Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism Partners with Swiss Cooperation to Launch Guide for Boosting Territorial Productive Development

To continue to strengthen the technical capacities of territorial entities in issues associated with productive development, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism received, during 2024 and the first months of 2025, the support of Swiss Cooperation, through the More Competitive Colombia Program, for the development of a methodological guide aimed at the design and implementation of productive transformation policies with a territorial approach.

In line with the objectives of the National Reindustrialization Policy, this guide incorporates a methodology that supports any territorial entity seeking to develop a productive policy tailored to its specific territory and reality, with the participation of public, private, academic, and organized civil society actors.

The construction of this guide was led by the firm Technopolis Group, through a participatory and rigorous process that included the review of conceptual and practical developments, both national and international; semi-structured interviews with key actors from Colombia and other countries, and regional workshops held in several departments, which allowed testing and adjusting the proposed guidelines.

The result is a practical and accessible tool that proposes a clear path, structured into nine steps, which guides entities through the stages of preparing, designing, and implementing productive development strategies. Additionally, each stage is supported by specific sources of information and tools that facilitate its application in the territory.

This tool was presented on May 21 to representatives of the departments of Amazonas, Caquetá, Guaviare, Guainía, Putumayo, Vaupés, Vichada, and Tolima, and national entities such as the National Planning Department, the National Federation of Departments, and the Ministry of Labor.

The methodological guide is projected as a support input for territorial entities, by facilitating the construction of roadmaps aimed at closing gaps, promoting economic growth, strengthening regional competitiveness, and contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of the population in the territories.

This tool was presented to representatives of the departments of Amazonas, Caquetá, Guaviare, Guainía, Putumayo, Vaupés, Vichada, and Tolima, and national entities such as the National Planning Department, the National Federation of Departments, and the Ministry of Labor.

Photo credit: MINCIT.