In the last year, the country's free trade zones made investments of 1.9 trillion pesos, revealed the ANDI's Chamber of Free Trade Zone Users.
The first decisions on the extensions of free trade zone declarations in the country have already been taken.
The director of the ANDI Chamber of Free Trade Zone Users, Édgar Martínez, confirmed to El Universal that until last year there were 17 known requests for extensions, of which 10 have already been approved and the rest are expected to be decided in the second quarter of this year. (Read here: With the promise of more jobs, Zona Franca de Occidente was extended for 30 years).
Of the 17 applications that have been processed, 11 are for permanent free trade zones and 6 for special free trade zones, the source said. The approved extensions are for 30 years. No names were disclosed.
Martínez also revealed that 50 new users arrived in the country's free trade zones last year. To date, there are 122 declared free trade zones in Colombia, which together generate 155,000 jobs.
The cumulative investments of the free trade zones are estimated at 52 trillion pesos and in the last year alone (2021) these accounted for 1.9 trillion pesos.
Regarding the foreign trade operations of the free trade zones, exports show a growth of 24%. Exports represent 61% of foreign trade operations, compared to 49% of imports, Martínez said.
PROSPECTS 2022
According to the Director of the Andi Chamber of Free Trade Zone Users, Édgar Martínez, 2022 will bring major changes for the sector. The following are mentioned:
- The e-commerce import regulation, which will facilitate digital commerce and bring important investments in free trade zones.
- Regulation is also expected to allow the arrival of medical cannabis companies in the free trade zones. It is estimated that more than 10 production and logistics projects have already been identified.
- Companies located in the free trade zones are also awaiting the regulation of the so-called Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) in these areas. This regulation is expected to be ready in the first quarter of the year, Martínez predicts.
Taken from: El Universal
