As part of the Colombian purposes to improve international commerce and promote international investments, Colombia has being negotiated and formalized Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Bilateral Investments Treaties (BITs) with relevant partners worldwide. 

Colombia has currently in force some FTAs that include a foreign investment chapter as those signed with México, Israel, Pacific Alliance (along with México, Peru and Chile), Panama, Canada, el Salvador, Guatemala & Honduras, USA, European free trade association (Efta), European Union Association, Korea, Chile and Costa Rica

Colombia has currently in force some BITs with Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Japan, China, India, Peru, France, and Brazil and in formalization process with Turkey, Singapore, among others. 

We invite you to go over the following link with our webinar: Colombia and Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) discovering a new world of opportunities.

Read the latest news
1. Congress continues to discuss vital amendments to the general law on tourism.

On September 7, 2020, a bill was filed in Congress "amending the general law on tourism and other provisions", which has an urgent message sent by the National Government, which will accelerate the approval procedure. The purpose of this bill is: (i) the sustainability and implementation of mechanisms for the conservation, protection and use of tourist destinations and attractions; (ii) the formalization and competitiveness of the sector; and (iii) the recovery of the tourism industry.

2. Programs related to the support of formal employment are extended.

The President of the Republic will sanction the law by which the program of support to formal employment (PAEF) and the program of support for the payment of the premium of services (PAP) were extended. The PAEF was temporarily extended until March 2021. The value of the State contribution will correspond to 40% of the value of the current legal monthly minimum wage and will be 50% for the economic sectors most affected by the pandemic and for female employees.

3. Venezuelan citizens with an irregular entry into Colombia have a new deadline and tools to normalize their migratory situation. 

Migración Colombia advertised the new deadline for Venezuelan nationals who are in Colombian territory to access the special permission to remain (PEP). In accordance with Resolution 2052 of 2020, the issuance of the PEP will be online, free of charge, from October 15, 2020 until February 15, 2021.

4. Optimization of the testing, tracking and preventive isolation program.

The program includes contact tracing of confirmed cases and suspicious cases, isolation of confirmed cases and their contacts, and sampling and laboratory diagnostic testing. Additionally, this new regulation includes provisions on health risk management, recognition of economic benefits to ensure compliance with isolation, information processing and personal data protection.