Caldas is consolidating as a magnet for foreign investment in Colombia, attracting international funds that strengthen employment and accelerate business development in the region.

This year, foreign investment reached US$5 million, generating 800 jobs in various sectors, according to data from Invest in Manizales. The plans do not stop: new franchises and strategic alliances in science and technology are in the process of being incorporated in the department.

Irene Mejía Robledo, director of Invest in Manizales, compares investment in Caldas to a growing “snowball”, driven by the interest of major brands and the creation of opportunities for local talent. “The amounts invested invigorate the economy and generate positive effects on trade and consumption,” says Mejía.

Large chains such as Farmatodo and Oxxo have chosen Caldas for their expansion. Farmatodo recently opened its first store in the La Florida neighborhood of Villamaría, with plans to install three new branches in Manizales. Other giants such as Starbucks and Archies are in talks to expand to the capital of Caldas, which will increase the commercial offer and the demand for local talent.

In the biotechnology sector, an innovative agreement signed between Colombia's Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (Bios) and Biogune of the Basque Country (Spain) promises a flow of knowledge and international opportunities for Manizales, facilitating the region's participation in future European projects.

In addition, companies from Peru and South Africa have shown interest in establishing avocado packing facilities near Kilómetro 41, which would strengthen Caldas' agricultural exports and open new markets. Meanwhile, established brands such as Ternium, Mabe, and Bellota, which already operate in Manizales, are planning to expand in the city by 2025.

With plans underway and a growing infrastructure, Caldas is emerging as an attractive and safe destination for foreign investment, offering a favorable environment for trade, innovation and sustainable employment.

Learn more about investment projects that may be of interest to you at: https://vui.gov.co/es/proyectos-de-inversion

We invite investors to be part of the investment projects that can be found in the Single Window of Investment 

Bibliography:
La Patria