Unido Digital Media, LLC

New traffic regulations, established under Law 2551 of 2022, have set revised speed limits for vehicles across Colombia’s road network, with particular restrictions in major urban centers. Violations of these speed limits are subject to a fine of 711,750 Colombian pesos in 2025, an amount equivalent to approximately $175 USD as of June.

The regulations, overseen by entities such as the Ministry of Transport, delineate speed restrictions based on road classification.

National Speed Limits

  • Urban Roads and Municipal Highways: The maximum speed limit is 50 kilometers per hour (km/h).
  • National and Departmental Roads: The maximum speed limit is 90 km/h.
  • Rural Roads: The maximum speed limit is 80 km/h.
  • School and Residential Zones: A reduced maximum speed of 30 km/h applies in these areas.
  • Dual Carriageways without Pedestrian Crossings: The maximum speed limit is 120 km/h.

Speed Limits in Major Colombian Cities

Specific speed limits are implemented in the country’s principal cities by their respective mobility authorities:

Factors Determining Speed Limits

Law 2551 of 2022 specifies that speed limits are determined by several factors, including:

  • Infrastructure
  • Road layout
  • Location
  • Traffic volume
  • Accident history

Mobile Phone Usage While Driving

The National Land Traffic Code (Law 769 of 2002) prohibits the manipulation of mobile phones by drivers, even when a vehicle is stationary at a traffic light. Violation C38 of this code specifies a fine for using “mobile communication systems or telephones installed in vehicles while driving, except when used with accessories or auxiliary equipment that allow hands-free operation.”

As per 2024 salary benchmarks, the fine for violation C38 is 711,750 pesos for using a phone while driving or texting.

Traffic Fine Discounts

Individuals cited for traffic violations may be eligible for discounts:

  • A 50% discount on the fine is available if paid within the first five business days of receiving the citation. This option also requires completion of a traffic safety course at the relevant Department of Mobility.
  • A 25% discount is applicable if the fine is paid between the sixth and twentieth business days after receiving the traffic ticket. This also necessitates attendance at a traffic safety course.

Transit police have strict limits on their authority

In Colombia, the blue clad transit police are a different authority than the national police. The transit police report to each city’s Secretary of Mobility, and deal strictly with traffic, vehicles, and drivers. As such, the only documents they may require from a driver are:

  • Mandatory Traffic Accident Insurance (SOAT)
  • Certificate of the vehicle’s annual technical-mechanical inspection
  • Driver’s license
  • Vehicle ownership card
  • Citizenship card (cédula) or identification document, such as a passport

Visitors to Colombia may drive using their valid foreign license if Colombia has such a bilateral agreement with the visitors’ home country, but foreign residents in Colombia, even if residing in temporary accommodations must have a Colombian driver license, even if the foreign resident is in possession of a license from his or her home country.

Transit officers may not ask for your cell phone to review what applications you have installed, nor for residency certificates or bank passwords. They cannot ask you personal questions or search your car without a court order, unless you are in the act of committing a crime. They have no authority to deport anyone, and may not accept any payments for anything whatsoever. They can immobilize and tow vehicles if there is a risk to public safety, if the documents are out of order, or if the driver is inebriated. They may also contact the National Police or immigration, if they suspect you of a crime, but they cannot enforce immigration or non-traffic crimes directly. For this reason, often the Transit Police carry out operations with National Police on hand, who do have more powers.

Photo credit: Loren Moss.

A new report from Colombia’s Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) indicates that fixed internet and bundled service packages were the dominant trends in the nation’s fixed telecommunications sector during the fourth quarter of 2024. The data shows continued growth in internet connections and revenue, contrasted by a decline in subscribers and income for subscription television.

According to the regulator’s Data Flash report, Colombia’s fixed services market, which includes internet, telephony, and television, reached 10.8 million total connections, with 88.1% belonging to residential customers.

The preference for bundled services, or “paquetes,” continued to grow. As of December 2024, triple-play bundles (internet, phone, and TV) accounted for 40.9% of all connections, an increase of 0.9 percentage points compared to the end of 2023. Double-play packages represented another 17.2% of the market, with the combination of telephony and internet being the most common, totaling over 1.15 million connections. Stand-alone, single-service contracts accounted for the remaining 41.9% of accesses, growing 1.85% over the previous year.

