Foreign Investment in Colombia from USA: a sign of confidence in the Colombian economy

04 of October of 2023

A friendship that has created economic ties

The United States and Colombia have maintained a friendly relationship for several years. As a result, the United States has distinguished itself as one of Colombia's main commercial and economic partners and, in turn, Colombia has distinguished itself as one of the main commercial partners of the United States in the region.

Proof of this is the amount of foreign direct investment that has ome to Colombia from the United States. According to the Bank of the Republic, during 2022 these investments were of US$ 4.9 billion, 187.0% more than in 2021. Besides, in the first quarter of 2023, foreign direct investment flows from the United States in Colombia were US$ 1 billion, 5.5% more than the same period in 2022.

This is part of a trend that has developed over the last few decades, since in the accumulated period from 2000 to 2022, the United States registered an accumulated foreign direct investment flow in Colombia of US$ 47.3 billion.

In addition, there are more than 500 American companies (many of them Fortune 500 companies) that have set up shop in the country in the last decade with investments that exceed US$25.7 billion. Among these are companies such as Amazon, Pfizer, IBM, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Pricesmart, Microsoft, United Health, UPS, Google, and Pepsico. These companies stand out for their outstanding investments in Colombia.

All of this has made the United States the world's largest investor in Colombia. What is a proof of the confidence that exists in Colombia by foreign investors and, mainly, those coming from this North American country.

infographic that show the greater investor confidence of the United States of America investors in Colombia.

Colombia as an investment destination

On the other hand, the progress of these investments has also been due to the number of opportunities that U.S. investors find in Colombia. The country has managed to distinguish which are the sectors in which investors can achieve a higher profitability to develop measures to facilitate investments.

Among these sectors you can find the sustainable energy transition, which is composed of solar energy, wind energy, biomass, green hydrogen, and the development of energy transmission infrastructure.

Other examples are food sovereignty and agroindustrialization, the health sector reindustrialization, and the manufacturing sector, among others. All these sectors have big projects that are searching for investors that you can find here. These have the support from both the private and the public sector and already have profitable opportunities for any businessman who is interested in exploring the growth of Colombia’s investment sectors.

Worker in a wind farm, one of the economic sectors in Colombia

You are not the only one interested in investing in Colombia

If you are considering expanding your investment plans to Colombia, you must know that you are not the first one to take that decision. The confidence of foreign investors in the country is increasing, so you can have the peace of mind of having company on this hike.

One example of this, that demonstrate the investor confidence that exists in the country and that support the strategic bets of the National Government, is the case of Klarzen (with its HQ in Tampa, Florida), it has been expanding its presence in the country, highlighting GeoPark's 10 MWp solar energy farm in Casanare. This project contributed to the generation of more than 200 jobs and the reduction of 5,915 tons of CO2.

Another example is the case of Hilton Worldwide, one of the most important hotel chains from the United States, which opened its hotel in Santa Marta under the Hilton brand, with an investment of more than US$ 40 million. Hilton currently has a portfolio of more than 200 hotels and resorts open and welcoming travelers in 28 countries across the Caribbean and Latin America, with more than 20 hotels in Colombia, including Hilton Bogota Corferias, Hilton Bogota and Hilton Cartagena.

The case of Baxter Healthcare Corporation, from the United States, is also highlighted. Through an alliance with the Colombian company BRINSA, it began a process of knowledge transfer, and for the first time in the country's history, surgical and pharmaceutical grade salts were produced.

Investor noting that Colombian economy is attractiveness for international investment.

This shows the benefits of foreign direct investment in Colombia, and that happen thanks to the friendship between the country and United States of América. Don't miss the opportunity to be part of this business opportunity and discover the Colombia’s investment landscape in the Colombia Investment Summit.