Photo: Flavia Santoro, president of ProColombia
With and without a pandemic, Colombia seeks to strengthen commercial ties with key partners, such as Canada. Flavia Santoro, president of ProColombia, assured that “last year, 45 percent of international investment came from North America; that is, from the United States, Canada and Mexico ”.
Based on the links and support that emerged from ProColombia, the largest event to attract international investment, medium and small companies were able to close deals in the order of $ 4,097 million dollars, as well as the creation of more than 11,700 new jobs. potentials. “Of the 197 foreign investment projects facilitated by ProColombia last year, the United States contributed 44 initiatives, followed by Mexico with 10 and Canada with nine,” Santoro said in a statement.
“In a conjunctural year such as 2020, we work with greater commitment and conviction to captivate the interest of investors, with the aim of positioning Colombia as the destination to invest in Latin America. With our Red Carpet and nearshoring strategies we seek to promote business exchange with Canada ”.
FTA between Colombia and Canada
According to the Colombian Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, the Canadian market offers opportunities that will help increase the potential growth of the Colombian economy and generate further development.
According to a study by the Canadian Trade Facilitation Office (TFO), Canada is one of the countries in the world with the highest per capita imports. “One of the advantages of greater integration with this country is to have preferential access to a market of 34 million high-income consumers,” adds the TFO.
Colombia wants to position itself as “the most welcoming country in the world” with a campaign that highlights the kindness of its people to attract both international tourists and businessmen and women, announced the official agency ProColombia.
The 2021 edition of Procolombia, which takes place from April 12 to 23, involves about a thousand companies from 62 participating countries that will meet virtually with some two thousand potential partners from 26 departments in Colombia.
Santoro explained that “Colombia, the most welcoming country in the world” is both an advertising campaign and “a long-term communication strategy. In the event, which is estimated to generate some 13 thousand virtual appointments, companies mainly from Canada, United States participate. States, Peru, Guatemala, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Bolivia and Spain who want to know the Colombian offer of products and services in Cundinamarca, Antioquia, Valle del Cauca, Atlántico, Santander, Risaralda, Caldas and Norte de Santander.
For years, Procolombia has been the most important business meeting in the South American country and a cornerstone for boosting non-mining exports from Colombia. Santoro explained that the designation of Canada as a guest country for the 2021 edition seeks to encourage commercial exchange between both countries.
By Silvia Méndez