Total revenue from fixed services during the fourth quarter of 2024 reached $3.12 trillion COP, a 1.4% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The average monthly revenue per user stood at $96,142 COP. This growth was driven almost entirely by fixed internet services, which saw revenues climb by 9.14%. In contrast, revenue from the subscription television segment fell by 8.9%.

Diving deeper into the data, the number of fixed internet connections rose by 2.27% to a total of 9.09 million. This equates to a national household penetration rate of 44.4 connections for every 100 homes. The report also noted a significant increase in connection speeds, with the national average reaching 382.3 Mbps for downloads and 235.1 Mbps for uploads.

The television market moved in the opposite direction. Total pay-TV connections (including subscription and community-based services) reached 6.2 million. Of those, 6.1 million were for subscription television, a segment that saw its subscriber base shrink by 1.34% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.

Claudia Ximena Bustamante, commissioner and executive director of the CRC, stated that the report is a result of the commission’s ongoing monitoring of ICT markets and serves as an informational tool for public and private entities. She affirmed that the CRC’s objective is to continue promoting conditions that ensure quality, affordable, and widespread service coverage for citizens, noting the importance of fixed internet as a growth engine for the sector.

Internet access. Photo credit: OleksandrPidvalnyi from Pixabay.

Colombia’s new Medium-Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) highlights the continued deterioration in the country’s fiscal position and increases uncertainty about prospects for corrective measures, Fitch Ratings says. These factors were central to its revision of the Outlook on Colombia’s ‘BB+’ sovereign rating to negative in March this year.

The MTFF published on 13 June raises the 2025 central government deficit target by 2pp, to 7.1% of GDP, with subsequent increases of 1.4pp in 2026 and 0.8pp in 2027, to 6.2% and 4.9%, respectively. The deficit-reduction plan in the MTFF relies on uncertain revenue measures, including unspecified tax reform, and back loaded spending cuts to be implemented by the next administration after elections next year.

The MTFF is consistent with Fitch view in March that ongoing revenue underperformance and the reluctance of President Gustavo Petro’s administration to sacrifice spending priorities means that it would struggle to meet fiscal targets. According to Fitch, the slippage is greater than was anticipated in March, when it forecast a central government deficit of 6.2% of GDP.

Revisions to previous deficit targets, suspension of the fiscal rule, and wide deviations from budget projections have weighed on fiscal policy credibility. This is compounded by the activation of the escape clause, suspending the fiscal rule for three years to accommodate the larger deficits. Finance Minister German Avila said this was necessary to avoid harming economic growth and stability, and because 86% of the 2025 budget consists of inflexible items, thereby preventing near-term spending cuts. Several factors, including higher interest costs and social security and health transfers, have increased budgetary rigidities.

The government plans to gradually reduce the central government fiscal deficit by 3.4pp of GDP, via a combination of revenue measures (1.4pp) and expenditure cuts (2pp), aiming to bring the deficit to below 3% of GDP by 2030 and stabilizing it at about 2.8%. Under this plan, central government debt would rise from 59.3% of GDP in 2024 to 63.8% in 2027 and then decline slowly thereafter.

However, the lack of detailed consolidation measures in the MTFF and their proposed timing means that implementation prospects are highly uncertain. Revenue-raising proposals include a tax reform bill that could include adjustments to VAT and personal income tax for high earners. Congress rejected a proposal to raise $9.8 trillion COP last year, and tax reform is challenging to approve before the presidential elections scheduled for May 2026. Fitch says this casts doubt on the 1pp-of-GDP net fiscal adjustment planned for 2026, which would come solely from increased revenue.

The spending adjustment in the MTFF is not scheduled to begin until 2027, so it too is subject to election-related uncertainty. Budgetary rigidities may further increase in the medium term following the passage last year of pension reforms and legislation to increase central government transfers to the regions.

