Participating entities

Depending on the characteristics of the project, the entity may be the ANLA or the regional corporation.

The National Environmental Licensing Authority ANLA is in charge of ensuring that projects, works or activities subject to environmental licensing, permits or procedures comply with environmental regulations, in such a way that they contribute to the sustainable development of the country.

The Regional Autonomous and Sustainable Development Corporations in Colombia are the first environmental authority at the regional level. They are charged by law with managing the environment, renewable natural resources and sustainable development within their area of jurisdiction.

Institution in charge of planning, research, ordering, promotion, regulation, registration, information, inspection, surveillance and control of fishing and aquaculture activities.

The Bank of the Republic is a government agency, which exercises central banking functions. According to the Constitution, the main objective of monetary policy is to preserve the purchasing power of the currency. In the exercise of this function, it adopts the policy measures it deems necessary to regulate the liquidity of the economy and facilitate the normal functioning of the payment system, ensuring the stability of the value of the currency.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the entity in charge of directing and coordinating Colombia's foreign policy and diplomatic relations.

The purpose of the Colombian Agricultural Institute, ICA, is to contribute to the sustained development of the agricultural, fishing and aquaculture sector, through the prevention, surveillance and control of sanitary, biological and chemical risks for animal and plant species, applied research and the administration, research and management of fishing and aquaculture resources, in order to protect the health of people, animals and plants and ensure the conditions of trade.

The Regional Autonomous and Sustainable Development Corporations in Colombia are the primary environmental authority at the regional level and are charged by law with managing the environment and renewable natural resources within their area of jurisdiction and assisting in their sustainable development, according to the legal provisions of the Ministry of the Environment.

The purpose of the Special Administrative Unit of the National Tax and Customs Directorate -DIAN- is to help guarantee the fiscal security of the Colombian State and the protection of the national economic public order, through the administration and control of compliance with tax and customs obligations, among others.

INVIMA, the National Institute for Drug and Food Surveillance, is a technical-scientific surveillance and control entity that works for the protection of the individual and collective health of Colombians and seeks the application of sanitary standards in the consumption and use of food, drugs, medical devices and other products subject to sanitary surveillance.

The Special Administrative Unit Migration Colombia, is the authority in charge of exercising immigration and alien control, within the framework of the sovereignty of the Colombian State.

The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development is the highest environmental and renewable natural resources entity, in charge of guiding and regulating the environmental planning of the territory and defining the policies and regulations for the recovery, conservation, protection, planning, management, use and sustainable exploitation of the nation's renewable natural resources and environment.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism supports business activity, production of goods, services and technology, as well as tourism management in the regions of the country to improve their competitiveness and sustainability and encourage the generation of greater added value.

The notary's office is a public service and involves the exercise of notarial faith. The public or notarial faith gives full authenticity to the declarations issued before the notary.

The registration of real estate property is a public service provided by the State by officials called Registrars of Public Instruments.

They are the administrators of the Multi-User Free Trade Zones (legally called permanent free trade zones) in which multiple new companies are installed and enjoy special tax and customs treatment.

The Superintendency of Industry and Commerce is the national authority for the protection of competition, personal data and legal metrology, protects consumer rights and administers the National Industrial Property System.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy is the Government of Colombia’s authority responsible for formulating and implementing policies, plans, and regulations in the mining, electricity, and hydrocarbons sectors. Its mission is to ensure an efficient, safe, and sustainable energy supply, while promoting the responsible and competitive development of the country’s mineral and energy resources. MINMINAS leads initiatives on energy transition, modernization of the electricity sector, and energy resource management to foster economic development and social well-being.

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection is a central-level public entity of the National Government and the governing body of the health sector. It is responsible for overseeing, directing, evaluating, and guiding the social health security system through the formulation of policies, plans, and programs, as well as intersectoral coordination and the articulation of health-sector stakeholders. Its purpose is to improve the quality, timeliness, and accessibility of health services and ensure the sustainability of the system, thereby increasing satisfaction levels among patients, families, communities, and residents throughout the national territory.

The Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies, in accordance with Law 1341 (ICT Law), is the entity responsible for designing, adopting, and promoting the policies, plans, programs, and projects of the Information and Communications Technologies sector.

Among its functions is increasing and facilitating access for all residents of the national territory to Information and Communications Technologies and their benefits.

The Financial Superintendence of Colombia is the authority responsible for supervising and overseeing the financial institutions operating in the country, including those that offer investors services such as the opening and management of checking accounts. The following link provides a list of the financial entities operating in Colombia under the supervision of the Financial Superintendence of Colombia.

The National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) is the Colombian government entity responsible for planning, structuring, contracting, managing, and overseeing the country’s transportation infrastructure projects, primarily through concession schemes and public–private partnerships (PPPs). Its mission is to develop modern, efficient, and competitive road, rail, port, and airport infrastructure that enhances connectivity, reduces logistics costs, and strengthens the country's economic competitiveness. ANI coordinates with public and private stakeholders to ensure proper project execution and the provision of high-quality transportation services.

The Ministry of Transport is the Government of Colombia’s authority responsible for formulating, guiding, and regulating the policies, plans, programs, and projects of the transportation sector. Its role is to ensure the efficient, safe, and sustainable mobility of people and goods across land, air, maritime, and river transport modes. The Ministry leads the strategic planning of the national transport system, the strengthening of road safety, logistics modernization, and the development of infrastructure to enhance the country’s competitiveness. It also coordinates with regional and sectoral authorities to ensure the adequate provision and oversight of transportation services throughout the national territory.

The Colombian Pension and Severance Fund Management Companies (AFP) are private financial institutions in charge of managing pension funds and plans in case of old age, disability, and death of the worker.

 

The general system of occupational risks in Colombia are the public and private entities aimed at preventing and protecting workers from the effects of diseases and accidents that may occur on occasion or as a result of the work they perform called occupational risk.

 

Family Compensation Funds (Cajas de Compensación Familiar) are entities created to improve the quality of life of the families of Colombian workers, through the management and delivery of subsidies and services.

The Chambers of Commerce are legal entities, and their function is to carry out acts of administration, management and contracting. Their purpose is to defend and stimulate the general interests of the business community in Colombia.

They are the institutions organized for the prevention, attention and control of fires, the preparations and attention of rescues and the attention of incidents with hazardous materials.

The urban curator's office verifies compliance with the urban development and building regulations in force in the district or municipalities, through the granting of urban development and construction licenses.

State entity that regulates and manages the city's sewage systems.

Private company engaged in the provision of residential public service for the distribution and commercialization of natural gas.

Private electric energy commercialization company

Financial entity that operates in Colombia and offers the investor the service of opening and managing a bank account. They are under the supervision of the Financial Superintendence of Colombia.

A health promoting entity is a company of the Colombian Health System, which provides medical services.

Local legal advisory firm in administrative, civil, commercial, private and procedural law.

Regional entity that administers the resources of each municipality, protects that the resources are used to generate welfare for all people.

 The Colombian Banking and Financial Institutions Association (Asobancaria) is the most representative trade association of the Colombian financial sector. It is a nonprofit, private-law entity established on August 31, 1936, with indefinite duration.

The Colombian financial system is composed of financial institutions and regulatory authorities. Asobancaria brings together the most important banking and financial entities in the country, representing their interests and supporting the development and strengthening of the national financial sector.

Confecámaras is a national-level organization that coordinates and provides assistance to the Colombian Chambers of Commerce in the development of their functions, including the public functions delegated to them by the State.

The Colombian Association of Pension and Severance Fund Administrators (ASOFONDOS) is a nonprofit industry association that represents the activities of Colombia’s Pension and Severance Fund Administrators. These Pension and Severance Fund Management Companies are private financial institutions responsible for managing pension funds and plans under the Individual Savings with Solidarity System (RAIS), as well as the severance funds in Colombia.