With similar geological characteristics to its Andean neighbour Peru, Colombia’s gold potential has long attracted interest from local and international miners. The country’s gold deposits are concentrated in areas with metallogenic belts in the Departments of Antioquia, Santander, Tolima, Huila, Caldas, Nariño, Cauca and Bolívar. Gold was the main export product during the colonial era…
Colombian cities are currently home to close to 80% of the country’s population, with the number expected to reach 83.4% in 2035, according to the National Administrative Department of Statistics. Despite efforts to develop efficient public transport solutions, rising urbanisation rates and increasing demand have outstripped supply, contributing to congestion and air pollution. City authorities…
The Fourth Generation (4G) road infrastructure programme forms a central part of the government’s strategy to integrate the transport infrastructure and link industrial centres to major ports. However, the plan, which originally envisioned the construction and rehabilitation of 7000 km of new roads and over 40 highway projects, has experienced delays. These have largely occurred as the result…
The real estate industry in Colombia and wider South America has undergone substantial change in recent years, driven by an influx of private capital investments from local and international fund managers, sovereign wealth funds and Canadian pension funds. In light of the challenges of navigating Colombia’s property market, most of these investors have taken to partnering with local developers…
After a stagnant performance in 2017, the retail sector gained momentum in 2018, growing by 6.2%. Inflation was near the central bank’s target at 3.2% during the year, and this combined with the government’s December 2018 decision to increase the minimum salary by 6% for 2019 and general improvements in the country’s economic performance have translated to increased disposable income…
Looking to leverage the momentum of an expanding tourism sector, in December 2018 the Colombian government introduced the Plan for the Tourism Sector 2018-22. With emphasis on sustainability, responsibility and quality, the plan aims to position the country as an innovative, diverse, high-value destination to promote long-term, inclusive and sustainable growth. Several areas of focus are highlighted…
In a world where statistics, big data, artificial intelligence and the like are driving business outcomes, one corporate department across industries stands out for its relative lack of analytics use: human resources (HR). Indeed, a 2015 report by the Harvard Business Review indicated that managers across other business areas believe that a major obstacle facing HR offices stems from their…
The ICT sector is one of the most promising sectors in Colombia with high demand for telecommunications services, and an emphasis on innovation in commerce and industry. However, financial challenges, such as changes in interest rates, also significantly impact the growth of ICT due to the long-term nature of investments in the sector. Similarly, companies can struggle to access financing to offer…
The banking sector has already begun to show signs of improvement in line with macro economic indicators. Measures taken by the national government and the Central Bank of Colombia appear to have enabled the sector to weather the storm, and improving economic conditions should pave the way for a positive performance from the financial sector. Despite the slow evolution of equities trading, Colombia’s…
