WEEKLY REVIEW OF THE COLOMBIAN ECONOMY April 22 – 26
S&P Raises Colombian Credit Rating
Standard & Poor’s upgraded Colombia’s sovereign credit rating to BBB from BBB minus, with a stable outlook. S&P noted that a strong financial profile, growing domestic capital markets, and favorable long-term GDP growth expectations have strengthened Colombia’s creditworthiness.
Mexico to Join the MILA Market
The Mexican government is proposing financial reforms that include changes needed to become a member of the Latin American Integrated Market (MILA in Spanish). The stock markets of Peru, Chile, and Colombia are already integrated in the MILA, with the participation of more than 500 companies. Mexico’s announcement is an additional step in the Pacific Alliance’s integration strategy.
Fist Road Concession Projects Receive Proposals
The Colombian National Infrastructure Agency has received 32 proposals for the first two projects opened for bids as part of the country’s new road concessions. The two projects are the roads between Girardot-Puerto Salgar and Mulalo-Loboguerrero for a combined value of US$ 3 billion dollars. Companies from Spain, Italy, Brazil, France, Mexico, Austria, and China have submitted proposals.
For complete information please visit – http://bit.ly/Y2sPvM
The Ambassador’s Infrastructure Webinar: If You Missed It, Here’s the Recording
For those who weren’t able to join us for the U.S. Ambassador’s webinar on Tuesday about investment and trade opportunities related to Colombian infrastructure, please click the following link for a recording of the presentation, including both audio and the PowerPoint slides: http://conx.adobeconnect.com/p2azn3u3y9g/.
If you would like to download the slides, including the presentation by guest speaker Dr. Luis Andrade, President of Colombia’s National Infrastructure Agency (ANI), please click here: http://bit.ly/WZxdx8
Webinar: Investment and Trade Opportunities Related to Colombian Infrastructure.
Please join us for the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá’s upcoming webinar: Investment and Trade Opportunities Related to Colombian Infrastructure.
- Time/Date: 4pm EDT (3pm COT) on Tuesday, March 19th.
- Speakers: U.S. Ambassador to Colombia Michael McKinley and Colombia’s National Infrastructure Agency President Luis Andrade.
- Details: The webinar will focus on opportunities for U.S. firms in Colombia’s planned expansion of its transportation infrastructure sector (including roads, rail, ports, airports, and rivers). Participants will have the opportunity to pose questions directly to Ambassador McKinley and President Andrade during the Q&A portion of the call. The webinar is free and will be held in English.
- More information is available here: http://www.state.gov/e/eb/directline/events/205596.htm
- To sign up, please click here: http://www.state.gov/e/eb/directline/contact/205595.htm
Brazil – Colombia – Panama | May 12-18, 2013 Secretary of Commerce to Lead Infrastructure Trade Mission
Join the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in Latin America
The Secretary of Commerce will lead an Infrastructure Business Development Mission to Brazil, Colombia and Panama from May 12- 18, 2013. In all three countries, the governments and private sector are investing significant money in infrastructure projects. As a result, the mission will focus on export-ready U.S. firms in a broad range of leading U.S. infrastructure industrial sectors with an emphasis on project management and engineering services (construction,architecture and design), transportation (road/highways, rail, airports and intelligent transportation systems), energy (distribution, transmission and smart grid) and safety and security.
Space is Limited. Apply Today.
Date: May 12-18, 2013
Venue: São Paulo and Brasília, Brazil, Bogotá, Colombia and Panama City, Panama
Additional Information: export.gov/BrazilColombiaPanama2013 | businessliaison@doc.gov | 202-482-1360
For more information : http://bit.ly/Vwhi6u
WEEKLY REVIEW OF THE COLOMBIAN ECONOMY February 11 – 15
Coal Production for 2012 Lower than Expected
According to Colombia’s National Mining Agency, coal production for 2012 reached 89.2 million tons, falling short of the government’s goal of 97 million tons.
Industrial Activity Grew 0.7% in 2012
According to the National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI), manufacturing production grew only 0.7% in 2012.
Colombian Investment in Road Reconstruction
The Colombian National Risk Management Agency announced that it will invest US $88.3 million in the acquisition of heavy machinery for the reconstruction of roads affected by the rainy season. The machinery will be part of a program that would make resources available to municipalities and departments to allow them to update their secondary roads. For more information on the process contact Sandra Calvo, sandra.calvo@dgr.gov.co .
