCOLOMBIA.CO
PROCOLOMBIA is the organization in charge of promoting
Colombia as an international tourist destination, attracting
direct foreign investment and fostering nontraditional
exports.
Through our national and international office network, we
provide support and comprehensive assistance to national
entrepreneurs, through offering services with the aim of
facilitating the design and execution of its internationalization
strategy, seeking the generation and tracking of business
opportunities.
We foster international business through the identification of
market opportunities, the design of penetration strategies,
the internationalization of companies, assistance in the design
of action plans, contact between entrepreneurs in sales
promotion, investment and international tourism activities;
the specialized services offered to foreign entrepreneurs who
are interested in acquiring Colombian goods and services
or investing in Colombia, and the creation of alliances
with private and public, national and international entities,
enabling us to broaden the availability of resources in order
to support the various corporate initiatives promoted by the
organization for the development and improvement of its
service portfolio.
Our network of sales promotion offices helps us to provide
a wide array of services, both for Colombian exporters,
international buyers and foreign investors.
PROCOLOMBIA
SERVICES
82
PROCOLOMBIA.CO
83. 83
InvestinCOLOMBIA
Specialized
websites.
International
seminars
and events.
Information Accompaniment
Legal guide to do business,
free trade zones directory,
legal services directory,
news and announcements,
newsletters.
Promotional events
APRI’S
Coordination and
development of
investment agendas.
SIFAI
Encouraging
and facilitating
investment
system.
Support and
follow-up of the
stablished investors.
Media
outreach.
Preparation
of tailor-made
information.
INVESTMENT 83
InvestinCOLOMBIA
84. 84
PROCOLOMBIA.CO
THE PRESENCE OF PROCOLOMBIA COLOMBIA IN THE COUNTRY
Cartagena de Indias.
VALLE • Cali
Carrera 2ª Oeste N.º 6-08,
oficina 403
Tels.: 57 (2) 892 0291 / 94 / 96 / 97
cali@procolombia.co
CUNDINAMARCA • Bogotá
Calle 28 N.º 13A-15, pisos 35 y 36
Tel.: 57 (1) 560 01 00
bogota@procolombia.co
ANTIOQUIA• Medellín
Calle 4 Sur N.º 43A-30,
Suite 401, Formacol Building
Tel.: 57 (4) 352 5656
medellin@procolombia.co
COFFEE CULTURAL
LANDSCAPE REGION •
Pereira
Cra. 13 13-40, Suites 402 y 403 -
Uniplex Mall, Avenida
Circunvalar
Tel.: 57 (6) 335 5005
pereira@procolombia.co
• Manizales
manizales@procolombia.co
manizales@procolombia.co
ATLANTICO • Barranquilla
Calle 77B N.º 59-61,
Centro 2, Suite 306
Tel.: 57 (5) 360 4000
barranquilla@procolombia.co
BOLIVAR • Cartagena
Cartagena Convention Center
Tel.: 57 (5) 654 4320
cartagena@procolombia.co
SAN ANDRES
sanandres@procolombia.co
NORTE DE SANTANDER •
Cucuta
Calle 10 N.º 4-26, piso 4, Torre A, Edificio
Cúcuta Chamber of Commerce
Tels.: 57 (7) 571 7979 / 5835998 /
5724088
cucuta@procolombia.co
SANTANDER • Bucaramanga
Calle 31A N.º 26-15, Suite 706,
La Florida - Cañavera Malll
Tel.: 57 (7) 638 2278
bucaramanga@procolombia.co
RegionalProColombiaColombiaoffices
ProColombia Information Centers
VALLE • Cali
Carrera 2ª Oeste N.º 6-08,
oficina 403
Tels.: 57 (2) 892 0291 / 94 / 96 / 97
cali@procolombia.co
CUNDINAMARCA • Bogotá
Calle 28 N.º 13A-15, pisos 35 y 36
Tel.: 57 (1) 560 01 00
bogota@procolombia.co
ANTIOQUIA• Medellín
Calle 4 Sur N.º 43A-30,
Suite 401, Formacol Building
Tel.: 57 (4) 352 5656
medellin@procolombia.co
COFFEE CULTURAL
LANDSCAPE REGION •
Pereira
Cra. 13 13-40, Suites 402 y 403 -
Uniplex Mall, Avenida
Circunvalar
Tel.: 57 (6) 335 5005
pereira@procolombia.co
• Manizales
manizales@procolombia.co
manizales@procolombia.co
ATLANTICO • Barranquilla
Calle 77B N.º 59-61,
Centro 2, Suite 306
Tel.: 57 (5) 360 4000
barranquilla@procolombia.co
BOLIVAR • Cartagena
Cartagena Convention Center
Tel.: 57 (5) 654 4320
cartagena@procolombia.co
SAN ANDRES
sanandres@procolombia.co
NORTE DE SANTANDER •
Cucuta
Calle 10 N.º 4-26, piso 4, Torre A, Edificio
Cúcuta Chamber of Commerce
Tels.: 57 (7) 571 7979 / 5835998 /
5724088
cucuta@procolombia.co
SANTANDER • Bucaramanga
Calle 31A N.º 26-15, Suite 706,
La Florida - Cañavera Malll
Tel.: 57 (7) 638 2278
bucaramanga@procolombia.co
RegionalProColombiaColombiaoffices
ProColombia Information Centers
84
PROCOLOMBIA.CO
85. PROCOLOMBIA
DIRECTORY
Canada
Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
United States
Miami
Washington D.C.
New York
Atlanta
Texas
Los Angeles
Chicago
Mexico
Mexico City
Guatemala
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Peru
Chile
Argentina
Brazil
Venezuela
Panama
Caribbean
Puerto Rico
Trinidad and Tobago
Dominican Republic
Germany
United Kingdom
France
Portugal
Spain
Turkey
Russia
United Arab Emirates
India
China
Beijing
Shanghai
South Korea
Japan
Indonesia
Colombia
toronto@procolombia.co
montreal@procolombia.co
vancouver@procolombia.co
miami@procolombia.co
washington@procolombia.co
newyork@procolombia.co
atlanta@procolombia.co
texas@procolombia.co
losangeles@procolombia.co
chicago@procolombia.co
mexico@procolombia.co
guatemala@procolombia.co
sanjosecr@procolombia.co
quito@procolombia.co
lima@procolombia.co
santiago@procolombia.co
buenosaires@procolombia.co
saopaulo@procolombia.co
caracas@procolombia.co
panama@procolombia.co
caribbean@procolombia.co
puertorico@procolombia.co
trinidadtobago@procolombia.co
repdominicana@procolombia.co
frankfurt@procolombia.co
london@procolombia.co
paris@procolombia.co
lisboa@procolombia.co
madrid@procolombia.co
istanbul@procolombia.co
moscow@procolombia.co
abudhabi@procolombia.co
newdelhi@procolombia.co
beijing@procolombia.co
shanghai@procolombia.co
seoul@procolombia.co
tokyo@procolombia.co
jakarta@procolombia.co
info@procolombia.co
86. Montreal,
Toronto.
Vancouver
CANADA
UNITED
KINGDOM
FRANCE
SPAIN
UNITED STATES
San Francisco, Miami, Los Angeles, Washington D.C.
New York, Houston, Atlanta, Dallas. Chicago
MEXICO
Mexico City, Guadalajara.
NORTH TRIANGLE (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador)
COSTA RICA (Panama).
ECUADOR
PERU
CHILE
CARIBBEAN
Pto.Rico, Dominican Republic
Trinidad and Tobago
VENEZUELA
ARGENTINA
BRAZIL
PORTUGAL
COLOMBIA
