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Colombia: Doing business & staying in touch
Doing business in Colombia
Business culture in Colombia tends to be relatively formal, particularly at the beginning of a professional relationship. A handshake is the usual greeting, and professional titles such as Doctor or Doctora are commonly used as terms of respect, especially for senior professionals. Use surnames and titles until invited to use first names.
Personal relationships are important in Colombian business, and meetings often begin with conversation before turning to the main agenda. Taking time to establish trust and rapport is generally valued, and business may progress through several meetings rather than being concluded immediately. Spanish is the principal language of business; English is spoken in some multinational companies and internationally focused sectors, but an interpreter may be useful for important meetings if participants are not fluent in Spanish.
Punctuality is expected from visitors, although meetings may not always begin precisely on time. Business dress is generally smart and conservative in Bogotá and other major commercial centres, with somewhat less formal clothing appropriate in warmer coastal cities. Business cards are still used and should ideally include a Spanish translation on one side when dealing regularly with Colombian contacts.
Lunch is often arranged for business discussions and can be relatively leisurely. Decisions are often made by senior managers, and negotiations may take longer than visitors accustomed to more direct business cultures expect. Avoid pressing for an immediate decision; maintaining a courteous, patient approach is generally more productive.
Colombia has one of the larger economies in Latin America, with a diversified base encompassing services, manufacturing, agriculture, mining and energy. Services account for the largest share of economic activity, while oil, coal and other extractive industries remain important sources of export earnings. Agriculture is also significant, particularly coffee, bananas, flowers, palm oil and other tropical crops.
Oil remains a major contributor to the economy and one of Colombia's most valuable exports, although the country has sought to broaden its economic base and expand renewable energy and other non-extractive industries. Colombia is one of the world's leading producers of arabica coffee and a major exporter of cut flowers. Manufacturing includes food processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, vehicles and construction materials.
Tourism has grown substantially, supported by increasing international interest in cities such as Bogotá, Cartagena and Medellín as well as the Caribbean coast, coffee-growing region and nature-based destinations. Information technology, financial services and business services have also expanded, particularly in the country's larger cities.
Crude petroleum and petroleum products, coal, coffee, gold, cut flowers, bananas, and chemicals.
Machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and transport equipment, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and refined petroleum products.
Keeping in Touch in Colombia
Mobile coverage is extensive in cities, towns and along major roads, but can be patchy or unavailable in remote mountainous, jungle and rural areas. The principal mobile operators include Claro, Movistar and Tigo.
Prepaid SIM cards are widely available from mobile-phone shops and authorised retailers. Identification is required when registering a SIM card. Travellers using a foreign handset with a Colombian SIM for an extended period may also need to register the device's IMEI number with the network operator.
Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels, cafés, restaurants, shopping centres and airports, particularly in larger cities and tourist destinations. Internet access is generally reliable in urban areas but may be slow or unavailable in remote parts of the country.
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