Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Reports to the Public on a Year of Economic Transformation
Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism has opened its 2025 public accountability process with a clear message: the country is moving deliberately away from an extractive economic model toward one that is productive, inclusive, sustainable, and rooted in knowledge.
Led by Minister Diana Marcela Morales Rojas, the Ministry presented a year-end balance of its work across trade, industry, and tourism—three pillars central to President Gustavo Petro’s National Development Plan. The exercise is not only a review of figures, but a reflection on how economic policy is reshaping territories, livelihoods, and opportunities across the country.
Trade: Diversification and New Markets
In foreign trade, the Ministry highlighted the design and implementation of new instruments to boost non-mining exports, including industrial, agro-industrial, agricultural goods, and knowledge-based services. These measures aim to attract foreign direct investment, promote value-added production, strengthen competitiveness, and generate employment.
Officials underscored progress in opening and deepening ties with strategic markets, noting that Colombia has exceeded several of its export and investment targets. One notable milestone is the recovery of trade with Venezuela, where bilateral commerce reached USD 859 million by September 2025—an increase of 9 percent—signaling renewed economic integration.
At the same time, Colombia continues technical dialogue with the United States, addressing priority issues such as the admissibility of Colombian agricultural products, a key step for expanding access to the U.S. market and strengthening rural economies.
The Popular Economy at the Center
A defining feature of the Ministry’s 2025 agenda has been its focus on the Popular Economy—small-scale producers, family businesses, cooperatives, and community enterprises that form the backbone of local economies. During the accountability process, citizens heard firsthand testimonies from productive units that have grown with government support, generating income and development in their own territories.
In a historic move, Colombia formally included the Popular Economy within its free trade zone regime through Decree 1317 of 2025. The decision opens new opportunities for small producers to access incentives traditionally reserved for larger firms, marking a structural shift toward economic inclusion.
These efforts are complemented by tools from the National Reindustrialization Policy, financial inclusion strategies, and targeted programs supporting conflict victims and ethnically diverse populations.
Tourism as a Tool for Peace and Social Justice
Tourism, the Ministry emphasized, is no longer measured only in visitor numbers or foreign exchange earnings. Under Minister Morales’ leadership, it has become a vehicle for territorial transformation. In 2025, tourism investment reached 674 municipalities—nearly 60 percent of the country—including areas historically affected by conflict.
Special attention has been given to PDET and ZOMAC municipalities, the implementation of the Tourism for a Culture of Peace strategy, and the global promotion of the “Colombia, the Country of Beauty” narrative. Programs such as EMPRETUR have strengthened Popular Economy enterprises, helping emerging destinations enter the national and international tourism map.
Innovation and Global Expansion
The Ministry also highlighted its push to internationalize Colombia’s innovation ecosystem. Through iNNpulsa Colombia and international partners, the government launched ALDEA+, a program backed by more than USD 1 million in investment to accelerate high-potential technology-based startups.
Developed in collaboration with the Korean SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), ALDEA+ targets ventures working in fields such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, biotechnology, and the Internet of Things. Selected startups will receive specialized mentorship, strategic consulting, and customized international expansion plans.
According to Minister Morales, these initiatives reflect a broader strategy of bilateral cooperation designed to bring knowledge, investment, and global opportunities to Colombia’s entrepreneurs—making innovation a central asset for economic development.
A Broader Vision of Growth
The 2025 accountability report shows a Ministry focused not only on economic indicators, but on how policy translates into peace-building, territorial equity, and long-term sustainability. From export diversification and inclusive trade regimes to tourism-led development and global innovation partnerships, Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism is positioning economic transformation as a shared national project—one rooted in opportunity, resilience, and social justice.
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