Amid external uncertainty over global tariff policies and geopolitical tensions, Guatemalan exports maintain a favorable scenario. Guatemala’s foreign trade closed the year with remarkable strength in 2025, consolidating the figures reported in the first half and even more optimistically for the end of 2026. In a detailed report, the latest data from the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat) shows that foreign exchange earnings from exports closed at 13.055 billion dollars between January and October 2025, 7% higher than the same period of the previous year. The result evidences the sector’s competitiveness and, in addition, a progressively more diversified export basket.

In total, the exports of apparel were for 1.2883 billion dollars (9.9% of the total), followed by coffee (9.3%), bananas (6.8%), and sugar (6.3%). Traditional agricultural exports remain key pillars, but the weight of manufacturing and processed goods sectors is growing. Meanwhile, higher value-added products (food preparations, plastics, and chemical products, among others) are gaining share. These products are beginning to make inroads in external markets and strengthen the Guatemalan economy’s integration into regional and global value chains.

Accordingly, during a press conference — where the Central Bank announced that it will review economic growth in December — Banguat’s economic manager, Johny Gramajo, stated that for 2025, exports will close at a central growth value of 6%. “Exports are one of the main pillars that support Guatemalan economic growth and the creation of employment,” Gramajo reiterated. The country’s export growth had already closed the first half of 2025 in force. The strategy will be to extend the momentum beyond this year.

The Impact of Tariffs

2026 looks solid, and monetary authorities have revised growth upward for next year, in which exports will continue to rise at a 6.0%. A major reason is the effect of trade agreements with the United States, where tariff reductions will take place. These will work to further strengthen Guatemala’s competitiveness against other regional exporting economies, especially in those sectors in which price sensitivity is high, and tariff preferences are key to maintaining market share.

“The question about tariffs — the effects of the agreement that Guatemala reached with the United States — obviously will not be reflected in 2025, but particularly in 2026. That is why we are improving our export projection,” Gramajo reiterated. Lower tariff barriers in priority sectors, such as textiles, agricultural goods, and certain manufactured products, will benefit exporters by reducing costs and incentivizing investment in productive capacity. Companies are already planning investments in machinery, logistics, and workforce training to take advantage of the expected commercial benefits.

Beyond the reduction of tariffs, it is also expected that continued efforts to simplify customs procedures, digitalize trade documentation, and modernize port and road infrastructure will also benefit the Guatemalan export growth. Structural improvements will help to reduce bottlenecks, shorten delivery times, and improve reliability, essential factors for international buyers when evaluating the resilience of supply chains.

Strength in Manufacturing and Textiles

The textile industry, according to the projections, will grow from an estimated 2.7% in 2024 to 4% in 2026. Textiles – which represent nearly one-third of sales to the U.S. market – will be able to count on tariff exemptions already being factored into official estimates. The apparel sector, which is concentrated mainly in special economic zones and export processing areas, is also reinforcing its competitive advantages of flexibility, labor skills, and proximity to the North American market.

Alfredo Blanco, vice president of the Bank of Guatemala, also reinforced the projections by noting that “there is an improvement from 2.7% in 2025 to 4.0% in 2026 in the manufacturing industry, and included in that improvement is the announcement by the respective authorities of tariff reductions for textiles as well as certain agricultural products.” The combination of tariff preferences and trends towards nearshoring, where companies move production closer to their main consumer markets, is expected to generate new investments in the Guatemalan manufacturing base.

In addition, Guatemala is undergoing progressive diversification within the manufacturing industry. Sectors that produce auto parts, medical supplies, plastics, and packaging materials are expanding. These, in turn, generate higher technology transfer levels and formal employment, thus reinforcing the sustainability of Guatemalan export growth. The strengthening of vocational and technical training programs is also added to the mix to support this transition and give companies more specialized human capital aligned with international quality standards.

Diversification, New Markets and Resilience

In the midst of an international environment marked by headwinds, including uncertainty over the global tariff policies and geopolitical tensions, the Guatemalan economy continues to project resilience. Exporters are not only deepening traditional ties with the United States but are also seeking new opportunities in Mexico, other Central American countries, Europe, and parts of Asia. This market diversification will allow Guatemala to mitigate risk exposure to external shocks in any of the destinations and support more stable foreign exchange earnings.

