<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Colombian ambassador to Spain, Eduardo Ávila, and the president of ProColombia, Carmen Caballero, have highlighted in Madrid, before more than a hundred businessmen and representatives of institutions, the “enormous potential” of the Latin American country as a destination for investment, especially in infrastructure.</strong></h4> Ávila and the president of ProColombia, the government agency in charge of promoting exports, international tourism and foreign investment in the country, participated this Friday in a meeting at the CEOE headquarters in Madrid to learn first-hand about the opportunities that exist in the country and the best ways to take advantage of and enhance bilateral collaboration in strategic projects of common interest. According to the ambassador, Colombia offers “enormous potential” for investment, especially in infrastructure. “It is a nation of contrasts and opportunities, open to the world,” which has developed a dynamic economy and has great geographic diversity, he continued. For this reason, and to promote the so-called “Country of Beauty” as a power of life, the Government of Gustavo Preto launched the National Development Plan 2022 – 2026, focused on five major transformations: Human Right to Food, Territorial Planning around Water, Human Security, Productive Economy for Life and Fight against Climate Change, and Regional Convergence. Ávila assured that a robust environment for business has been built. In this regard, he also referred to Colombia's Intermodal Transport Master Plan (PMTI) 2021–2051, a key roadmap that seeks to reorganize and modernize the country's transport infrastructure, integrating modes of transport that include roads, railways, waterways, sea and air. “There are also very interesting opportunities in the tourism sector, especially in everything related to sustainability,” Ávila said. For her part, the president of ProColombia highlighted the country's great potential as a destination for sustainable investment and advocated for strengthening the investment of Spanish companies in Colombia, expanding it to new projects of interest. She also recalled that Colombia has free trade agreements with 65 countries, has numerous tax incentives, thanks to its free trade zones, and offers very interesting opportunities in the field of energy and in the development of tourism activity in regions with high potential. "Confidence in investment continues to advance in Colombia," said Carmen Caballero. At the same event, the permanent secretary of CEIB and director of Relations with Ibero-America of CEOE Narciso Casado, reported that with Colombia "there is always something left to do. "For this reason, we are working with the institution in other markets, such as the African market, through the initiative of CEOE and the institutions of the Canary Islands, opening Colombia to the world."