According to Fitch, deficits will remain structurally high in the absence of more concrete consolidation measures, meaning that gross general government debt-to-GDP rises in the forecast period, and is likely to exceed the Debt Dynamics Model path produced in March of 64.8% in 2028, increasing the gap to the ‘BB’ median (53.8% in 2024). Colombia has a record of passing tax reforms, but the potential for continued pre-election fiscal slippage may increase the challenge faced by the next administration in formulating and implementing a credible deficit-reduction plan when it takes office next July (with new measures potentially not taking effect until 2027).

The MTFF envisages greater market borrowing to meet higher 2025 financing needs, potentially including $2.4 billion USD of additional global bonds and more shorter-term borrowing in domestic markets, raising exposure to changes in market sentiment that could increase borrowing costs. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) suspended Colombia’s Flexible Credit Line in April, when it cited rising, above-target public deficits and debt.

Colombia President Gustavo Petro. Photo credit: Gustavo Petro/X.

Miami-based Tecnoglass, Inc. (NASDAQ: TGLS), with manufacturing based in Barranquilla, Colombia, has announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 USD per share, or $0.60 USD per share on an annualized basis, for the second quarter of 2025. Shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 30, 2025, will be paid a dividend of $0.15 USD on July 31, 2025.

Tecnoglass serves multifamily, single-family, and commercial end markets, and is the second-largest glass fabricator serving the US. With production facilities located in Barranquilla, Colombia, the company’s 2.7 million square foot, vertically integrated manufacturing complex serves over 1,000 global customers, with the U.S. accounting for more than 90% of revenues.

Tecnoglass’ tailored, high-end products are found on some of the world’s most distinctive properties, including One Thousand Museum (Miami), Paramount (Miami), Salesforce Tower (San Francisco), Via 57 West (NY), Hub50House (Boston), Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado (Bogotá), One Plaza (Medellín), Pabellon de Cristal (Barranquilla).

Above photo: Tecnoglass products make up the facade of distinctive architecture such as Fordham University (photo courtesy of Tecnoglass)

Labor reform 2.0 is on the verge of being passed by congress and then becoming law, marking a week of almost normalized political behavior. I gave you my read on Monday that the approval would go a long way towards relieving the pressure cooker of political polarization, and I stand by that.

The courts, in the meantime, have blocked the referendum via decree, and whilst Gustavo Petro expressed annoyance, it is now perhaps irrelevant, along with chatter of a national assembly, if the labor reform is passed into law.

Another reform, however, has run into problems. The constitutional court has questioned aspects of the pension reform, even though people have already begun moving assets around, and it has been returned to congress for revision. The legal system in Colombia is one of the slowest and bureaucratic on the planet, and these sorts of ‘after the event’ decisions only help to damage its reputation further.

Miguel Uribe is still fighting for his life, and whilst the political temperature has accordingly cooled, there are still too many in Colombia who wrongly think they are claiming the moral high ground by blaming the government when much of the evidence being discussed by the media points to different hands on the trigger. Many of the corporations and federations may dress up their support for Uribe in calls for unity, but they fail to hide the political message behind their public statements….shameful.

Given the ongoing madness in Washington’s it is good to see the government pushing ahead, looking to seek new partners and alliances. Recently, Colombia signed up to the new Silk Road agreement with China, and now they have been approved to join the BRICS Development Bank in order to potentially source new options for funding and partnerships. Much of the right is uncomfortable with this; however, it is wholly coherent and replicates in some respect what happened when, then number one export market, Venezuela, began to implode, and Colombia needed to seek alternative export partners.

Little economic data this week, however, April Economic Activity (ISE) from Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística – DANE Colombia grew just 1.14% YoY in April, the slowest pace in five months. However, the season was more favorable and pointed to continuing healthy growth. We also have the latest import (and deficit) data due out.

Have a great Friday.

Regards Roops.

Never miss Rupert’s latest commentary.
Follow him now on LinkedIn to see What Jumps Out.

Labor reform march. Photo credit: Presidencia de la República de Colombia.