Likewise, agricultural producers are also betting more on differentiated and higher value segments, such as specialty coffees, processed foods, and certified sustainable products. These, in turn, are able to command premium prices and offer better long-term demand prospects. Meanwhile, the rise of service exports, which ranges from call centers to business process outsourcing and digital services, is also complementing the performance of goods exports, and thus contributing indirectly to Guatemalan export growth through job creation, consumption, and domestic investment.

In an environment where GDP growth is projected at 3.7% for 2026, and inflation remains under control, the export sector is consolidating itself as a key engine of stability and economic development for the country in the short and medium term, according to Banguat. Stable macroeconomic conditions, prudent monetary policy and sustained remittances also reinforce domestic demand and help create a favorable environment for companies aiming to expand production for external markets.

Investment in trade-related infrastructure, logistics corridors, and renewable energy also plays a key role in enhancing competitiveness by reducing companies’ operational costs and improving reliability for international buyers. As companies adopt new technologies in quality control, traceability and logistics management, Guatemala’s position as a reliable supplier is reinforced across agricultural, manufacturing and emerging service sectors.

In short, 2026 stands out as a key year for the consolidation of export growth for Guatemala. With tariff policies favoring exporters, expanded manufacturing capacity, diversification of markets and resilient macroeconomic fundamentals, Guatemala is well positioned to take advantage of global trade opportunities. Continued progress in infrastructure, institutional reforms and workforce development are essential for transforming short-term export momentum into sustainable growth that benefits companies, workers and communities across Guatemala.

Focus is on energy and mining. The Argentine government is weighing a new deadline extension to lure further initiatives into the incentive regime.

Momentum Grows for Major Projects

With the recent approval of a new mining project in San Juan, the number of initiatives that have been admitted into the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI) has increased to ten. According to official calculations, these projects combined have committed a total of USD 25 billion in investments in Argentina.

Minister of Economy Luis Caputo informed that the Evaluation Committee for the RIGI had given the green light to the Gualcamayo project, which is a gold and silver mining development in San Juan province. This project will be carried out with an overall investment of USD 665 million.

In addition, Caputo added that the proposal will allow the useful life of a mine close to depletion to be extended by working on a “different type of mineralization” and creating 1,700 direct jobs. This announcement is in line with the government’s broader policy of promoting major mining projects and attracting long-term investment to Argentina.

As a result, Gualcamayo joins a list of projects dominated by energy-related ventures – especially oil and mining. Neuquén, Río Negro, San Juan, Mendoza, Salta, Buenos Aires, Catamarca, and Santa Fe are just some of the main jurisdictions where the projects will take place, further pointing to the expansion of investments in productive sectors across Argentina.

RIGI: The 10 Approved Projects, One by One

1. YPF advances with the construction of “El Quemado”, a solar park that will require USD 211 million in investment. It will be carried out in two phases, the first contributing 200 MW and the second another 105 MW of capacity.
2. Vaca Muerta Sur (Consortium: YPF, PAE, Vista, Pampa Energía, Pluspetrol, Chevron, Shell)

This project includes an initial investment of USD 2.486 billion, which could increase to USD 3 billion. Infrastructure will be installed in Neuquén and Río Negro, to expand Argentina’s export capacity for oil, with the goal of doubling exports within two years. The pipeline could transport 700,000 barrels per day, which would represent USD 17 billion in revenue at USD 68 per barrel.

3. Southern Energy – LNG Barge (Río Negro)

Southern Energy, controlled by Pan American Energy (PAE) and Golar LNG, will install a barge that will be in charge of producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the Gulf of San Matías. Total estimated investment in this project is USD 2.9 billion over the next ten years, and could reach USD 6.878 billion across a planned 20 years of operation.

4. Rio Tinto – Rincón Lithium Expansion (Salta)

Rio Tinto will invest USD 2.724 billion to expand the Rincón Lithium project, to increase the production capacity to 60,000 tons per year of lithium to be used in batteries, including the construction of another processing plant.

