The Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister met Portuguese entrepreneurs encouraging them to invest in Colombia, highlighting the country’s business opportunities and prospects for growth, El Espectador reported Friday.
Minister Sergio Diaz-Granados illustrated the advantages of investing in Colombia to 50 representatives from different Portuguese companies in the infrastructure, energy, tourism and agriculture and food sectors, at a conference of the Agency of Foreign Business and Investment (AICEP) held in Lisbon.
Diaz-Granados said, “In three and a half years, we hope to overtake Argentina.” He also emphasized the strength of the mining export sector and the growth of a middle class with strong purchasing power.
He predicted a 6% increase in the GDP of Colombia – which is currently the fourth highest in Latin America – over the next few years and reminded people of the recovery of foreign investment which has risen to pre financial crisis levels and hit $10 billion in 2010.
Diaz-Granados identified the following sectors as priorities to recieve foreign investment; mining, agriculture, tourism, innovation, and infrastructutre which includes construction and improvement of roads and railways.
Proexport Colombia, the national agency for promoting tourism, and its Portuguese counterpart AICEP signed a cooperation agreement which wil serve to strengthen relations between the two bodies. The president of AICEP praised the business projects of the Colombian government and announced their intention to participate in the Colombian market.
Portugal faces possible bankruptcy is eight weeks but is awaiting a bailout promised by “European partners” and the IMF, Associated Press reported Friday.