Tourism service providers that operate adventure tourism activities must have an ‘outstanding’ level certification in technical standards related to safety, per the provisions of Resolution 0612 of May 16, 2024, issued by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism -MinCIT-, which granted 12 months for operators to comply with this requirement. From the publication in the Official Gazette, which became effective on June 11 of the same year.

Adventure tourism service providers must comply with 100% of the requirements of the applicable technical standard to prevent accidents and protect the integrity of tourists, the community in the area, and guides.

This resolution, which regulated Article 12 of Law 2068 of 2020, defined the levels of tourism quality to ensure that service providers, destinations, and tourist attractions comply with quality, sustainability, and safety standards, to prevent accidents and protect the integrity of tourists, the community of the area, and guides.

During this period, the MinCIT has socialized the content of the resolution in 26 specific conferences in municipalities such as Mesetas, Guaduas, Santa Marta, Apía, Pereira, Buenaventura, Cali, Puerto Carreño and Guadalajara de Buga, among others, with more than 2,000 participants; and in scenarios such as technical assistance days on tourism quality, safety committees, National Tourism Quality Week, among other events, held since August 2024, reaching another 1,667 people.

Service providers should be aware that:

  •  They must comply with technical safety standards at an outstanding level, which means meeting 100% of the requirements of the applicable technical standard.
  • The certification must be granted by a Conformity Assessment Body (OEC), accredited by the National Accreditation Body of Colombia (ONAC). The OECs can be consulted in https://onac.org.co/directorio-de-acreditados/
  • The mayors’ offices and territorial entities will supervise compliance and apply the sanctions established in Article 72 of Law 300 of 1996, which even contemplates the possibility of cancellation of the National Tourism Registry (RNT) for up to 5 years, depending on the seriousness of the offense.
  • They must consult with the territorial entities on the mechanisms for notifying them of compliance with this requirement.
  • They must include in their advertising that their activities are certified.
  • This certification is not just a formality; it is a commitment to life so that adventure tourism is synonymous with excellence and prevention, and we continue to consolidate Colombia as The Country of Beauty.

Photo credit: MINCIT.

The Colombian government has approved the suspension of the country’s fiscal rule for a period of three years, activating a rarely used “escape clause” that allows the state to exceed legally established deficit limits. The decision was taken despite the formal opposition of the country’s independent Fiscal Rule Committee (CARF) and just after the meeting on this matter led by the Superior Council of Fiscal Policy (CONFIS), but prior to the publication of their official resolution.

This move, considered exceptional, provides the government with increased borrowing capacity. It allows the Ministry of Finance to bypass restrictions designed to maintain long-term fiscal sustainability. Finance Minister Germán Ávila is expected to provide a public explanation and present the arguments behind the decision.

The fiscal rule, adopted to control public debt and prevent overspending, has served since 2011 as a critical pillar for investor confidence and creditworthiness. Suspending it raises alarms among economists and former officials, who warn that the country may face higher borrowing costs and a possible downgrade from credit rating agencies, such as Moody’s, the only major credit rating agency still maintaining Colombia’s investment-grade status. In May, a top analyst from this agency said to Reuters that if a planned fiscal consolidation in Colombia fails to stabilize public debt and comply with fiscal rules, it could lead to a ratings downgrade for the country.

Analysts had previously warned that the government’s 2025 fiscal deficit target of 5.1% of GDP was unfeasible due to overly optimistic revenue forecasts and reluctance to cut spending. With this suspension, Corficolombiana (the largest financial services company in Colombia) now projects that the fiscal deficit could climb to 7.4% of GDP in 2025, with net public debt hitting a record high of 63% of GDP.

The last time Colombia suspended the fiscal rule was in 2021, during the COVID-19 crisis. That exceptional context justified increased borrowing to respond to the health and economic emergency. Critics argue that no such extraordinary event exists today to warrant this new suspension.

Former finance ministers have raised their concerns. José Manuel Restrepo emphasized via X that the fiscal rule is not a constraint but a safeguard that ensures responsible economic management. Breaking it, in his view, could trigger a chain reaction—rising debt costs, currency volatility, lost investor confidence, and ultimately, deep economic hardship. José Antonio Ocampo echoed these concerns, explaining to the Colombian economic-financial newspaper La República that with this move “access to the IMF’s flexible credit will be lost; the government had no intention of using it, but it shouldn’t be lost. It is given to countries that stand out for the strength of their macroeconomic fundamentals.”

