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PROCOLOMBIA was ranked 44 out of the 100 best companies to work for in Latin America, in the companies with between 50 and 500 employees category, according to the Great Place to Work Institute. This group presented the award in a ceremony held on the May 29, 2013, in the Mayan Riviera in Mexico.
The international impact that this promotion agency' s work has had around the world and its organizational environment were the characteristics taken into account when granting this important award.
PROCOLOMBIA falls within the " Companies that have up to 500 employees" category, making it the only Colombian public company included in the list that Great Place to Work compiles every year after evaluating the best organizations in which to work by country. This year, the selection was made out of 2,200 companies.
According to Maria Claudia Lacouture, PROCOLOMBIA president, the award is due to the commitment the organization shows in motivating the development of its human resources. " Having a team that is constantly growing professionally is fundamental to increasing the impact of the work we do on a daily basis, in supporting entrepreneurs in the search for new business and markets," she stated.
In the national survey that this international consulting agency undertook at the end of 2012, the entity was included among the 15 best companies to work for, making it the best among the public companies. Also included in this list were private companies from 24 sectors, including the financial, logistical, technological and services sectors.
PROCOLOMBIA has a team made up of 392 officials who work in eight regional offices, including Bogota 24 Information Centers in 23 Colombian cities, and in offices and posts in 30 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania.
" We identify new niches abroad with the potential for exporting non-mining products and services, while in Colombia we support entrepreneurs so that they can benefit from these opportunities. Each team member is responsible for the good results of activities such as business matchmaking forums, participation in international fairs, exploratory missions, and opportunity sharing seminars, which had an impact in 90% of the country," Lacouture added.
More Deals, More Travelers and More Investment
In 2012, a total of 1,722 entrepreneurs from 21 departments (65.5% of Colombia) sold products and services to 3,913 buyers from 87 countries. These transactions amounted to sales that reached USD 1,554 million.
" Colombian products and services have no borders, and the exports show it. Exports such as the sale of mangoes to Japan, mobile applications to Finland and underwear to the Middle East, to name a few examples," added Maria Claudia Lacouture, PROCOLOMBIA president.
In investment, thanks to the entity' s management, 25 sectors not related to hydrocarbons received Foreign Direct Investment in 2012. 63 projects were launched at a value of USD 2,378 million.
These projects, according to the investors, should generate 23,802 jobs in sectors such as tourism infrastructure, agribusiness, BPO, engineering and construction services, auto parts, forestry, the dairy industry, retail and cosmetics, etc
In tourism, PROCOLOMBIA doubled the number of countries in which it has a presence and works to promote Colombia as a destination of magical experiences. While in 2010, Colombia' s tourism was promoted in 16 countries, in 2012, PROCOLOMBIA was able to reach 31 countries. The Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia were added to the list of countries reached by the activities organized by Proexport.
