Get to know the Colombian Offer
COLOMBIA HAS...
An important role in the global economy. Thanks to its human resources, its experience as an exporter, the quality of its products and its excellent international relations; its quality as a strategic partner in trade alliances, free trade agreements and its air, sea and land connectivity.
Colombia is a commercial destination, located at the focal point of maritime activity due to its proximity to the Panama Canal and at the crossroads of the main communication routes of world trade, constituting a strategic connection point between North and South America, and between the East Coast of the United States and Asia, which represents an opportunity as a platform for commercial exchange.
A growing country, which has 48.2 million inhabitants, according to the census conducted by DANE in 2015, and favorable economic indicators that show a gross domestic product growth of 3.1%, USD 35,691 million in exports and USD 51,598 million in imports.
COLOMBIA IN FIGURES
Reasons to buy in Colombia
With a high satisfaction score, in 2016 Colombia ranked above Brazil (6.5), Spain (6.4) and France (6.0) in the index of emphasis on customer satisfaction in companies, being the best evaluated Latin American country with a score of 6.9 out of 10.
Of the thirteen countries evaluated in the index of emphasis on customer satisfaction in companies, Colombia ranked fourth, after three major powers: Hong Kong with a score of 8.3, the United States with 8.2 and the Netherlands with 7.4.
Likewise, the Colombian labor force is competitive in terms of salaries compared to other countries in the region. Our country is characterized by its quality, with national companies with international certifications such as:
- TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism).
- BASC (Business Alliance for Secure Commerce).
- HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), food safety.
- Global GAP-Food Safety.
- ISO 9000 (Quality Management System).
- ISO 14000 (Environmental Management System).
- Organic food (OKO-CCOF).
- CE, UL, SAE, NOM, Joint Commission, among others.
Innovation being one of the strategic pillars when talking about competitiveness and sustainable development, Colombia's score in the different indexes that analyze innovation in the world is recognized and ranks among the best positions.
According to the 2015 Global Innovation Index ranking, conducted among 141 countries, Colombia ranks 67th with a score of 36.41 and ranks sixth in Latin America and the Caribbean, surpassed by Barbados, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico and Panama.
According to the International Global Competitiveness Report that every year is carried out by the Institute for Management Development, which evaluates the infrastructure, economic performance, government and business efficiency of 61 countries, in 2015 Colombia was the second in the region with the highest availability of labor force.
For that same year with 43.1 % the country was positioned as the second in Latin America with the highest percentage of women in the workforce, even above the Republic of Korea (42.2), Chile (41.1) and Indonesia (37.2), among other countries.
The country is part of the United Nations Global Compact, which includes more than 350 public and private sector entities. Thanks to this type of initiatives that promote an economy aligned with environmental, social equity and labor climate issues, among others, Colombia is the first country in Latin America with the best social responsibility index.
According to the 2016 World Competitiveness ranking, our rating is above the score achieved by countries such as France (5.58), Brazil (5.24), Mexico (5.12) and Spain (4.97).
COUNTRY | VALIDITY | TITLE OF THE AGREEMENT |
| AELC | In force with Switzerland and Liechtenstein since July 1, 2011. On September 1, 2014, the agreement with Norway entered into force. On October 1, 2014 entered into force with Iceland. Law 1372 of 2010. Approved by judgment C-941 of 2010. | Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Colombia and the EFTA States (EFTA). |
| SPAIN | Effective as of September 22, 2007. Law 1069 of 2006. Approved by Ruling C-309 of 2007. | Agreement between the Republic of Colombia and the Kingdom of Spain for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments. |
| SWITZERLAND | Effective as of October 6, 2009. Law 1198 of 2008. Approved by Ruling C-150 of 2009. | Agreement between the Republic of Colombia and the Swiss Confederation on reciprocal promotion and protection of investments. |
| UNITED KINGDOM AND NORTHERN IRELAND | Effective as of October 10, 2014. Law 1464 of 2011. Approved by Ruling C-169 of 2012. | Bilateral Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments. |
COUNTRY | VALIDITY | TITLE OF THE AGREEMENT |
| CHINA | Effective as of July 2, 2012. Signed in November 2008. Law 1462 of 2011. Approved by Ruling C-199 of 2012. | Bilateral Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the Government of the People's Republic of China. |
| INDIA | Effective as of July 3, 2012. Signed on November 10, 2009. Law 1449 of 2011. Approved by Ruling C-123 of 2012. | Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments between the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of India. |
| JAPAN | Effective as of September 11, 2015. Law 1720 of 2014. Ruling C - 286 of 2015. | Bilateral Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments. |
| SOUTH KOREA | Effective as of July 15, 2016. Law 1747 of 2014. Ruling C-184 of 2016. | Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Korea. |
COUNTRY | VALIDITY | TITLE OF THE AGREEMENT |
| MEXICO | In force since 1995. Law 172 of 1994. Approved by Ruling C-178 of 1995. Decree 2676 of 2011 and amending Protocol Law 1457 of 2011. Approved by judgment C-051 of 2012. | Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Colombia and the United Mexican States. |
| CUBA | In force since 1996. Law 245 of 1995. Approved by Ruling C-379 of 1996. | Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the Government of the Republic of Cuba on Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments. |
| CHILE | Effective as of May 8, 2009. Law 1189 of 2008. Approved by Ruling C-031 of 2009. | Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Chile. |
| NORTHERN TRIANGLE (Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras) | In force. With Guatemala it has been in force since November 12, 2009, El Salvador since February 1, 2010 and Honduras since March 27, 2010. Law 1241 of 2008. Approved by Ruling C-446 of 2009. | |
| CANADA | Effective as of August 15, 2011. Law 1363 of 2009. Approved by Ruling C-608 of 2010. | Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Colombia and Canada. |
| UNITED STATES | Effective as of May 15, 2012. Law 1143 of 2007 and Law 1166 of 2007. Approved by Rulings C-750 and 751 of 2008, respectively. | Trade Promotion Agreement between the Republic of Colombia and the United States of America. |
| PERU | Effective as of December 30, 2010. Law 1342 of July 31, 2009. Approved by Ruling C-377 of 2010. | Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the Government of the Republic of Peru on reciprocal promotion and protection of investments. |
| COSTA RICA | Effective as of August 1, 2016. Law 1763 of 2015. Ruling C-157 of 2016. | Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Colombia and Costa Rica. |
| PACIFIC ALLIANCE (Additional Protocol) | Effective as of May 1, 2016. Law 1721 of June 27, 2014. Ruling C-620 of 2015. | Additional Protocol to the Framework Agreement of the Pacific Alliance between the Republic of Colombia, the Republic of Chile, the United Mexican States and the Republic of Peru. |
The National Government's willingness to implement tools such as this one, promoted since 2008 by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, contributes to the country's business development.
In addition to optimizing the productive processes of the national industry, it promotes more competitive environments and more solid and profitable companies. This favors sectors with high export possibilities for their products, thanks to the synergy between the public and private sectors.
Thanks to this alliance, the country has the development of different world-class sectors, including services, manufacturing and agriculture.