5. Sidersa – Steel Plant (Buenos Aires Province)

Sidersa will dedicate USD 296 million to the installation of a steel plant in San Nicolás with an annual capacity of 360,000 tons of long steel products. The project promotes more sustainable “green steel” technology and is estimated to generate more than 300 direct and 4,000 indirect jobs.

6. PCR and Acindar – Wind Farm (Olavarría, Buenos Aires)

These companies will build a new wind farm in Olavarría that will require around USD 255 million in investment in Argentina.

7. Galán Lithium – Hombre Muerto Oeste (Catamarca)

Galán Lithium will develop the Hombre Muerto Oeste (HMW) project with an investment of USD 217 million, to be dedicated to the production of high-purity lithium chloride. By 2029, exports related to the project are expected to be USD 180 million annually.

8. Los Azules – Copper Project (San Juan)

This project, led by McEwen Copper, will explore and exploit copper resources in San Juan, with an investment of USD 2.672 billion.

9. Timbúes Multipurpose Port (Santa Fe)

A new port complex will be built with an investment of USD 277 million. This complex will have storage for fertilizers, iron and steel products, grains, and fuels.

10. Gualcamayo Mining Project (San Juan)

This project seeks to extend the useful life of a mine about to be exhausted through the exploitation of a new mineralization. The plan contemplates an investment of USD 665 million and will create about 1,700 direct jobs.

Conclusion: A Strategic Turning Point for Growth and Competitiveness

The portfolio of projects moving forward under the RIGI regime in Argentina marks a strategic turning point for the country’s development. By focusing on large-scale projects with a long-term horizon, the government is sending a strong signal of predictability, technical rigor, and openness to global capital. Equally important, the portfolio of initiatives that is starting to materialize is by no means homogenous, ranging from renewable energy and hydrocarbons to lithium, copper, steel, port logistics, and advanced industrial processes. This reflects a deliberate effort to diversify productive capacity while accelerating export potential. If these projects are effectively implemented, they will not only anchor significant new revenues but also help to strengthen regional economies and stimulate innovation throughout their supply chains.

Beyond their immediate fiscal impact, it should also be noted that these initiatives foster technology transfer, upskilling of the local labor force, and the creation of specialized ecosystems capable of competing in demanding international markets. Each of the projects approved so far is modernizing infrastructure, improving logistics efficiency, and enhancing resilience across strategic sectors. Moreover, by aligning private-sector incentives with national development goals, the RIGI framework also positions the country to attract new waves of investments in Argentina – especially from partners seeking stable rules and high-value opportunities.

Ultimately, the success of this program will depend on transparent governance, regulatory continuity, and collaborative engagement across federal authorities, provincial governments, local communities, and industry leaders. If these conditions are maintained, the 10 approved projects may prove to be just the beginning, laying the ground for sustainable growth, more competitive exports, and a renewed cycle of confidence that reinforces the role of investments in Argentina as a catalyst for long-term prosperity.

Peru is on the cusp of a turning point in the generation of clean power. No longer content to merely advocate for sustainability, the Andean nation is opening its doors to investors, aligning its institutions, and developing a mid-term road map that will make renewable energy investment in Peru a priority. Guided by PromPerú and working in coordination with the Executive Branch, the South American country is eager to attract foreign investment for solar projects in its southern and northern deserts, wind parks on its resource-rich coast, geothermal projects in the Andean corridor, and biomass in the Amazon jungle. The government estimates that with a steady flow of projects, Peru could see its economic growth rate reach or exceed 4.5% in the medium term, while also providing reliable and lower-carbon power to industries that require it. In short, the country is building a strategy to make renewable energy investment in Peru attractive for local developers and international investors alike.

