Interview:Alfredo Rizo To what extent has currency depreciation had an impact in terms of foreign investment? ALFREDO RIZO: Prior to the currency depreciation, Colombia looked expensive, and several investors started to have concerns about prices. Therefore, the current value of the peso is a good entry point for foreign capital to invest in the real estate market. Foreign investors have minimal…
Interview: Rafael Mejía López What is Colombia’s strategy in terms of boosting fruit and vegetable exports? RAFAEL MEJÍA LOPEZ: Even before the negotiations and signing of trade agreements that brought greater economic integration, Colombia had been talking about the importance of diversifying its agricultural exports and the need to seize dynamic markets through agro-industrial products. The…
Interview:Roberto Vélez Vallejo How can the country boost production and exports of Colombian coffee? ROBERTO VÉLEZ VALLEJO: The country is currently working on a number of different plans of action. The first one is the research and development branch of the FNC, the National Centre for Coffee Research. The centre has developed coffee varieties that are more productive and resistant to diseases…
Interview: Marta Losada What role does the private sector play in furthering research and development (R&D)? MARTA LOSADA: Colombia’s present business expenditure in R&D (BERD) is extremely low at only 0.043% of GDP in contrast to the OECD average of 1.62% of GDP in 2014. This must change dramatically. National industry needs to put more significant effort into R&D. It is clear that…
Interview:David Luna Can the target of the digital economy accounting for 5% of Colombia’s GDP be met by 2018? DAVID LUNA: We are experiencing a transformation known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which makes it possible for many goods and services to be produced by new business models supported by technology. Colombia is not foreign to this trend. With the Digital Live Plan, we have…
Interview:María Claudia Lacouture What are the main challenges and opportunities facing the development of the tourism sector? MARIA CLAUDIA LACOUTURE: Having a peaceful environment in Colombia will mean there is more territory for tourism development. This will require increasing the offer of new tourism products, strengthening destinations throughout the country and expanding the number…
Interview:Emilio Sardi Aparicio How does the Statutory Health Law impact investment in the sector? EMILO SARDI APARICIO: A direct effect of the implementation of the law is that investment should increase, since it mandates a wider provision of health services and technologies. However, investment growth will depend on having an adequate legal framework that promotes competition and innovation,…
Interview:Daniella Souza What are some challenges to the growth of the agro-chemical industry in Colombia, and which areas should be targeted for development? DANIELLA SOUZA: The agro-chemical industry saw a very weak 2016, which implies that there is an enormous opportunity for growth. Some factors that could boost the segment include continued infrastructure development to ease product distribution,…
Viewpoint:Luis Alberto Moreno After coming dangerously close to becoming a failed state, over the past two decades Colombia has regained control over its territory by clamping down on violent drug cartels and guerrillas, and setting the stage for a protracted boom that transformed it into South America’s second largest economy. In less than a generation, Colombia went from being a country…
Viewpoint:Jaime Vargas For too many years tax reforms in Colombia have been aimed at solving fiscal collection shortages by creating new temporary taxes that, by way of being re-enacted time after time, became permanent, or by increasing the rates of existing taxes. This short-sighted approach has resulted in a disjointed tax system that imposed an excessive burden on companies, with direct…
