Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09BOGOTA3033, COLOMBIA'S INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS AND BUSINESS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09BOGOTA3033.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09BOGOTA3033 2009-09-21 21:43 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Bogota
VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #3033/01 2642143
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 212143Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0043
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0011
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0004
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0011
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ SEP LIMA 0011
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 0011
UNCLAS BOGOTA 003033 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV PGOV PREL CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA'S INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS AND BUSINESS 
CLIMATE RANKING IMPROVE 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary:  The World Bank and World Economic Forum (WEF) 
published their "Doing Business" and "Global Competitiveness Index" 
reports on September 8.  Colombia's ranking improved in both 
publications.  The World Bank listed Colombia as the best country 
in Latin America for doing business, while the WEF report ranked 
Colombia five places higher than in its report last year.  The 
improved rankings demonstrate positive evidence of the GOC's 
implementation of ongoing structural reforms.  Both reports, 
however, also make negative observations about doing business in 
Colombia.  The World Bank gave Colombia low marks for its ability 
to enforce commercial contracts and collect taxes.  The WEF 
highlighted problems in Colombia with infrastructure and the 
judicial system.  Overall, GOC officials are pleased with their 
progress promoting private investment, diversifying exports, and 
reducing poverty -- as it works through structural difficulties. 
End Summary. 
 
 
 
----------------------------------------- 
 
Doing Business in Colombia Getting Easier 
 
----------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
2.  (U) In the World Bank's 2009 "Doing Business" report, geared 
toward small and medium size businesses, Colombia moved up 12 
positions to reach the 37th spot out of 183 countries.  Of note, 
the report found Colombia to be the number one country in Latin 
America for facilitating business.  Colombia received high marks 
for its reforms that promote business, protect investment, improve 
transparency of transactions, reduce wait times for construction 
permits, improve access to credit, and simplify tax filing and 
payment processes. 
 
 
 
----------------------------------------- 
 
Conditions Improved But Challenges Remain 
 
----------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
3.  (U) Factors hindering business in Colombia according to the 
World Bank include high labor costs and assorted taxes, the 
elevated expense of moving containers in and out of the country 
(due to inadequate infrastructure), and the incredibly long time it 
takes to resolve a commercial dispute in the judicial system (on 
average 1,346 days).  Colombia's two worst scores were the ability 
to enforce commercial contracts and tax collection. 
 
 
 
4.  (U) The 2009-2010 World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness 
Index (GCI) does a more in-depth analysis than the World Bank 
report and ranked Colombia 69 among 133 countries, up five places 
from last year.   The GCI report ranks Colombia 7th in Latin 
America, behind countries like Chile, Brazil, Mexico and Uruguay. 
The report identifies several of the same structural problems 
mentioned in the World Bank report, and gives greater emphasis to 
the negative impact terrorism, crime, and violence have on 
Colombia's competitiveness. 
 
 
 
5.  (U) For a second consecutive year, the GCI describe Colombia as 
an "efficiency-driven economy."  At this stage of development, 
Colombia's competitiveness is driven by efficient goods markets, 
well-functioning labor markets, sophisticated financial markets, 
higher education and training, and the ability to harness the 
benefits of existing technologies.  The GCI report indicated 
Colombia maintains important competitive advantages, notably its 
degree of customer service and strong investor protection. 
Colombia also improved in two other competitiveness areas: number 
of internet users and information communications technology.  The 
report noted, however, that Colombia lags behind several other 
countries in Latin America in the areas of higher education and 
training. 
 
 
 
---------------------------------- 
 
Minister of Commerce Forging Ahead 
 
---------------------------------- 
 
 
 
6.  (U) Trade Minister Luis Guillermo Plata views the reports as a 
positive sign for investors considering Colombia.  The Ministry has 
developed a strategy to continue its reforms, such as contract 
enforcement, quicker judicial action on commercial disputes, 
streamlined labor processes, and cheaper construction permits. 
Hernando Jose Gomez, President of the Private Council on 
Competitiveness, stated that the goal is to improve Colombia's 
ranking further, and hopefully break into the 20's next year.  He 
acknowledged that this will require greater efforts by the GOC and 
increased cooperation between the private and public sectors. 
 
 
 
------------------------------------------- 
 
Comment: Filtering the Rose-Colored Glasses 
 
------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
7.  (SBU) While Colombia can be proud of its improved rankings, 
systemic problems with doing business in Colombia continue to 
exist.  Colombian institutions remain fragile and inefficient, 
government officials often exhibit favoritism, government 
regulations can be burdensome, and infrastructure is lacking for 
the country's size and stage of development.  Chile, for example, 
has more than double the kilometers of paved roads in Colombia. 
 
 
 
8.  (SBU) Foreign (including U.S.) investors often find themselves 
competing against unfair practices by Colombian companies fighting 
to keep markets closed through legislative or regulatory actions. 
Companies have identified problems such as lax enforcement of 
intellectual property rules, market access barriers, arbitrary 
customs treatment, corruption, and judicial uncertainty - 
specifically related to the treatment of arbitration cases. 
Furthermore, inaction and slow implementation of decisions, 
particularly in the Transportation and Communications Ministries, 
have left some U.S. investors frustrated at what they perceive as a 
less-than-friendly environment for foreign investment. 
 
 
 
9.  (SBU) Despite the many areas for improvement, Colombia is 
headed in the correct direction.  The country received record 
levels of foreign direct investment in 2008, an estimated $10 
billion, and poverty levels are decreasing.  The GOC seeks further 
trade agreements, notably with Asian countries, to diversify the 
destination of its exports and incorporate more workers into the 
formal sector. 
BROWNFIELD