Industry

Weaker international demand and increasing foreign competition have caused the output of the industry sector to fall 0.7% in 2012, limiting its contribution to GDP to 12%. Traditional industries as well as the manufacturing of vehicle parts and their assembly have been hit the hardest. Nonetheless, some segments, such as fast-moving consumer goods, continue to display potential. Colombia’s shift in industrial focus from primary products to added value has also seen the development of niche segments such as cocoa products. Government initiatives such as the Stimulus Plan for Production and Employment and the Productive Transformative Programme, should help boost sector growth in the near future. This chapter contains an interview with María Claudia Lacouture, President, Proexport.