The Business Year: Colombia 2020

Book excerpt: The twin effects of the Saudi-Russian oil price war and the global COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020 provided an extraordinary challenge for the already embattled Duque administration. What was meant to be a year of stable growth is virtually guaranteed to become the country's first recession since 1999. However, the quick and targeted government response at the onset of the pandemic and Colombia's strong macroeconomic fundamentals have most projections in agreement that Colombia will weather the storm among the best in the region, giving way to a strong recovery period. The Business Year's country-specific publications, sometimes featuring over 150 face-to-face interviews, are among the most comprehensive annual economic publications available internationally. This 172-page publication covers finance, energy, mining, industry, security, IT, transport, infrastructure, real estate, agriculture, health, tourism, and entertainment. The report features dozens of interviews, including: