Colombia, the Republic of Columbia is a country in the north west of South America. The country of Colombia is bound to the north and north-west by the Caribbean Sea, to the east by Venezuela and Brazil, to the south by Ecuador and Peru, and to the west by Panama and the Pacific Ocean. The official language in Colombia is Spanish. The capital city of Colombia is Bogotai, with an estimated population of 44,000,000.

Colombia with a total area of 1,138,910 sq km is the fourth biggest country in South America. This rank of fourth comes after Brazil, Argentina and Peru. This area can be divided up into land, 1,038,700 sq km, and water, 100,210 sq km. Although it is in the Tropical area The Colombia [http://www.pixibot.com/60-colombia]n climate, is made different by the influence of the Andes mountain range. Colombia is tropical in the coastlands and lowlands and can get very cool in the mountains.

The eastern half of Colombia, which is more than half its total physical size, is plain and composed by rainforest. Colombia is crossed by rivers which belong to both the Amazon and Orinoco basins. The northern part of Colombia is called “Los Llanos”, it is a savanna region. Colombian Pacific Plains at times of the year are among the most rainy parts in the world!

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Over the years the media has portrayed Colombia as a country riddled with bad people, drug cartels, and criminals. Although there indeed was a time when Colombia had tremendous problems with guerrillas and drug cartels, times have improved. The days of Pablo Escobar have passed and Colombia has now transformed into one of the safer countries in Central and South America.

One of the largest misconceptions of Colombia concern kidnappings. From the news concerning Colombia it is very surprising to learn that there are very few foreign kidnappings. In fact, almost all foreign kidnappings are drug related. Simply stated, the touist has involved himself in something outwardly dangerous and brought this trouble upon himself. The fact of the matter is tourism is growing exponentially in Colombia right now due to the governments massive campaign to bring peace and security to promote international tourism. The most common report from the international tourist in Colombia is they had a wonderful time and made many friends.

Another misconception of Colombia concerns the people; Colombians. The world has it in mind that Colombia is populated by a peoples ready to do harm. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The general population of Colombia is a very outgoing, proud people more concerned with entertaining and protecting their foreign guests than anything. Upon leaving Colombia most travelers and backpackers report they can’t believe how friendly the people are and how they felt safe and well received. The last several years Colombia has made enormous gains in security and the friendliness of the people is becoming widely known and renowned.

In Colombia many travelers are reporting how they were actually protected by total strangers from potential threats. As a result, tourism in Colombia continues to grow and is now one of the safer countries to visit. Basically these days it appears that Colombia and Mexico are changing places. Colombia continues to become safer for the tourist while Mexico is becoming increasingly dangerous. It looks like maybe it’s time to change countries.

One of the most significant differences between Colombia and most other Latin countries is the police. The police in Colombia are actually some of the most helpful, polite, and concerned peace officers in all Latin America. Countries such as Peru are currently gaining fame as to how bad the police are. One traveler reported that he went to the police about being mugged in Cuzco, Peru. While in the police station the police removed his camera from his shoulder and stole it. Colombia on the other hand is the opposite. The Colombian police force is well trained and constantly watching out for the safety of tourists in their plan to bring economy to the country inviting foreign tourism.

There are some things to watch out for concerning the police however they are all related to crimes the tourist may be tempted to commit. Mainly, in places such as Cartegena the police are famous for setting up foreign tourists wishing to purchase drugs. The setup is simple. Send someone to offer the tourist drugs. When he buys, grab him. As long as the tourist is smart enough to not involve himself in drugs, there are basically few worries. What the media has never broadcasted is almost all major problems involving foreign tourists in Colombia are drug related.

The only serious, pending alert for Colombia are pickpockets. It is common to arrive back to the hotel and find the camera is missing. These are not muggings or assaults, these are sneaky, professional pickpockets who can get in and out of a backpack while the tourist is walking. This however is not unique to Colombia as pickpockets are bountiful in every country, including the United States. The difference is always location. Basically it is common sense. While in cities, be aware!

The best way to avoid problems and have a nice trip is hire a professional guide. With a good guide the tourist will not only have a safer trip, he will get to see many more sites in a shorter time frame. A guide can take you from place to place quickly and efficiently keeping you out of harms way. In addition a guide can bring you the experience of cultural immersion which is one of best and most overlooked aspects of traveling to a foreign country. Although at first glance a guide may appear to be an expense, he is actually a money saver. A guide saves time, can show you more, and can keep you safe. Traveler’s insurance is a must for cameras however it doesn’t save time. It costs time dealing with police to get your paperwork to file your claim. In the meantime you are missing your vacation for a needless hassle.

Traveling Colombia can be one of the most amazing trips of a lifetime. The country offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the world as well as some of the friendliest people. While in Colombia there is no shortage of sites to see and things to do. Along with it’s own unique lost cities and cultures, the country has coffee tours, old colonial towns, rainforests, beaches, extreme sports, ecological tours, and amazing waterfalls. For those contemplating a visit to Colombia, now is the time!

