Invest in Bogota

Pharmaceutical Sector

Due to its vast experience, privileged geographic location, preferential access to regional markets and a highly qualified workforce, Bogota offers pharmaceutical companies significant benefits and advantages as a regional manufacturing, logistics or commercial hub.

What are Investors Saying?

“(...) In 2001 the company invested approximately US$15 million to build a pharmaceutics production plant in Bogota that centralized production. Excellent product reception, high levels of quality and customer trust, technological development, and permanent scientific support are all factors leading to success: 55% of our production is exported to countries such as Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala”.

Jaime Baena, President of Fresenius Medical Care Colombia S.A.

Why Locate in Bogota?

Extensive experience in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products
A highly qualified workforce trained in manufacturing processes that allows for a rapid learning curve
Competitive costs for qualified and semi-qualified labor
A flexible labor regime
An important center for the research and development of products
Attractive investment incentives
Free, tailor-made training programs for employees

The Pharmaceutical Sector in Bogota and Colombia

The Colombian pharmaceutical market is the fourth largest in Latin America, after Brazil, Mexico and Argentina
Health expenditure in Colombia amounts to 6.4% of GDP
The total market exceeded US$ 3.5 billion in 2010
Approximately 130 pharmaceutical manufacturers are located in Colombia, employing around 24,000 staff
Fifteen multinationals have a joint market share of 75%; the remaining 25% market share is held by domestic companies
Due to low implementation costs, relatively low exposure to drugs by the local population, and a strong medical professional structure, Bogota is positioning itself as a major center for clinical studies
Bogota accounts for:

70% of pharmaceutical firms
55% of jobs in the pharmaceutical sector
50% of national production of pharmaceuticals

Exports of pharmaceuticals reached US$ 434 million in 2010

Sales of Pharmaceutical Products in Colombia (2006-2010)

Foreign Trade of Pharmaceutical Products in Colombia (2006-2010)

Major Multinational Companies Located in Colombia

	BASF (Germany) has been present in Colombia for over 30 years with production facilities http://www.basf.es/
	Bayer (Germany) has a production plant in the country which exports to Andean and other Latin American markets http://www.bayer.com/
	Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany) has been present in Colombia for over 20 years with a production facility in Bogota which manufactures liquid, solid and semisolid formulations; in addition the company provides contract manufacturing services for Latin American markets; it currently has over 300 employees in Bogota http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/
	Bristol-Myers Squibb (US) is present in Colombia with a production facility that serves domestic and regional markets http://www.bms.com/pages/default.aspx
	Fresenius (Germany) has a production plant in Bogota which exports to Andean and other Latin American markets http://www.fresenius.com/
	Merck (Germany) has its regional headquarters for Colombia and Ecuador in Bogota; the company has a production plant for liquid, solid and semisolid formulations; the company offers contract manufacturing services http://www.merck.com/
	Reckitt Benckiser (US) is present in Colombia with a plant that serves the local and regional markets http://www.reckittbenckiser.com/
	Sanofi Aventis (France) is present in Colombia with a production plant located in Bogota that serves domestic and regional markets http://en.sanofi-aventis.com/

Other Multinational Companies with Domestic and Regional Distribution Operations in Colombia

	AstraZeneca (Sweden) has its headquarters for Colombia in Bogota http://www.astrazeneca.com/
	GlaxoSmithKline (UK) has been present in Colombia for over 50 years: its headquarters for the Andean Region and the Caribbean are located in Bogota http://www.gsk.com/
	Janssen Cilag (US) has its headquarters for Colombia in Bogota http://www.janssen-cilag.com/
	Pfizer (US) has its headquarters for Colombia in Bogota http://www.pfizer.com/home/
	Rhodia (France) has its Colombian operations based in Bogota http://www.rhodia.com/
	Wyeth (US) has its headquarters for Colombia and a shared service center for the Andean region located in Bogota http://www.wyeth.com/

Main Domestic Companies

	Biogen produces more than 50 drugs with more than 140 presentations; the company exports to the Andean region and Central America http://www.laboratoriosbiogen.com/
	California develops, manufactures, imports and exports pharmaceuticals http://www.californialabs.com.co
	Genfar is a company with subsidiaries in Ecuador and Peru which develops and manufactures OTC and prescription drugs http://www.genfar.com
	Grupo Ave develops and produces pharmaceuticals for the Colombian market and for export to Latin America and Asia http://www.grupo-ave.com
	La Santé is a company located in Bogota which develops and markets generic and brand name drugs; it has operations in Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador http://www.lasante.com.co
	LaFrancol develops and manufactures generic and brand name drugs; its production plant is located in Cali http://www.lafrancol.com
	Memphis is a manufacturer of generic drugs owned by California (see above) http://www.memphis.com.co
	Procaps is a company located in Barranquilla which produces about 3 billion soft gelatin capsules per year. It exports to more than 50 countries and has production facilities in Venezuela and Brazil, making it the largest manufacturer of soft gelatin capsules in Latin America: it provides contract manufacturing services to companies such as Wyeth, Merck, and Glaxo-SmithKline http://www.procapslaboratorios.com
	Syntofarma is a pharmaceutical company located in Bogota; it is a leading contract manufacturer of betalactamic drugs and exports to the Andean region, Chile and Argentina http://www.syntofarma.com/

Invest in Bogota has extensive knowledge of this sector. The following document provides additional information.

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If you require greater detail, please contact any of the agency Investment Officials in charge.

Updated (mm/dd/yyyy): 16.06.2011