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Business Etiquette in Colombia
Colombia began to experience significant economic growth in 2002, according to the CIA World Factbook. New economic policies, trade agreements and increased security have spurred foreign interest and investment.
However, due to continued drug trade and kidnappings, Colombia remains a dangerous country in which to travel.
Foreign businesspeople should be aware of the customs and proper etiquette in Colombia, but they should also pay close attention to safety and security while visiting and conducting business.
Safety in Colombia
The U.S. Department of State has issued travel warnings for citizens traveling to Colombia since 2005.
The department’s website states that, “While security in Colombia has improved significantly in recent years, violence by narco-terrorist groups continues to affect some rural areas as well as large cities.
The potential for violence by terrorists and other criminal elements exists in all parts of the country.”
Dress and Appearance
Business attire is formal in Colombia. Wear a dark suit, white shirt and tie to meetings. Colombians are impressed with quality clothing. Avoid flashy fabrics or patterns and choose high-end materials and premium construction. Polish leather shoes prior to meetings.
Conversation
Colombians are warm and friendly and communicate often with body language. Personal space tends to be much closer than in the United States; do not back away from your hosts, however, as this will be offensive. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Business attire is formal in Colombia, Colombia, Etiquette in Colombia, Foreign businesspeople
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Aug 23rd, 2010
Risks of Doing Business in Colombia
Colombia’s image as a dangerous, war-torn country persists in the international media, despite considerable improvements. The Unidas party’s security and free trade policies during the 2000s have made Colombia a more hospitable place to do business.
Paramilitaries have demobilized, the leadership of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–FARC, the main guerrilla group–has been largely imprisoned or killed, and the widespread deployment of the army has lowered crime.
Furthermore, Unidas’s liberalization of the trade regime and alliance with the U.S. facilitates foreign investment and has considerably eased the economic risks of doing business in Colombia, according to the U.S. Commercial Service.
Corruption, Inflation and Counterfeits
The risks of doing business in Colombia now reflect the normal political and economic risks of doing business anywhere between Buenos Aires and Boston. Political corruption persists at all levels, threatening the reliability and impartiality of the judicial system and other government offices.
Due to historical trends, the risk of high inflation should be considered before making any long term investments, but in the past Colombia has controlled inflation better than most countries in the region. If a business plans on dealing in U.S. dollars, personnel must become savvy to the tactics used by Colombian counterfeiters, who use sophisticated equipment and produce up to 15 percent of the world’s counterfeit dollars, according to the BBC. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Colombia, The risks of doing business in Colombia
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Aug 16th, 2010
Cruises to Colombia
You can find today several options to travel to Colombia in a Cruise that probably comes from the Caribbean during some nights and stop in Colombia for at least 3 or 4 days so that you can enjoy of the beautiful beaches and the sun tourism in this amazing place. Colombia is doing each year a lot of cruises and this is something that with the world financial crisis, the cruise tourism to Colombia is cheaper and more affordable each year.
I personally think that if you are planning to make a vacation through a cruise you take one of those Cruises that travel to Colombia and enjoy of the great adventure of travel to a paradise. Regards to the quality of the tourism (the Colombian tourisms) let me tell that people in this country is very professional as well as very kind.
If you decide make a trip to Colombia through a cruise, you are going to enjoy of diverse paradises in this country but also, you are going to experience the amazing satisfaction of travel through some of the high class cruises through South America.
Another great advantage is that cruises to Colombia are more impressive than travel to Europe and other locations of the world while the price you have to pay to travel to Colombia is cheaper. If you want compare cruise price to travel to Colombia you only have to make some searches in Google or Yahoo and in just few minutes you will be able to compare tourism packages to Colombia and other locations around the world.
The benefit of travel to Colombia through cruise is amazing and precisely in this time I personally think that is the best moment when you can travel to Colombia through a cruise for the most affordable price.
Tags: Caribbean, Colombia, Cruises to Colombia, Travel to Colombia
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Mar 11th, 2010
How to Starting a Business in Colombia
When you are attempting to start a business in Colombia you should make some good researches that let you know the level of profitably of the business you want start. Something very important –-which is an advantage for starting a business in Colombia– is that are going to enjoy of a pretty favorable economy. Colombia economy is very strong today and they have a good growing level each year.
They and enjoying of a great financial stability and the global financial crisis has not impacted their economy so directly. Colombia is now a wonderful place to start a business, but you should evaluate well all the variables that are involved in the business you are wondering to start.
Furthermore, you should determine your annual and monthly expenses in taxes, equipments and employees. If you have contacts with people from this country is better because you will have a direct advisory from somebody that know the system better than you.
Let me tell that any kind of business in Colombia require of efforts and dedication, so that Colombia has an amazing labor force and they are internationally very competitive in diverse areas. If you are planning raise a service-oriented business, it probably is the best option for you because you will find a cheaper labor force and you will get higher revenue.
If you are planning train these people you will have more benefits enhancing your business and paying less to your employees. Finally, you should have a good legal advisory so that you can’t have any kind of problems in the future. You should know the legislations in Latin American are different than in other countries, sometimes are more flexible and in other cases are stricter. Despite of this, you should keep your accounts very clear and be prepared for any kind of circumstances.
Tags: Business in Colombia, Colombia, Colombia Business, Colombia economy, Latin American, Starting a Business in Colombia
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Jul 14th, 2009
How to Hiring People in Colombia
As I told you in other issues, Colombia has an amazing and skilled labor force that you can use in several fields. The great advantage is that Colombian labor force is more affordable that hire an employee in Europe or United States where you require of a lot of legal procedures, taxes and other obligations. The most important thing is that you can have the profile ready to hire and you know exactly the kind of people you need.
When you are hiring people in Colombia not only experience is going to be required but have a good presentation, a wonderful curriculum and certifications of courses, degrees and education background. If you are requiring people of office or professional level, it is important that you can evaluate its English level.
Even though TOEFL is not used for jobs –is only used in an academic realm in United States- you can make tests very similar that those applied by diverse universities in Europe, Canada, Asia and United States. I personally think it could be very useful if you are attempting to determine the professional skills in this language.
On the other hand, if you are not interested in hire people directly, you can choose a company that is dedicated to hire people. There are several agencies in Colombia that can simplify the work you are going to do. For instance, if you need an IT professional for a project who knows about Microsoft technologies, you can have this amazing support from this company.
They know more how to find qualified labor force and they are trained for that. If you trust in a company that can do this work for you, you will have a better opportunity to have a more qualified employees that start working in your organization or business.
Tags: Colombia, Colombia People, Colombian, Hiring People in Colombia, People in Colombia
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Jul 14th, 2009