A strategy with an international outlook

Daniel Ignacio Córdova Espinoza, Investment Promotion Director at PromPerú, said the Peruvian government is shifting its strategy from passive promotion to targeted engagement. “We are applying a very proactive approach to identify companies operating in these markets and give them detailed information about the investment opportunities that exist in Peru,” he said during the Future Energy Summit (FES) in Chile. Córdova was making his remarks while PromPerú was unveiling its plan to accelerate foreign capital inflows into Peru, which is steadily making the transition toward a cleaner and more diversified energy matrix. The promotional strategy involves more than conferences and marketing brochures. Personalized outreach to interested firms, technical briefings, and investor support mechanisms that accompany projects from exploration through completion are also key parts of this push to attract international capital. Peru also has a stable macroeconomic and political climate with a social will to decarbonize its energy mix; plus, the growing demand for electricity that has been driven by mining activity, industry, new housing projects, and general urbanization processes. Institutionally speaking, this programmatic coordination now involves several government agencies, including the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, ProInversión, and PromPerú, which are all working together to make renewable energy investment in Peru a success.

What’s driving international interest in renewable energy investment in Peru?

When it comes to renewable energy investment in Peru, investors are looking for three key factors: resource quality, grid connection, and regulatory certainty. Peru scores well on the first two. The country is blessed with some of the best solar irradiation levels on the continent, particularly in the south. The wind corridors along its Pacific coast offer high and consistent wind speeds. Volcanic activity in the southern and central-south regions means there is still untapped geothermal potential. Biomass projects that combine agricultural and forestry residues to produce electricity also have the added benefit of bringing new power to remote communities and reducing waste. Peru’s electric grid is more interconnected than it used to be, and significant investment in new transmission lines is helping bring resource-rich but previously isolated regions closer to urban centers. Meanwhile, the government is actively seeking partnerships between private developers and local communities, not only to make sure projects bring direct employment, training, and new public services, but also to ensure that these projects are seen as an opportunity for shared prosperity. This social dimension is already shaping the way renewable energy investment in Peru is seen by companies that understand the need for long-term projects to generate visible benefits.

Growth projections require regulatory agility

As Peru’s economy continues to grow at just over 3% today, with some estimates suggesting it may exceed 4.5% once reforms and incentive programs start bearing fruit, there is also the implication of growing demand for electricity. Growing demand means the need for storage systems capable of providing additional stability when the sun sets or wind gusts diminish. But here is the rub, according to Córdova Espinoza. Promotion is moving very quickly, and regulation has not always kept up with it. Law 32,249, which is now serving as a sort of provisional framework for energy-storage regulation, is a positive step, but still leaves a lot of room for improvement. Developers are asking for clear permitting procedures, standard rules for integrating new projects onto the grid, and clear timelines to reduce financial risk. The need to coordinate transmission planning with the grid operator is also critical. It makes more sense for policymakers to plan power lines according to where new renewable projects are expected to go, rather than retrofitting the grid later. Córdova Espinoza also spoke of the need to revive private power-purchase agreements (PPAs), which are contracts between companies and developers for the purchase of energy generated by a given plant over a specified period of time. Private PPAs are common in Latin America and provide a way for developers to secure financing for their projects while also hedging against exposure to market volatility.

Community, environment, and shared prosperity

Behind the macroeconomic numbers are communities and regions of Peru that will feel real change as projects are implemented. Solar plants in the south of the country, for instance, are creating jobs for technicians, electricians, welders, engineers, and other skilled professionals. Wind generation, meanwhile, generates local tax revenue that municipalities use to improve public roads, water systems, and schools. Developers are also dedicating more time to pre-project consultations with local communities, where they talk about land use, cultural heritage, and environmental safeguards. These discussions may not be easy, but they can help ensure that renewable energy investment in Peru is not seen as something happening from the outside, but as a shared endeavor with tangible benefits. Standards are also being raised on the environmental side, with impact assessments increasingly calling for wildlife protection plans, soil preservation strategies and post-construction monitoring to ensure ecosystems are not being harmed.

Chile, Argentina, and the competition for regional markets

Peru is well aware of its competition for clean-energy dollars, particularly from neighbors Chile and Argentina, which have already signed contracts worth billions of dollars. But by playing up its resource potential, by expanding the certainty it can offer to investors, and by streamlining permitting procedures, the South American country also hopes to attract projects that could otherwise go to other markets. Although Peru is a later starter than some regional countries in terms of renewable energy investment, its advantage will be to learn from their mistakes. Avoiding an overly complex auction system and minimizing bureaucratic red tape would be positive first steps. There is also room to encourage innovation, whether in the form of hybrid generation/storage plants or other novel technologies. Demand is already on the horizon. Mining companies need to decarbonize their operations, urban areas need more dependable electricity, and export-oriented industries are also under pressure to clean up their supply chains. All of these trends are converging to make renewable energy investment in Peru a priority over the next decade.