Right after Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, Colombia is the fourth largest economy in Latin America. It is one of the only countries in South America with two coastlines – the Pacific and the Caribbean. This provides global investors with a great shipping advantage. It also has had a steady economic growth and a moderate inflation which makes it a promising market for exporting to Colombia. Also there are five distinct commercial hubs in the country.

With all this positive points, it stands as the latest and emerging market providing global businesses a great opportunity to venture out into. Here, let’s discuss how to export to Colombia – the challenges, opportunities and strategies:

Challenges:

• Existing government framework requires open bidding and public tenders. There could be a lack of transparency and fairness in bidding.

• Secondly, only registered firms under Colombian law were even allowed to provide legal services. International law firms had to form a joint venture with a local law firm.

• For bidding in Colombian government contracts, commercial presence was a requirement.

• For international banking there is a requirement to maintain commercial presence in the country. Insurance companies have restrictions as regards to providing policies under certain conditions where insurance policies are not considered equivalent to bank guarantees.

Opportunities:

Despite all the challenges faced, Colombia offers global businesses with a plethora of opportunities. Let’s discuss a few here:

• Planned infrastructure projects in Colombia will require most or all of the following services. Project financing, public works sub-contracting, logistics, construction equipment for public roads and airports.

Some other areas of interest for international investors could be water treatment, water supply, electric power generation, oil and gas exploration and pollution control equipment.. Transportation equipment, security and defense items and services too have a lot of demand in this place.

• Airport services and upgrade to the existing infrastructure is seen as a great opportunity for foreign investment here.

• Key sectors that have always attracted attention to trade in Colombia are: oil and gas, petrochemicals, renewable energy, telecommunications and refineries.

• Other export opportunities include cotton, wheat, corn, soy products, automotive parts, food and beverage processing etc.

• Packaging equipment and medical equipment are also a quite in demand here.

Entry Strategies:

Before you get into the details of how to export to Colombia, it’s equally important to analyze your market entry strategies. Here are a few tips:

• An agent or representative or a distributor in Colombia would be your best bet. This requires a proper contract to meet the Colombian Commercial Code.

• Negotiating contacts with trust and a professional relationship is a must.

• You can offer excellent after sales services as a strategy.

• Affordable financing and competitive pricing could be the key to your entry as compared to others that are competing for the same.

• Attending trade shows and advertising there could be a perfect way to make yourself known.

• Finally, it’s highly essential to be able to communicate in Spanish language.

Colombia is a country located in the Northwestern part of South America. The capital of Colombia is Bogota. The population of Colombia is over 46,000,000 people, and the majority of this population resides in the Andes Highlands and the Caribbean Coast. To the west, Colombia borders the Pacific Ocean, and to the north, the country borders the Caribbean Sea. Colombia shares borders with Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. The Andes mountain range runs from north to south through Colombia. To the east of the Andes Mountains is the Amazon Rain Forest which comprises 42% of Colombia's land area. Colombia is the 27th largest city in the world.

The principal language spoken in Colombia is Spanish. About half of the population is Mestizo, a mixture of the indigenous people and Europeans. About 10% of the people are of African descent, and another 3.4% of indigenous people. There are approximately 37% of the population that are of European ancestry. Some sources claim that at least 29% of the entire population has some African ancestry.

Colombia is a major producer and exporter of coffee, emeralds, oil, flowers, and coal. Ecopetral, a Colombian oil company, is the fourth largest oil company in South America. Colombia has the largest known coal reserves in South America.

The government is a representative democracy. Colombia's government has become very stable over the years. This has allowed Colombia to attract International companies to invest in Colombia. Bogota, Medellin, and Cali are major growth areas internationally. Other cities that have been beneficiaries of international growth are Cartagena and Santa Marta, both located on the Caribbean Sea. The Chinese have been making investments in the town of Buenaventura, Colombia's largest and most important port city.

The biodiversity of Colombia is vast, and can be seen in the diverse geographical locations. From the coastal areas to the Andes Mountains to the Amazon Rain Forest, a multitude of species of animals and plants thrive. Colombia has 34 national parks, and many other spectacular natural sites to explore. There are also 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Colombia.

Colombia is now enjoying an increasing tourist trade. In previous years Colombia had suffered from a lack of tourism as a result of the violence and the prolific drug trade. Things have drastically changed in Colombia and tourists are now discovering what Colombia has to offer. Cartagena, Santa Marta, San Andres Island, Providencia Island, and Barranquilla are a few examples of some popular international tourist destinations. Also attracting many foreigners to Colombia is the reasonable cost of living and a culture that is very engaging. "Health Tourism" has also become a major draw for Colombia. Many foreigners travel to Bogota, Cali, and Medellin for medical treatment. In 2010, Cali, Colombia performed over 50,000 cosmetic procedures.

There are 32 departments in the country and one capital district. These departments are analogous to states in the United States. Each department has a capital just as states do in the United States. The five largest cities in Colombia are Bogota with 7,600,000 people, Medellin with 3,800,000 people, Cali with 3,300,000 people, Barranquilla with 2,200,000 people, and Cartagena with 1,500,000 people.

Tourists are lured to Colombia for places to visit, and things to do while traveling in Colombia.

Why Invest in Colombia?

