Colombia regulates pilotage services in APP – Asociación Público-Privada (Public-Private Partnership) projects.
Through Decree 557 of 2022, issued by Colombia’s Ministry of Defense, pilotage services were regulated for projects that are developed through the Public Private Partnership scheme and are related to the maintenance and/or deepening of port access channels and involve the use of dredging equipment and require the participation of a pilot.
Such regulation was issued considering that dredging is a main and recurring activity in projects that are developed through APP schemes, structured and evaluated by the National Infrastructure Agency ("ANI"), and governed by the jurisdiction of the General Maritime Directorate (“DIMAR”).
Among the main rules adopted, the following stand out:
- Capacity to directly contract one or several pilots, whether they are natural persons or through a pilotage company.
- DIMAR is responsible for verifying suitability of pilots through their pilotage license.
- With prior authorization from DIMAR, pilots may work in a different jurisdiction from the one in which they regularly carry out their activities.
This decree will take effect from its publication in the corresponding Official Gazette.
Colombia’s expected economic growth.
According to a report from the International Monetary Fund [IMF], Colombia’s economy is expected to grow 5.8% during 2022, which shows and increase from previous growth prospects [3.8%]. For 2023, a growth of 3.6% is estimated and that for 2024-2027 it would drop 3.4%. According to DANE – Colombia’s National Department of Statistics, Colombian economy grew by 8.1% in February 2022.
Growth of Bogota’s foreign investment.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bogotá grew by 78%, compared to 2021, thanks to 115 projects worth USD 1,551 M, from the USA (34%), Mexico (10%), Spain (9%), Argentina (6%) and China (5%) according to the information provided by Invest in Bogotá. Investments are mainly in software development, information technology (IT) and outsourcing service (26%).