A cautious but ultimately optimistic view

Peru’s energy transition is not a foregone conclusion, and obstacles remain, including those related to regulatory bottlenecks and global financial volatility. But the direction of travel is clear, and what the country is doing now — tying together policy, promotion, and infrastructure — signals to investors that it is serious. As Córdova Espinoza put it, “Demand will be there. What needs to happen now is to clear the regulatory path to make that change easier.” If reforms continue to move quickly and if communities continue to feel the benefits of these programs, Peru could end up being one of South America’s clearest success stories in the clean power field. The benefits would be not only economic, but also make for a more resilient energy system that is able to support industry and innovation, and which can also power a more sustainable future for  generations to come.

Uruguay is a success story that stands out in Latin America. Supported by solid democratic institutions, very low levels of corruption, and sustained investment in human capital and education, it has successfully pivoted from a traditionally agro-export-based economy to a modern and more diversified knowledge-based economy with a strong emphasis on technology and innovation. Today, Uruguay is a regional hub for software development and information technology that attracts companies, talent, and investment from around the world.

Democratic stability and institutions

The Republic of Uruguay is an independent, democratic, decentralized, and presidential state with long-standing political stability, internationally recognized as such. The Economist ranks Uruguay as the most fully democratic country in South America, placing it 15th in the world among 167 countries. In Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, Uruguay is the second most transparent country in the Americas, outperforming the United States and only surpassed by Canada.

This level of stability is a necessary, if not sufficient, condition for the long-term investment and innovation required to build a software industry.

Structure and composition of the economy

Uruguay’s economy is based on a solid combination of natural resources, human capital, and a diversified productive structure. The most important traditional productive sectors have been agriculture and livestock, which together account for the bulk of the country’s exports. Cultivated crops include rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, and sugarcane. Uruguay is also one of the world’s leading exporters of beef, as well as of milk and wool from sheep farming. Industrially, the most important sectors have been related to meat processing, dairy, textiles, paper and cardboard, fertilizers, cement, and hydrocarbons refining.

Over the years, the country has been able to diversify its productive matrix. Although primary and industrial sectors remain important, today services and high-value industries account for a growing share of the country’s economic output.

The emergence of the software and technology sector

In recent decades, Uruguay has been able to position itself in new productive sectors, with information technology and software development being the most important. Over the past decade, it has been a regional leader in the export of software and technology services, expanding into more than 50 international markets.

Uruguay’s software exports are the largest in the region, outperforming other larger economies, such as Brazil (six times larger) and outpacing the exports of Argentina and Chile three to one. This performance has attracted international attention, with Uruguay being named as the leading software exporter in Latin America in a Latin Trade publication, which has helped further consolidate the country’s position  as a regional hub for software development and information technology, with clients across the Americas and beyond.

Education, talent, and digital infrastructure

Human capital is the most important driver of Uruguay’s success in the software and technology sectors. In total, 20% of university students are in technology-related careers, which helps to guarantee the constant supply of qualified professionals in a context in which IT unemployment is close to zero, and the demand for talent is high and stable.

In turn, this talent pool is supported by one of the best digital infrastructures in the world. Uruguay is one of the very few countries that has a fully digital telecommunications network, and it is also the country that has always ranked first in Latin America in terms of access to and connectivity on the internet. All of these elements together create the ideal environment for software development, nearshoring, and the delivery of services remotely.

Digital inclusion and long-term vision

Uruguay’s drive towards technology and innovation has also been marked by a policy of long-term vision and investment. In this sense, Uruguay is internationally recognized for its plan of digital inclusion, implemented under the Plan Ceibal, which put a laptop in the hands of every school-age child. In fact, Uruguay was the first country in the world to completely implement the One Laptop per Child program, a process that was even applauded by the founder of the initiative, Nicholas Negroponte.