Thanks to the overall growth of the economy in Latin America and a diminishing gap in social inequality, investing in Colombia has become very attractive to international investors over the recent years. To add to this phenomenon of investor confidence, Colombia has improved its public image since it has focused on eliminating its internal conflicts. This has further enhanced the perception of the country as a stable business opportunity and given investors yet another reason to invest in Colombia.

On a global scale, here are some of the reasons why it is worth investing in Colombia sooner than later:

-Economic stability: The Colombian economy has maintained an average 4.8% growth over the past five years, also GDP growth above the estimated average for Latin America.

-Investor trust: In 2014, Colombia went from Baa3 to Baa2 on Moody's rating system which has also been endorsed by Standard & Poor's and Fitch.

-Investor protection: According to Doing Business 2015 published by the World Bank, Colombia ranked tenth worldwide and the first in Latin America in terms of investor protection. The same report recognizes the country to be the friendliest destination in Latin America to do business in.

-International market: Colombia currently has 10 free trade agreements and 3 pending agreements in the making, which give preferential access to over 45 countries and about 1,500,000,000 consumers in markets located in the United States, European Union, Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Peru; and soon to be with Costa Rica and Korea, nations with which Colombia is currently negotiating.

-Qualified Workers: According to the IMD 2014 ranking, Colombia has most skilled work in all of South America. Colombia surpasses countries such as Brazil, Chile, Peru, Argentina and Venezuela.

-Competitive legal structures: Colombia is a reference point in Latin America for the reforms it has put in place for business development. Since 2005, the country has implemented 29 reforms supported by the Doing Business 2015 publication from the World Bank.

So Now, How to Establish a Company in Colombia?

There are a number of company types available to suit every business type and need, but the most popular is an SAS company, which is a "Simplified Stock Corporation". Establishing this type of company in Colombia is relatively simple, fast and well suited to most business needs. Whereby only one person is needed to register the company, albeit a legal representative must be appointed that is either a Colombian national or a foreigner with an appropriate visa. This type of company allows free operation, with no currency controls or restrictions. Also with a SAS company, shareholders are only liable personally if there has been proof of fraud, as such there is no personal liability for corporate actions, including labor disputes, tax issues or other litigations that might arise with company operation.

The complete process to establish a SAS normally takes between two to three weeks (plus a further week to open a company bank account), but is also dependent on the complexity of the company, the availability of relevant personal documents and that of the founding owners . With a SAS, the founder members may also be eligible to apply for a visa in Colombia, allowing them to stay in Colombia whilst there businesses are operating, assuming that they make a sufficient investment aligning to a minimum of 100 time the legal minimum Colombian Salary (as at the time of writing, equating to approximately USD $ 21,000). A SAS company in most cases is the best commercial vehicle for business operations in Colombia, offering maximum flexibility, limited personal liability and a way to secure a visa to stay in Colombia.

If you want further information about this company type and its process, don't hesitate to contact us. Our team is willing to solve all your doubts and assist you in the constitution of your company and the setup of your business.

Colombia is a land of plenty: it boasts an astonishing variety of plant and animal life; it features terrain ranging from the rugged Andes to Pacific coastline to the mild Caribbean seacoast; and its people are among the most diverse populations in the world. There are nearly 90 indigenous nations in Colombia, and they speak 180 languages. From the tiny Baro tribe to the larger Wayuu, Muisca, and Kuna tribes, indigenous peoples have had a significant impact on Columbia’s rich history and culture.

Before European explorers settled in Colombia, the land was inhabited by indigenous groups. Most were assimilated into the mestizo culture (biracial group blending white and Indian ethnicities), but others held themselves apart. Today, Columbia is home to 567 reserves, or 30 percent of the country’s land, that are home to indigenous peoples. It is estimated that there are about 1 million indigenous people living in Colombia.

In 2009, Colombia signed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which outlawed discrimination against indigenous tribes and granted them protection under the law. Of particular importance was the declaration that these tribes could stay on their own lands, under protection of the state. Unfortunately, this has not made it easy for indigenous people. At least 27 of these unique tribes are in danger of disappearing because of armed conflict. They live in areas that are prized by drug smugglers and oil prospectors. Many have been forced to flee and dramatically change their way of life in order to survive.

In an effort to preserve their way of life, one little village, home to many Ticuna Indians, banned tourists. Those trying to enter will find themselves facing guards armed with sticks. Many still come to view the spectacular scenery and see the native peoples. But, say elders, tourism doesn’t put money into their hands, and they cannot share their “sacred” knowledge of rituals and medicine with outsiders. It is important to respect these wishes because this is not a tourist attraction; it is a home and a way of life that is crucial to this endangered tribe.

There are, however, other areas one can visit to get a sense of how indigenous people live. Tourists can go to Nabusimake, for instance; this is the most important place to the Arhuaco Indians, and visitors can see how they have made a village in the midst of incredible wilderness and beauty. While you cannot stay in the village, you can stay with a local family to enjoy the hospitality and experience life in a completely different culture.

No matter where you go, respect the people and the land they live on. Hopefully, these tribes can continue to carve out their existence in the wilds of Colombia for centuries.