Why Colombia?

The Colombian government is committed to health and economic recovery and has taken sound monetary, fiscal, and social measures to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus in the country. Even prior to the pandemic, Colombia stood out due to a consistent economic growth over 50 years, capable of being a resilient nation and expected to be  one of the economies that will best withstand the 2020 crisis. International organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, estimate Colombia's inflation will clock in at 3.2% by the end of 2020, placed within the targeted Central Bank´s range (2%-4%) and showing good monetary policy management. They also estimate Colombia’s GDP will grow by 3,6%-4.0% in 2021. These figures show that the country is completely suitable for investors looking to invest in Colombia.

Colombia has stood out for its political stability and solid institutions, which have made it one of the most politically stable markets in Latin America. The government, regardless of the president in office, has been committed to the continued development of private businesses and the implementation of best economic and social practices to attract investment in Colombia, which made it possible for the country to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2020. Thanks to remarkable progress made in competitiveness and new fiscal policies developed over the last year, Colombia has attained investment-grade ratings from the three most important risk rating agencies in the world.

The COVID-19 crisis brought about various changes in the structure of international trade, which is leading to regional concentration of value chains. Colombia emerges as a strategic regional hub for the supply of reliable and quality goods and services, thanks to its strategic location in the Americas, less than six hours by plane from major cities in the continent. Also, companies relocating to Colombia can take advantage of the country´s extensive free trade agreement network, which grants preferential access to more than 60 countries and 1.5 billion consumers around the world.

Colombia has a well-developed tech ecosystem and the necessary standards to face the post-COVID-19 “new normal”. Its technological infrastructure positions the country as the second in the region with the best connectivity, transmission, and stability, connecting 98% of the municipalities to the world through fiber optic. The Colombian government has acknowledged the importance of the digital revolution as a driver for growth which led to the adoption of new policies, agreements, and conventions to enhance the digital transformation across the country.   The government has also supported the creation of the first Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4RI) in Latin America, which is part of the World Economic Forum’s network, and joins the country’s wide innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem to continue reinforcing Colombia’s position as one of the most entrepreneurial markets in Latin America.

The Colombian government guarantees suitable conditions for the development of national and international private enterprises, which have positioned Colombia as the country that offers the greatest protection to investors in Latin America, according to the World Bank's Doing Business. Colombia ranks 9^th as foreign direct investment (FDI)  destination among the top 10 developing economies, and 23^rd in the world. Since 2014, investments in sectors other than oil and mining began to register significant contributions to the total inward flow of investments into Colombia. As such, FDI has become a catalyst for the country's economic development and one of the main sources of employment creation.