For complete information please visit - http://bit.ly/12RHEEf
First Four Road Concessions Opened for Pre-Qualification
The Colombian National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) invites companies to participate in the pre-qualification process for the following Public Private Partnership road concessions:
- Cartagena - Barranquilla (Value approx US$760 million – http://bit.ly/14I6yEX )
- East Cundinamarca (Value approx US$680 million – http://bit.ly/TVjMvQ )
- Cali – Dagua (Value approx US$1.1 billion – http://bit.ly/VJsWIj )
- Honda – Girardot (Value approx US$775 million – http://bit.ly/11v74bk )
For more information, please contact:
PATRICIA BARRIGA RIVEROS
Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura
Tel: (57- 1) 3791720 Ext 1212 - pbarriga@ani.gov.co
Colombian Government Procurement Website
This website allows users to review active contractual processes offered by most Colombian government agencies and municipal and departmental entities. The main goal of the portal is to promote transparency, efficiency, and the use of technology in public procurement for the benefit of employers, government agencies, and the general public. Users can search for all characteristics of a contract including value, closing dates, requirements and contact information.
The website currently includes the national annual acquisition plan for all government agencies : https://www.contratos.gov.co/carguedocs/ConsultaPAA.do
This is one of the main bids that can be found on the website:
Public bid for the construction of the NEW CONTROL TOWER and complementary works at the international airport of Pereira
Value: US$ 940 million – https://www.contratos.gov.co/consultas/detalleProceso.do?numConstancia=12-1-85343
Upcoming Road Concession Opportunities
The Colombian government will soon open four road concessions for bidding:
- Honda-Puerto Salgar-Girardot (313km; in the area between Bogota and Cali). A detailed description of this concession (in Spanish) is available here: http://www.ani.gov.co/CMS/media/file/Girardot%20Puerto%20Salgar%20Honda.pdf
- Mulaló-Loboguerrero-Cali (90km; part of the route from Cali to the Pacific coast; estimated cost of USD$556 million). A detailed description of this concession (in Spanish) is available here: http://www.ani.gov.co/CMS/media/file/Mulalo%20loboguerrero.pdf
- Caquesza-La Calera-Guasca (154km; on the eastern outskirts of Bogota; estimated cost of USD$361 million). A detailed description of this concession (in Spanish) is available here: http://www.ani.gov.co/CMS/media/file/Perimetral%20del%20Oriente%20de%20Cundinamarca.pdf
- Cartagena-Barranquilla-Malambo (152km; Caribbean coast; estimated cost of USD$444 million). A detailed description of this concession (in Spanish) is available here: http://www.ani.gov.co/CMS/media/file/Cartagena%20Barranquilla.pdf
The government of Bogota will open the prequalification stage in mid-January 2013. For the companies which qualify, the bidding process will be opened in March 2013.
For more information, please contact :
PATRICIA BARRIGA RIVEROS
Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura
Tel: (0571)3791720 Ext 1212 - pbarriga@ani.gov.co
The Colombian Government opens 4G providers auction
The Ministry of IT and the Communications Regulation Commission, CRC, announced the final draft of the auction to deliver five operating licenses for mobile Internet 4G. In total, the GOC will grant permissions to 160 MHz, that will be auctioned in three segments of 30 megahertz (MHz) in the AWS band, while in the 2500 Mhz band delivered 70 Mhz, will be delivered in 2013.
Interested parties may comment on the draft of the auction until Nov. 19, the final statement will be released in December and the auction will take place in February 2013.
Winning entities must cover all municipal capitals with over 8,000 people to June 2014 and the entire country five years after receiving the license, for its part, the starters have 10 years to deploy their infrastructure. Under the terms of the auction, operators will be required to distribute 350,000 tablets with an Internet connection on a social plan for the whole country, while the starters have to deliver 150,000 tablets.
Among the interested companies one can find so far: Anditel, Avatel, Comcel, Tigo, Directv, Emcali, ETB, Entel, International Communications Networks, Movistar, Telmex, UNE and NII Holding.
Expectations for the auction are approximately more than US$ 200 billion dollars and will occur in two forms: one open and one private. The second is for new entrants, that will not have to compete with those already operating in the country, with the aim of encouraging the arrival of new market entrants.
For more information please go to: http://bit.ly/SA0SJ9
WEEKLY REVIEW OF THE COLOMBIAN ECONOMY October 15 -19
FDI up 16% so far in 2012
According to the Exchange Balance calculated by the Colombian Central Bank, the coun-try received US$ 12.9 billion in FDI through September, which represents an increase of 15.8% in comparison with the same period of 2011.
Colombia will initiate projects for more than US$2.5 billion in 2012 funded with royalties.
According to the Director of the National Planning Department, Mauricio Santa Maria, in the first year of the new royalties law (distribution of funds from mineral and hydrocarbon exploitation), Colombia will initiate projects totaling more than US$ 2.5 billion.
Congress approved over US$103 million budget for 2013
The Colombian Congress accepted the 2013 national budget, including an investment plan of $23.7 million, the largest in Colombian history, according to the Ministry of Finance.
First rice shipment arrives in Colombia
The first rice (paddy) shipment from the U.S. under the U.S.-Colombia FTA arrived in the Co-lombian port of Barranquilla on October 18. The shipment totaled 6,000 tons.
Please visit – http://bit.ly/QCodHv
