Colombia might boast one of the strongest economies in Latin America but the country's finance minister, Mauricio Cardenas, is more than aware that its economic growth – largely dominated by its energy and mining sectors, which benefit only a small proportion of the population – needs to be diversified and its rewards better distributed.
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Latest articles from Colombia
Colombia: a profitable but closed shop?
April 2, 2013Colombia's well regulated but relatively unsaturated banking sector represents a good growth opportunity, but the dominance of its three largest lenders makes it a difficult market to enter.
Top 100 Central American banks: Panama maintains its lead
February 27, 2013While Panama's banks held their lead as the biggest banks in Central America, Nicaragua steamed ahead in terms of return on capital and return on assets.
Banks to watch in 2013, Banco Davivenda
February 1, 2013The Banker has identified 13 banks to keep an eye on in the coming year based on a variety of factors. Colombia-based Banco Davivenda has impressed was selected for its ambitious expansion strategy.
Banks to watch in 2013, Corpbanca
February 1, 2013The Banker has identified 13 banks to keep an eye on in the coming year based on a variety of factors. Chile-based Corpbanca made a daring move into Colombia in 2012, making it one to watch in 2013.
Top Latin American banks ranking, 2012
November 1, 2012While the top 10 Latin American banks remain unchanged from 2011, it is the region's smaller operations that are leading the pack in terms of profitability and returns.
Foreign-owned subsidiaries take root in Latin America
November 1, 2012Latin America's buoyant economies are attracting a slew of foreign institutions, with banks from within Latin America itself and from further afield establishing substantial networks across the continent. Unsurprisingly, the largest foreign-owned subsidiary presence is in Brazil, but the large domestic market has quelled Brazilian banks' ambitions elsewhere and it is Colombian lenders that are forging ahead with cross-border acquisitions.
Brazil and Mexico still top draws for Latam financial FDI
November 1, 2012São Paulo may have retained its position as the leading financial centre in Latin America with regards to financial services activity, but the most impressive deal was pulled off in Mexico.
Colombia constructs the framework for a resilient economy
September 3, 2012A combination of responsible fiscal control, economic diversification and social inclusion make for a resilient economy. While Colombia has made significant strides towards achieving such equilibrium there is still headway to be made, with issues such as the country's stubbornly high unemployment rate, social inequality, and the threat from narcotraffickers still to be tackled.
Battlelines are drawn in the fight for Latam's HNWIs
May 1, 2012Many of Latin America's high-net-worth individuals are repatriating their funds and an increasing number of foreign investors are targeting the region, thanks to its rapidly expanding economy. With such demand for local product providers, domestic firms are finding themselves having to pit their specialist knowledge against the international reach of large foreign banks, making competition tough.