Colombia’s finance minister announced Wednesday that there is optimism among foreign investors after Colombia’s economy showed a strong first quarter, reported news site El Pais.
Following trips to London and three major U.S. cities, Finance Minister Juan Carlos Echeverry explained that natural resource mining, Colombia’s growing economy, and its agricultural sector were the focus points of his meetings with investors. Echeverry also emphasized that they were impressed by recent reforms made in the recent legislative session.
The minister said that he intends to travel to Asia soon to test the investment waters.
Last Thursday the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) released a report stating that Colombia’s economy had grown 5.1% in the first quarter of the year compared to the first three months of 2010. Echeverry expressed “aspirations and hopes of 5-6% [growth]” for the remainder of the year.
As it stands now, Colombia’s debt is $30 billion. Colombia’s director of public credit insists that the government’s plan for the rest of the year will keep the economy stable and predictable.
Echeverry said a country with an investment grade “is a country without surprises.”