“Suspending the fiscal rule is not only worrying, it also makes clear, once again, that the Petro government is pushing for the 2026 elections based on contracts, debt, and waste,” Mauricio Cárdenas pointed out via X.

The CONFIS meeting that preceded the decision involved key economic and fiscal authorities, including the finance minister, the director of the National Planning Department, and the heads of national treasury, credit, and taxation offices.

As the government prepares to present the new Medium-Term Fiscal Framework on June 13, analysts expect no major spending cuts to be announced. Instead, this suspension signals a departure from Colombia’s historical fiscal discretion, triggering concerns about the long-term credibility of Petro’s economic moves.

Headline photo: Colombia President Gustavo Petro (Gustavo Petro / X)

The Feria de las 2 Ruedas (F2R) 2025 concluded its XVII edition in Medellín, Colombia, from May 15 to 18, reporting record figures in attendance and estimated economic impact. The event, held at Plaza Mayor Medellín, reaffirmed its position as a significant platform for the motorcycle industry in the Americas.

According to the organizers, the four-day event attracted over 92,000 visitors, surpassing previous records. This included approximately 5,400 international attendees from over 58 countries, indicating a growing global interest in the Colombian motorcycle market and the F2R event.

The Secretaría Distrital de Desarrollo Económico de Medellín estimated that the F2R 2025 generated an economic impact of $33.9 million USD for the city. This benefited various sectors, including hospitality, gastronomy, transportation, commerce, entertainment, and tourism services. Official figures reported an 82% hotel occupancy rate during the event.

The trade show floor hosted 535 exhibitors, including 104 international participants and 300 representatives from delegations from China and India. Over 2,000 brands were showcased, providing a comprehensive overview of the motorcycle and light mobility industry. Commercial activity was notable, with over 1,600 motorcycles sold during the fair. The business roundtables facilitated over 150 meetings between entrepreneurs, further establishing the F2R as a key networking hub for industry development.

Innovation was a central theme at F2R 2025, with the “Ruta de la Innovación” featuring more than 61 new vehicle launches. Fourteen national and international assemblers and dealers presented their latest models and technologies in dedicated spaces across the venue, including the Gran Salón de Convenciones, Pabellón Blanco, Pabellón Verde, and the new Pabellón Naranja.

The event also emphasized knowledge exchange and training, with 23 academic events attracting over 1,930 registered participants. New additions to the program included the 1st Panel on Sustainable and Light Mobility, the 1st Road Safety Seminar, and the 1st Business Leaders Meeting. These sessions, alongside ongoing talks, forums, and workshops, covered topics such as electric mobility, mechanics, sustainability, traffic laws, and the inclusion of women in motorcycling.

Local entrepreneurship was supported through a partnership with the Alcaldía de Medellín. Thirteen local ventures showcased innovative products in accessories, specialized clothing, and technological solutions for the two-wheeled sector, including developments for individuals with reduced mobility. Noteworthy participants included Matt Movilidad, presenting devices for improved mobility; Orbit Wear, featuring motorsport-inspired apparel; and ImpercapImpermeables, manufacturing garments from recycled plastic.

Sports events on two wheels were a major attraction, drawing over 23,000 spectators. The Copa Stunt F2R Nitrox, sponsored by Nitrox, featured competitions in open, high-cylinder, 2-stroke, and 4-stroke categories. Other sporting highlights included the Festival Stunt F2R Nitrox, BMX and BikeTrial acrobatics, and GYMKHANA AKT competitions featuring AKT Motos.