This long-term vision, which dates back to 1968 when Uruguay began to implement computer science careers only two years after MIT, has matured in recent decades in the international arena with a number of success stories, such as dLocal, the country’s first technology unicorn, with a valuation of USD 5 billion, present and operating in markets around the world.

Export platform

Today, Uruguay has more than 1,000 software companies and close to USD 1 billion in software exports annually, most of them destined for the United States. On a per-capita basis, Uruguay is the leader in Latin America in exports of software and IT services, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Uruguayan companies provide the most diverse solutions: financial technology, logistics platforms, agribusiness software, e-government, e-learning systems, entertainment technologies, automation of processes for all kinds of industries, among many others.

Multinationals, nearshoring and alliances

Global leaders in technology, such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), have chosen Uruguay as a nearshoring platform to house their regional operations. Multinational companies, such as IBM and Microsoft, have also established a presence in Uruguay and employ several thousand professionals. In turn, local companies have formed alliances with global players such as Oracle and Adobe, and are integrating Uruguay into the innovation ecosystems of these giants.

These facts further consolidate Uruguay as a regional hub for software development and information technology and enable the country to offer globally competitive conditions for cost, talent availability, and operational stability.

Incentives and technology parks

The Uruguayan government has also played a key role, offering tax incentives and a regulatory framework oriented to promote and support the IT sector. Software exports are exempt from both corporate income tax and value-added tax. Technology parks that operate under special regimes also have a complete tax exemption regime.

Uruguay’s flagship business and technology park is Zonamerica, a benchmark institution in the region, with hundreds of companies and thousands of professionals in operation. Zonamerica stands out for its infrastructure and innovation ecosystem, and is currently the epicenter of software exports and other high-value services.

Globally competitive talent

The most important competitive advantage, in the final analysis, is Uruguay’s highly educated and digitally literate workforce, with a reputation for its technical knowledge, adaptability, and capacity for innovation. IT professionals in Uruguay can respond flexibly and efficiently to global demands, delivering high-value-added solutions and positioning the country as a trusted partner in the global digital economy.

Colombia, as a strategic hub for data centers and artificial intelligence, is no longer a promise for the future but a present reality with already operating world-class infrastructure, international certifications, and a rapidly maturing digital economy. As demand for sovereign cloud services, high-availability data centers, and AI-ready infrastructure accelerates throughout Latin America, Colombia is fast becoming the region’s natural epicenter.

The latest milestone in Colombia’s ascent was achieved just this past December 2025 by global sovereign technology infrastructure provider, Ilkari. Ilkari recently became the first operator in Colombia to receive ICREA Level IV certification for its data center in the Tocancipá Free Trade Zone. This distinction puts Colombia on a short list of countries that can now support mission-critical workloads and artificial intelligence according to the highest global standards.

Colombia as a strategic hub for data centers and Artificial Intelligence: Why it matters

Colombia is rising as a strategic hub for data centers and artificial intelligence deployment for several reasons, including technology infrastructure readiness, stable regulatory frameworks, geographic advantages, and available talent. The ICREA Level IV certification proves that Colombia’s data center infrastructure offers sufficient capacity for continuous operations, extreme resilience, and sustained performance in adverse events.

These features make it particularly attractive for financial services, healthcare, and government platforms, as well as hyperscale cloud computing and critical AI workloads. As international enterprises look for new and trustworthy places to host sensitive digital workloads, Colombia is solidifying itself as a credible and competitive alternative to the most established data center markets.

ICREA Level IV: A milestone for Colombia’s data center and critical infrastructure

The International Computer Room Experts Association (ICREA) uses a set of stringent metrics to assess data centers, covering areas from advanced engineering to operational maturity and emergency preparedness. At its highest, Level IV, ICREA certification confirms full redundancy for four key areas: power, cooling, connectivity, and security. This highest level of certification confirms that a data center’s equipment is fully redundant, ensuring that a single failure will not result in downtime.

Colombia is the latest nation to achieve Level IV, with Ilkari’s facility in Tocancipá earning the highest ICREA Certification globally and paving the way for new use cases in Artificial Intelligence (AI). “Artificial intelligence is a workhorse of this new internet, and resilient infrastructure is a prerequisite for this technology to grow,” Ilkari CEO Shane Paterson said. “Countries that can’t give that promise of continuity will be left behind.”

