Ideas from private sector leaders and trade associations to move Colombia forward

Source: La República

The newspaper La República, as part of a campaign organized by the media outlets of the Ardila Lülle Organization (Noticias RCN, RCN Radio, La FM, Diario La República, La Cariñosa, Radio Uno), consulted for a month with businessmen, executives, managers, academics and trade association representatives what their idea was to move Colombia forward and try to get out of the crisis left by the covid-19 pandemic.

500 ideas from private sector and trade association leaders to move Colombia forward

Here is the second part of the 500 valuable proposals.

251. Andrés González
Founder of Barbudo Brand
“My idea for moving the country forward is that we focus on satisfying our consumption needs by buying local products. This involves encouraging entrepreneurship in the country and injecting liquidity into Colombian businesses. If we all do this and manage to scale it up, we will help mitigate the impact the pandemic has had on us.”.

252. Daniel García
Manager of Arsen Construction Company
“"The idea to move forward is that we support the national industry, that we buy our own, support Colombian products, and we will be a great, emerging, self-sustaining and self-reliant country.".

253. Edgar Ibarra
Director of Palenke
“Now is the time to unleash all the talent we have. Stand alongside the winners: call your friends and acquaintances, your partners, former suppliers, and join forces with others to seek opportunities. I call it the solidarity economy.”.

254. Elias Maida
Founder of Circuito Arte Moda
“When we learn to see big problems as opportunities, those great solutions that have changed the history of humanity emerge. It is important to connect with those passions and talents, and thoughts play a vital role.”.

255. Esteban Gallego
Manager of Typical Foods
“Many Colombians lack the awareness to buy Colombian-made consumer goods. The only way to overcome this crisis is to support Colombian products. We must preserve jobs and comply with all biosafety protocols to mitigate the spread of the virus.”.

256. Francisco Londoño
Manager of Londoño Villarreal Abogados
“To move forward, we need to accelerate the digital transformation of the country’s public entities. If this happens, it will allow us to tackle the country’s biggest cancer: corruption. By maintaining strong institutions and protecting public finances, we can envision a better future for everyone.”.

257. Leonardo Castillo
Brake Pak Manager
“The virtualization of both administrative and commercial processes is one of the biggest challenges. Let's support our clients with their portfolio, inventory, and digital marketing tools, and let's strengthen and train our technicians.”.

258. Marta Royo
Executive Director of Profamilia
“Colombia needs to make progress in guaranteeing the rights, freedom, and decision-making capacity of its citizens. However, a lack of empathy prevents us from seeing beyond our personal contexts, leading to the invisibility of their rights.”.

259. Maryluz Mejía
President of Acodal
“To move forward, the country needs to reduce inequalities, particularly closing the existing gaps between the city and the countryside on sensitive issues such as drinking water and basic sanitation through the development of infrastructure in these systems that allows for job creation.”.

260. Mauricio Cajiao
CEO of LookApp
“"We need to help companies understand the characteristics of the new consumer, the characteristics of the new distribution channels, and the new rules of the game post-Covid-19.".

261. Nicolás Castillo
Director of Hydrobrakes
“Our goal is to continue maintaining the employment of all our employees for the benefit of their families, adapting to new technologies and new service channels.”.

262. Roberto Villarreal
Director of Mary Kay Colombia
“It is necessary to promote entrepreneurship and independent businesses, which allow for the professional and economic development of people. At Mary Kay, we are supporting consultants to adapt to the new digital challenges that the world presents us with today.”.

263. Andres Otero
Managing Director, Guidepost
“It is necessary to end so much ideological, political, and personal polarization, which prevents the country from moving forward. We need political leadership to propose and achieve structural reforms in the areas of justice, security, and employment.”.

264. Antonio Gómez
Manager of Serrano Martínez
“My idea to move the country forward is to progressively change the way some things are done, such as security management, the mechanisms for hiring people for high positions, and the monitoring of resource management.”.

265. Camilo Leyva
General Manager, Cyan Brand Visibility
“"To be resilient, for all of us to walk in the same direction and to end the polarization that harms the economy and the country in general.".

266. Carlos Manuel Uribe
CEO of Prevision.co
“To create a great social pact between political parties and the business sector and academic and social actors (Doing Something Different – Breaking Paradigms), seeking as a great objective a new social contract with two goals: reducing social inequality and respect for the freedoms and individual rights of people.”.

267. Diego Lozano
Partner at Lozano Londoño Law Firm
“"It's very difficult to summarize in a few lines, but I would say that the fundamental thing would be a frontal attack against corruption that involves strengthening institutions, with special emphasis on the branches of public power.".

268. José Camilo Manzur
President of Asocodis
“There must be a crash plan with investment projects that contribute to employment and increase aggregate demand. We must eliminate all types of restrictions and obstacles to facilitate the construction of investment projects.”.

