Doing Business in Colombia
Doing Business in Colombia | Colombian Social and Business Culture
A Colombian Culture Overview
Fact File o o o o o o o Official name – Republic of Colombia
Population – 45,644,023*
Official Languages – Spanish
Currency – Colombian peso (COP)
Capital city – Bogotá
GDP – purchasing power parity $399.4 billion*
GDP Per Capita – purchasing power parity $8,900 *
Overview
Colombia is a country with a unique culture influenced by a fusion of its indigenous Indian,
Spanish and African origins. A diverse geography and warm climate makes Colombia home to some of South America’s richest natural resources such as petroleum, coffee and fruit. Though the country struggles with historical class differences, political conflict and illegal drug cartels, improvements have recently been made socially and economically making Colombia a more inviting country to international investments and business opportunities. For those wanting to conduct business in this emerging market, a thorough understanding of Colombian heritage and culture must be achieved in order to secure your future business success.
Key concepts
Family – As a collectivist culture, family is the central unit of Colombian society. Close ties between extended families and communities can have a major influence on individual behaviour.
The importance of family is also evident in Colombian business culture where often family members will be found working for the same company and many companies are family owned.
Indirect communication – Colombians tend to communicate in an indirect and subtle manner. It is important to not offend others and always be as diplomatic as possible. Meaning is conveyed through non-verbal forms of communication and often a Colombian will say ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’ instead of saying ‘no’ to avoid losing face and maintain harmony.
Time – Colombians approach time in a very relaxed and flexible manner. Punctuality is not essential and planning things to the minute is
A Colombian Culture Overview
Fact File o o o o o o o Official name – Republic of Colombia
Population – 45,644,023*
Official Languages – Spanish
Currency – Colombian peso (COP)
Capital city – Bogotá
GDP – purchasing power parity $399.4 billion*
GDP Per Capita – purchasing power parity $8,900 *
Overview
Colombia is a country with a unique culture influenced by a fusion of its indigenous Indian,
Spanish and African origins. A diverse geography and warm climate makes Colombia home to some of South America’s richest natural resources such as petroleum, coffee and fruit. Though the country struggles with historical class differences, political conflict and illegal drug cartels, improvements have recently been made socially and economically making Colombia a more inviting country to international investments and business opportunities. For those wanting to conduct business in this emerging market, a thorough understanding of Colombian heritage and culture must be achieved in order to secure your future business success.
Key concepts
Family – As a collectivist culture, family is the central unit of Colombian society. Close ties between extended families and communities can have a major influence on individual behaviour.
The importance of family is also evident in Colombian business culture where often family members will be found working for the same company and many companies are family owned.
Indirect communication – Colombians tend to communicate in an indirect and subtle manner. It is important to not offend others and always be as diplomatic as possible. Meaning is conveyed through non-verbal forms of communication and often a Colombian will say ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’ instead of saying ‘no’ to avoid losing face and maintain harmony.
Time – Colombians approach time in a very relaxed and flexible manner. Punctuality is not essential and planning things to the minute is