PROCOLOMBIA’s support for investment projects in Colombia

23 of May of 2018

PROCOLOMBIA supported 138 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in Colombia in 2017, a 15.9% increase on the number of investments made in 2016. These new investments represent the business of 128 investors, from 33 different countries, and show how foreign investment in Colombia is diversifying across non-mining energy sectors.

Where do Colombia's international investors come from?

PROCOLOMBIA supported investors who chose to invest in Colombia in 2017, assisting companies such as Swiss firm Amaria, Spanish firms Aena and Alonarti, and Turkish news agency Anadolu throughout the process. Other investors in Colombia came from countries as diverse as France, Canada, the UK, Ecuador, Guatemala, Ireland, Taiwan, Chile, South Korea, Belgium, El Salvador, the Netherlands and Singapore, among others.

Investors from a diverse number of markets invest in Colombia, and from varied sectors of the economy, and that boosts the country's employment levels. In fact, thanks to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Colombia, it is thought that more than 26,426 new jobs have been created in fifteen regions, of which Antioquia, the Atlantic coast, Bogotá, the Coffee Cultural Landscape, Vichada and the Santander departments stand out.

(Why should you invest in Colombia? Five advantages of investing in the country)

Sectors for investment in Colombia

In the last quarter of 2017 alone, foreign direct investment in Colombia represented USD $4.7bn, 114.2% more than in the same period in 2016. According to figures from Colombia's Bank of the Republic, foreign direct investment in Colombia in six economic activities grew in the last quarter of the year. These were transport, storage and communications (9.5%) community services (232.2%) commerce, restaurant and hotels (124.7%) the oil sector (27.2%) financial and business services (24.8%) and construction (3.2%).

To give a general overview, seven economic activities experienced growth between January and September 2017. These were mines and quarries (536.4%) transportation, storage and communications (197.2%) manufacturing (31.4%) communal services (27.3%), commerce, restaurants and hotels (26.4%) the oil sector (20.3%) and construction (2.7%).

(Discover here which sectors are ripe for investment in Colombia)

PROCOLOMBIA, an entity committed to foreign investment in Colombia

Colombia has received investment worth USD $19.6bn thanks to PROCOLOMBIA, which is as committed to international investors as it is to Colombian exporters. Five hundred and seventy-five investors have arrived Colombia, with investments in 668 projects. That is thought to have generated 255,393 direct and indirect jobs in 24 Colombian departments: Antioquia, Atlántico, Bolívar, Boyacá, Caldas, Caquetá, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Chocó, Córdoba, Cundinamarca, Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, North Santander, Quindío, Risaralda, San Andrés and Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Valle del Cauca and Vichada.

The investment in Colombia made through these projects comes from various countries. In 2017, the five countries that made the most foreign direct investment in Colombia were the United States (more than USD $1bn and 35 projects) Chile (more than USD $400m and five projects), Spain (more than USD $296m and eight projects), Brazil (USD $236m and six projects) and China (USD $233m and seven projects).

PROCOLOMBIA is here to accompany you from the moment you begin thinking in Colombia as the place for your investment in Colombia. It can also deepen your knowledge regarding new business opportunities in the country. If you want further information about how you can invest in Colombia, contact us.