In Colombia, strengthening English language skills has become a key strategy for attracting foreign investment, with a particular focus on multinationals seeking to establish themselves in the country.

According to the World Bank's Doing Business 2023 report, Colombia has established itself as one of the most attractive destinations for foreign direct investment in Latin America, ranking among the top five countries in the region in terms of ease of doing business

This progress is largely attributed to improvements in education, specifically in the teaching of English, which has facilitated communication between foreign companies and local talent. According to the study, 70% of international companies operating in Colombia consider English proficiency as an essential factor when hiring personnel, especially in sectors such as technology, customer service and shared services.

The Colombian-American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) reported a 15% increase in the arrival of U.S. companies to the country in the last three years. These companies highlight the bilingualism of Colombians as a key differentiating factor.

A notable example is the U.S. multinational TaskUs, which arrived in Colombia in February 2021, in the middle of the pandemic, establishing itself in Cali to offer digital business services and customer experience solutions worldwide. Gianinna Siuffi, TaskUs Marketing Manager, explained that the decision to believe in Colombia was based on the country's potential in English language and customer service, particularly in Cali, where they already operate two offices.

The development of language skills in the Colombian workforce has been a crucial factor for the arrival of multinationals and the growing interest of foreign investment in the country. ProColombia reported that more than 350 international companies have established operations in Colombia in the last five years.

This growth has been especially evident in sectors such as technology, where giants such as Google, Facebook and Oracle have expanded their operations. JoEllen Simpson, general director of the Centro Cultural Colombo Americano in Cali, noted that the favorable exchange rate has increased foreign investors' interest in Colombia, attracting BPOs and other large companies looking to maximize the value of their investment.

If students and teachers are better trained, in ten years the country could experience a true revolution in the labor market. This transformation would be driven by foreign investment, which not only injects capital into the economy, but also creates new employment opportunities for young people.

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