Colombia has launched what is known as the fourth generation (4G) road concession programme, which is a major public-private investment initiative. Work on designing the programme first began in 2011. The first 4G concessions were awarded four years later in 2015, with the first construction work commencing in November 2015.
Colombia’s banking system is strong and has been enjoying double-digit percentage growth in its loan portfolio. Despite a relative slowdown in economic growth, bank profitability has held up well, as has capital adequacy and return on equity (ROE).
How will the new tax reform and the financial transactions tax affect the banking sector? SARMIENTO: The tax reform, passed in December 2014, encompassed a tax on financial transactions, an equity tax and an increase in income tax. The first two were just extensions of existing taxes that were supposed to cease starting in 2015....
Mauricio Cárdenas, minister of finance and public credit, has acknowledged that the Colombian budget for 2016 is under pressure. In November 2015 in a statement to the press he calculated that as a result of the drop in international oil prices the government would face a revenue shortfall of COP20.3trn ($7.5bn) in the period between 2013 and...
What progress has been made in the promotion of entrepreneurship and businesses in Colombia? CASTRO: One of the government’s most important achievements was the creation three years ago of iNNpulsa Colombia, a programme designed to promote business growth driven by innovation. This programme consists of three main goals: to foster...
In late October 2015 the World Bank released its report “Doing Business 2016: Measuring Regulatory Quality and Efficiency”, which ranked a total of 189 countries worldwide for the ease with which 10 specific business processes can be performed. They are: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering...
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