Winners in the Copa Stunt F2R Nitrox Open category were Luis Bernal (1st), Juan Manuel Zambrano “Juancho Stunt” (2nd), and James Alejandro Pieñeros “James Stunter” (3rd). In the high-cylinder category, Pablo Zapata “Vocha” took first place, followed by Julián Arias (2nd) and Marco Ramírez “Marco Stunt” (3rd). The 2-Stroke category saw Neider Messino “Neider Stunt” in first, Cristian Zuluaga “Virni” in second, and Jhon Mario Ortiz “Jhonma_Baylay” in third. Finally, in the 4-Stroke category, Juan David Zuluaga claimed the top spot, with Jhonny Zapata “Jhonny Stunt” second and José Edison Hernández “Goku Stunt” third.

The final round of the Copa Stunt highlighted the skills of the top nine riders, with Neider Messino, Cristian Gil Zuluaga, and Jhonny Zapata securing the top three positions. James Mejía won the Gymkhana AKT competition, followed by “Baby Stunt” and Gaviria.

The test drive track remained a popular feature, with over 1,850 tests conducted on gasoline-powered vehicles and more than 563 tests on electric and sustainable mobility options. This allowed attendees to experience the performance and technology of various models firsthand.

The inaugural day of F2R 2025 commenced at Parques del Río with a welcoming ceremony for over 500 national and international exhibitors, media representatives, and motorcycle enthusiasts. Guillermo Pajón, director and creator of the fair, emphasized the event’s significance in the business, academic, and cultural spheres of the global two-wheeled industry.

Academic sessions on the first day included a conference by Dr. Carlos Hernán González Parias from Tecnológico de Antioquia – ITM on the geopolitical implications of a potential new trade war for the automotive sector, highlighting Colombia’s reliance on imported auto parts, particularly from China. Another conference by Dr. Francia Inés Hernández Díaz from Forvis Mazars focused on optimization opportunities in customs tariffs, duties, and logistics related to sourcing and investment processes in Colombia and Latin America, with a particular focus on Asian markets.

Looking ahead, the organizers of the Feria de las 2 Ruedas have announced the dates for the next edition, which will take place from May 21 to 24, 2026. Additionally, they have invited industry stakeholders and enthusiasts to Expo2R in Bogotá at Corferias from October 23 to 26, 2025, and to the Autoshow, scheduled for August 29 to 31, 2025, which will focus on sustainable mobility and the automotive industry. These events underscore the sector’s commitment to economic growth and the promotion of new transportation modes in Colombia and the Americas.

Throughout the event, various industry voices shared their perspectives. Adriana Sanjuan, manager of Repsol lubricants for Colombia (BME: REP, OTCQX: REPYY), highlighted the value of direct consumer engagement and product showcasing at the fair. Angelo Acosta, a journalist from Moto.it in Italy, noted the passion and the strong need for mobility observed during the event, suggesting significant growth potential for F2R.

The Simposio de Clubes Moteros featured prominent figures, including former professional racer Álex Barros, who shared his career journey, and Silvio Frasson from Repsol, who discussed the importance of preventive maintenance and safety gear. Journalist Martín Urruty from MotoGP encouraged attendees to pursue their passion and seek new opportunities.

The final day of the fair included autograph sessions with Agustín Ostos (Soy Tribu), riders from Team Yamaha (TYO: 7272), and Tomás Puerta (Tomás Puerta). The day also featured the finals of the Copa Stunt F2R Nitrox, the Gymkhana AKT, the Festival Stunt F2R Nitrox, a show by Stunt Bike Factory, miniriders competitions, Biketrial, and BMX events. The Monster Energy (NASDAQ: MNST) Rock Fest F2R provided the closing entertainment for the event.

Photo credit: Feria de las 2 Ruedas.

After the first quarter of the year, exports of non-mining energy goods consolidate their good performance and reaffirm the growth they have brought since 2024.

Between January and March of this year, the country exported $6.140 million USD in these products (agro, agro-industrial, and industrial), a growth of 23.5% compared to the same period in 2024 when these sales reached $4.970.7 million USD.

They also increase in volume. In the first three months of this year, the country shipped 2.3 million tons to the world, which meant a growth of 6%, compared to the same period in 2024 when 2.2 million tons were shipped.

One of the strategies of the foreign trade policy of the Government of Change in which we work is to facilitate instruments and programs for the sophistication, diversification and promotion of the export basket, this through the assets of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, in such a way that the expansion of the national supply is guaranteed. Especially non-mining energy goods.