Colombia as a strategic hub for data centers and AI: Infrastructure fit for the future

Ilkari’s facility in Tocancipá, Colombia, is particularly well-suited to consolidate the country as a strategic hub for data centers and AI. The data center hosts 308 active racks of IT equipment with expansion underway to reach 548. It offers a total installed power capacity of 3.6 MW, expandable to 7 MW. On the non-technical side, it features 800 square meters of technical space, with room to grow to 1,500 square meters as the company’s modular architecture allows.

Critical data center resources like energy and cooling are typically among the most intensive and expensive in AI deployments. Flexible architectures like the one Ilkari is building out in Colombia with its Tocancipá data center allow these data centers to scale to meet demand with unrivaled density.

Tocancipá: A geostrategically optimal position in Colombia

The Tocancipá Free Trade Zone further fortifies Colombia as a strategic hub for data centers and AI. Proximity to the central economic and connectivity hub of Bogotá, along with investment incentives, logistical efficiencies, and expedited import processes for specialized hardware and equipment, are all important characteristics that make this location a perfect fit to operate high-availability facilities.

Hosting data inside Colombian territory also benefits businesses around data sovereignty, regulatory compliance, cybersecurity, and low-latency operations. In the case of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, this value-add is even more important.

Colombia as a strategic hub for data centers and AI: Infrastructure, talent, and skills

A key reason Colombia is a strategic hub for data centers and AI is the rare combination of world-class infrastructure and specialized talent. Infrastructure, as is the case with technology certifications like ICREA, is only half the story, with operational maturity and people being decisive elements.

Ilkari in Colombia currently has a team of 32 specialized professionals backed up by global teams and is operating its infrastructure with a multidisciplinary engineering staff that directly manages the data center, offering a higher degree of direct control and reliability over heavily outsourced operations. Colombia is also the location of Ilkari’s Global Technical Operations Center, or GTOC, from which infrastructure operations in other regions are monitored, acting as a regional knowledge center and accelerating the growth of local talent.

Colombia as a strategic hub for data centers and AI: The future is artificial intelligence

AI, in particular, is a foundational element in the evolution of Colombia as a strategic hub for data centers and AI. Artificial intelligence workloads, specifically those tied to machine learning and neural networks, are well-known for requiring high energy density, advanced cooling, and particularly GPU-based servers. Ilkari already has GPU servers installed and operating in its Colombian facility, enabling the development of AI workloads for local customers.

Future phases will expand the data center’s power capacity in alignment with technology development to continue increasing energy density. R&D and validation will also be supported by Ilkari’s innovation lab in Málaga, Spain, where new architectures are prototyped and developed for deployment to meet specific requirements of clients.

Colombia as a strategic hub for data centers: A growing sector

Colombia’s data center market dynamics are a key part of the story. This is a market that, according to market research, will grow from USD 81 million in 2024 to over USD 300 million in 2030, with compound annual growth of nearly 28% over this period. This growth will be led by accelerating cloud adoption, artificial intelligence development, and national digital transformation strategies.

Ilkari aims to grow along with the sector, playing a supporting role for not only end users but also for system integrators and other partners with whom the company can adapt its services to the requirements of an ever-changing market.

Colombia as a strategic hub for data centers: Beyond ICREA

Level IV is only the most recent of certifications acquired by Ilkari to reinforce its presence as a benchmark for Colombia and Latin America as a strategic hub for data centers and mission-critical workloads. In this regard, Ilkari has recently earned certifications like DCOS Maturity Level 4, TIA-942-C Rated 3, and SS 564 Green Data Centre as part of its commitment to world-class, sustainable, and efficient infrastructure.

Colombia is a digital export hub for Latin America

Colombia is a strategic hub for data centers, critical infrastructure, and Artificial Intelligence, which are key trends in this industry. With world-class and sovereign technology infrastructure, skilled talent, and a rapidly accelerating investment cycle, Colombia as a strategic hub for data centers and artificial intelligence is no longer a slogan for the future but a present and growing reality that Colombia is fast defining as part of its own economic narrative.