Colombia wants to attract global companies. We’re not saying that ourselves — officials at the Colombian investment promotion agency PROCOLOMBIA have made it very clear in recent times. The new thrust toward international brand names, foreign direct investment, and job creation is a natural outgrowth of Colombia’s ongoing diversification effort. With historic trade deals already signed, Colombia will move to position itself as a premier destination for nearshoring candidates.
Nearshoring has become a buzzword in multinational corporate circles. Between trade wars, COVID-induced shortages, and the rise in trans-oceanic freight costs, companies are casting a favorable eye toward Latin America. But Colombia wants to attract global companies too. It’s building out some serious advantages to become the next talent magnet for North American companies looking southward.
Colombia has two coastlines. That’s not hyperbole — every country has two sides. What makes Colombia unique is its ability to access markets on both the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts with ease. Buenaventura serves as the #1 Pacific Gateway for America’s Trade, while neighboring port city Cartagena acts as America’s gateway to the Atlantic. As compared to regional rivals, few countries can offer such a quick turnaround on either coast.
Colombia’s port network services over 3,500 export shipping routes connected to 840 ports around the world.
Nearshoring companies looking for agile shipping logistics will find few regional competitors that can match Colombia’s access to North America, Europe, and Asia.
Colombia also boasts some of the fastest shipping times to the US of any country on the Pacific Rim, beating out Chile, Peru, and Mexico on cargo transit times — an important consideration for industries that rely on shorter inventory times.
Those companies that do or must fly their goods internationally will find Colombia a strong bet as well. Colombia operates 274 direct air routes, of which 130 are international connections. Those routes moved nearly one million tons of cargo in 2025 alone. Star attractions include Bogota’s El Dorado Airport, recently ranked as Latin America’s number one airport for air cargo shipments.
Just as competitive ports make Colombia an attractive option for exporters and importers handling bulky goods, dependable air routes open markets for time-sensitive products. Things like cut flowers, pharmaceuticals, perishable foods, and high-tech components depend as much on overland distance and flight availability as they do on port selection. No airport does Americas-to-Colombia flights quite like El Dorado, with direct flights serving Miami, Houston, New York, and more.
Colombia’s improving its road game too. Over the last decade, Colombia has invested US$19.6 billion in transportation PPP projects. Fourteen of those projects are highway concessions, many grouped under the country’s 4G and 5G concession programs. Analysts project these infrastructure projects to reduce cargo transit times by up to 30%. Especially those located near Puerto Antioquia.
You read that right — Colombia plans to open a brand-new port in its industrial heartland. Slated to open in 2026, Puerto Antioquia will shorten transit times for Medellín, Bogotá, Pereira, and Manizales-based businesses by hundreds, if not thousands, of kilometers. After struggling with deteriorated road networks through the Andean mountain range for decades, Colombia is finally developing serious options for nearshoring planners who need to move goods overland.
Speaking of Costs…
Let’s say you’re sold on Colombia’s geography. Traffic jams won’t keep your goods moving to the ports, and minimal overflight distances keep those time-sensitive goods arriving on time. Now it’s time to think about how long your money will stick around.
In Colombia, it just might. That’s thanks to a robust network of free trade zones (FTZ) that feature competitive incentive packages for new zone members. Now boasting over 120 zones across 18 different departments, Colombia is continuing to expand the territorial footprint of its FTZ program. What’s more attractive to overseas investors are the benefits contained within. With these zones, Colombia wants to attract global companies.
Companies operating in Colombia’s free trade zones enjoy:
- A 20% corporate income tax on profits generated from export activities. (Colombia’s Marginal Corporate Tax rate is 31%.)
- Exemption from VAT and tariffs on the importation of machinery, raw materials, and inputs used in production.
- 24/7 customs services at Zone ports of entry.
For companies trying to do the math on cost of operation in Latin America, Colombia’s free trade zones are directly responsible for US$2.675 billion in exports in 2025 alone.
Factor in growing commitments to sustainability from PROCOLOMBIA, and the country may very well edge out the competition when marketing teams get together to hash out your company’s next big move. El Dorado Airport has committed to a 57% reduction in airport emissions by 2028. That’ll be powered in part by an estimated 11,000 solar panels, but ecoefficiency measures at Cartagena port are also aiming to electrify the port’s crane fleet and increase the use of renewable energies.
Got Competition
Colombia wants to attract global companies, but so do a lot of other countries. Colombia isn’t the only country investing in port infrastructure or fast-tracking free trade zones.
Mexico continues to dominate nearshoring conversations thanks to its northern-border advantage and established track record with US MNCs. Chile and Peru also boast strong trade deal networks and open climates for FDI. Panama…well, you know about Panama and its logistics prowess.
Choosing where to nearshore won’t come down to infrastructure alone. Crime, drug trafficking, and successful pivots to green energy will play an outsized role in “competitive variables” between interested countries. Colombia has an incredible opportunity to make its case — but concerns over consistency and competitiveness persist.
Bottom Line
Colombia wants to attract global companies and is making major investments to turn itself into a destination for them. But with so many players jockeying for position after years of being off the radar, Colombia will need to fully commit if it wants to leave competitors in the dust.