The analysis of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism indicates that, in the first quarter of this year, although industrial goods – including agro-industrial goods – accounted for more than half (54.5%) of this type of sales and grew 12.9%, it was agricultural products, which weigh 45.5%, that most boosted the behavior of non-mining exports. With a growth of 39.4%.

In this way, there were several products that helped to drive the growth of these sales. There are, for example: coffee, which registered double sales than a year ago and increased 100.8%; coffee extracts with 47.6%; palm oil, 29.3%; insecticides 22.1%; polypropylene, 21.3%; beauty preparations, 17.9%; various fruits, 17.7%; polychloride, 14%; electrical transformers, 11.6%, and flowers 9%, among many other products.

The departments

The nine main product export departments, which represent 89.9% of this basket, registered growth, some more than others.

Among those that registered the highest growth, and that have the lowest participation, were Huila with a positive variation of 82.9%, marked by coffee. Caldas registered an increase of 65.6%, also driven by coffee and coffee extracts and essences, mainly.

Magdalena’s non-mining exports increased 35.8%, marked by vegetable oils. Antioquia, which is the second department with the highest participation, after Bogotá, reported an increase of 24.5%, led by coffee and flowers.

Finally, among the 10 main destinations for this class of products, those that increased the most were Canada with 72.6%, Germany, 64.6%, Venezuela, 37.3%, Belgium, 32.8%, and the United States, 29.4%.

Photo credit: MINCIT.

From July 9 to 20, Corferias will once again be the epicenter of Colombian agriculture with the 25th edition of Agroexpo, the most representative fair of the agro-industrial and agricultural sector in Colombia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Organized by the National Union of Colombian Livestock Associations – UNAGA and Corferias, Agroexpo 2025 will bring together more than 600 direct exhibitors, nearly 3,000 live animals on display and judging, and an attendance of more than 200,000 visitors, including agricultural professionals, businessmen, buyers, media, and the general public.

The field that drives

This edition will have as its theme “The field that drives”, a concept that transcends the slogan to become a living experience that reflects transformation, resilience, and vision of the future. The fair will highlight the role of agriculture as an economic, social, and environmental engine, and will focus on innovation, sustainability, inclusion, and generational renewal as pillars of the new Colombian agriculture.

“The countryside is not only territory: it is an engine of transformation and progress. Its richness, diversity, and innovation propel people, industries, and communities toward a more prosperous and sustainable future. From small producers to large agribusinesses, Colombian agriculture offers real opportunities to grow, compete, and improve the quality of life,” said Doris Chingaté, Agroexpo project manager in Corferias.

A complete, multi-industry experience

Agroexpo 2025 will offer a comprehensive program with commercial, technical, and experiential spaces, designed to generate real connections, boost business, transfer knowledge, and make good practices visible. The agenda includes:

  • Agricultural and livestock trade show
  • Animal Exhibit & Judging
  • Agricultural Experiential Center (CEA)
  • III Agroexpo Innova Forum – INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH – The Path of Colombian Agriculture (In alliance with La República) space to make entrepreneurship and innovation in agriculture visible
  • World Congress of Swiss Brown Cattle (18 July)
  • XIV Porkcalidad Congress (9 and 10 July)
  • Auctions, business roundtables, activations, and family activities
  • Virtual showroom and digital presence through Econexia

“Agroexpo is more than a fair: it is a platform to do business, learn, innovate, and interact with other subsectors. It is the meeting point of agriculture that drives Colombia and the entire region,” said Daniel Espinosa, president of UNAGA.

A fair for everyone

Agroexpo aspires to be a stage where tradition, future, and identity converge. A space for producers, technicians, entrepreneurs, institutions, unions, families, and consumers to connect with the countryside, learn about its challenges, discover opportunities for transformation, and strengthen their commitment to rural development.

Photo credit: Agroexpo website.

Sign up for the Finance Colombia Newsletter

Contact Us

Copyright 2014-2023 Finance Colombia All Rights Reserved. We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.