Four aspects to consider when investing in the Eastern Colombian Andes

06 of September of 2024

The Eastern Colombian Andes is located on one of the most fascinating mountain ranges on the planet, known as the backbone of South America. Just as fascinating are the business opportunities you will find in this region, with a modern infrastructure, and its urban centers. For this reason, here are four key points to keep in mind when you decide to invest in this incredible region.

1. It is a region with very particular conditions

Here are some of the particular conditions of this region:

The domestic market: Here you will find a consumer market with more than 10 million people, located mostly in the main cities of each department. This will help your business to position itself not only in Colombia but also in the continent.
Land borders: This region shares a border with Venezuela, one of Colombia's main trading partners and a country that acquire many Colombian goods, such as eggs, whose exports to that country reached USD 2.2 million in 2023; and dairy products, which reached USD 9.6 million during that same year.
The ability to connect itself with the world: In addition to the land routes that connect the region with other parts of Colombia and to other countries, one of the main airports in the entire continent is located here. El Dorado Airport in Bogotá received more than 230,000 flights in 2023, showing its capacity to transport passengers and goods.

These, among many other characteristics, offer great opportunities for companies and investors from different parts of the world to reach new markets in Colombia and Latin America.

2. It is a region with large cities

In the Eastern Andes, there are large cities that have a modern infrastructure designed to facilitate the arrival of new investors. Among these are Tunja, capital of Boyacá department; Cúcuta, capital of Norte de Santander department; and Bogotá, Colombia’s capital.

Tunja

Boyacá’s capital has a domestic market of more than 200,000 consumers and is an urban hub in a department that stands out for the tourist attraction of its towns and the development of agribusiness.

Cúcuta

Norte de Santander’s capital has more than 800,000 consumers. It also shares borders with Venezuela, making it a strategic location for the Colombian international market and for cultural exchange with the so-called “brother country”.

Urban centers such as these have given Colombia's domestic infrastructure greater competitive advantages, as they offer international companies the ability to reach many consumers and to connect with the region's rural areas.

Tunja

3. Bogota, 2,600 meters closer to the stars

Located in the heart of Colombia, at 2,600 meters above sea level, Bogotá has established itself as the country's capital since its birth as a republic. This has made it the core for several industries. Among the strategic sectors in which you can invest in the city are:

Knowledge Intensive Services. This includes health services, IT services, corporate services, and creative industries, among others.
Value-added manufacturing. This includes food and agricultural technology, sustainable manufacturing, and pharmaceutical devices, among others.
Smart infrastructure. This includes city projects, logistics and mobility, telecommunications, and renewable energy, among others.

This wide range of investment opportunities, coupled with the more than 10 million consumers living in this part of the country, make the Colombian capital the perfect cradle for successful businesses. Therefore, it is not surprising that one out of every four companies that are created in the country are from Bogotá.

4. The region has an important tourist value

The Eastern Andes region has important tourist attractions, captivating travelers from all over the world every year. This means that the tourism industry is well-driven in this part of the country.

All of this is thanks to numerous places that make tourists fall in love with the country of beauty. One of these is Bogotá; the city was recognized by TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best as one of the best destinations in the world to travel, positioning this place as one of the great tourist centers of the country.

In addition, this region is home to fascinating towns that reflect the country's history in every street. Examples of these are Monguí, Guaduas, Barichara, and Villa de Leyva, among many others. All of these make the region stand out in tourism both nationally and internationally.

Barichara town.

Tools for investors

In this region, and in the entire country, investors will find institutions that are a great asset for advice when arriving in the country. These include ProColombia and the Apris network, which is made up of institutions such as Invest in Bogota, offering help to investors looking to settle in the country.