269. Juan Camilo Nariño Alcocer
President of the Colombian Mining Association
“"What's important is that everyone contributes in their own way and that we all rediscover the true meaning of the word responsibility. Let's put all our energy into reactivating the economy, going to work responsibly, and playing sports responsibly.".

270. Juan Pablo Pineda
Founder of Plaz
“Let us turn to a sense of nationalism. If Colombia does well, we will all be well. We need to think about collective goals and visualize not only how to endure this Covid-19 situation, but also begin to plan the reconstruction of the social and business fabric.”.

271. Juan Saravia
CEO Loro
“At LORO, we offer a technological solution that helps retailers sell more. The solution consists of virtualizing the product offerings of a shopping center, quickly creating an additional digital channel for brands, which also offers highly efficient last-mile logistics. We are a virtual shopping center.”.

272. Abelardo De La Espriella
Partner at De La Espriella Lawyers Enterprise
“This is the worst moment for our economy in the entire republican history of our nation, and of course, for great problems, great solutions are needed. These solutions go hand in hand with supporting the private sector so that jobs are not lost, and in this, banks have a moral obligation to the country. We must also create the necessary conditions to attract foreign investment to Colombia to revitalize the economy. How do we achieve this? By lowering taxes and providing legal certainty.”.

273. Alberto Mariño
President of Proindesa
“For me, the two main problems facing the country are the lack of justice and illegal mining and deforestation. Regarding justice, it is essential that we resolve the problem of excessive delays in issuing rulings that acquit, order, or resolve disputes.”.

274. Alejandro Santos
Director of Semana Magazine
“"The way to overcome the cult of ego that we see so frequently on social media and in society in general depends a lot on our leaders, on leaders who appeal to civic culture, who appeal to symbols, who really have empathy with society and manage to start generating consensus despite our differences.".

275. César Valderrama
CEO of Datexco
“If we want the contract to be fulfilled and for us to have a thriving economy, a harmonious society, and a better future, and for the country to truly move forward, the legal system must operate, and operate well. There must be justice, the law must be applied, and the institutions must be strong enough to deliver justice.”.

276. Clemencia Vargas
Executive Director, Live Dancing
“My proposal may seem very simple, but it is about thinking of education as an engine of development, betting on non-traditional methodologies that can attract, connect and retain young people, through innovative learning processes that combine art, sports, science, in experiential activities inside the classrooms and now in a digital way.”.

277. David Contreras
Legal Director of Asobares
“Our idea to move forward is that the National Government gives us day 0, so that nighttime activities can be reintegrated into the economic recovery, so that we can reopen, respecting and safeguarding all the protocols, guidelines and activities that protect the biosecurity of those who frequent commercial establishments.”.

278. Federico Estrada García
Manager of the Medellín and Antioquia Real Estate Exchange
“The first thing is to understand that the solution doesn't lie solely with the government. The second is to maintain open communication between the public and private sectors to address this new reality. With great determination, innovation, and transformation.”.

279. Fernando Vita
President of the National Board of Private Education
“The best way to reduce inequality is through education, a natural engine of development, growth, and mobility. To achieve this, it is not only important to work on coverage and access to education at all levels, but it is also essential to consider the relevance of the education that young people are receiving.”.

280. Giancarlo Mazzanti
Partner The Mazzanti Team
“Building networks of trust that allow us to learn to be together in our differences. Architecture, which is a mechanism for social transformation and a profession that is optimistic by nature, can play a role beyond the construction of functional spaces to foster collective and public spaces that allow us to learn to be together.”.

281. Gilberto Saffón
President of Saffon & Associates
“We must think about having concrete medium and long-term goals, so that all Colombians can work together to achieve a common objective, and stop being so selfish and attached to material things.”.

282. Hector Saenz
General Manager of Carlos Nieto
“As for the idea of moving the country forward, it's about looking inward and understanding that we all have something to contribute. This is the perfect opportunity to forge a new beginning. We are a creative, competitive country that thrives in the face of adversity. We can be better than anyone, and everyone's contribution is valuable.”.

283. Helena Gutiérrez
President of ESRI Colombia
We must adapt to a new reality and begin returning to normal, ensuring that more people do not lose their jobs. By using the right technology, we can do this safely, controlling social distancing, especially in enclosed areas with controlled restrictions depending on each case (Bluetooth tags, cameras).

284. Iván Obando
President of Cosmovision
“My idea is very simple, and it’s called “Give a square meter and adopt a farmer.” Nowadays, there are people who have recreational properties that are a block, or a fanega. A block is 6,600 square meters, and you can create a vegetable garden in 1,500 square meters, almost a quarter of a block. In those 1,500 square meters, you can grow enough food to feed 250 people.”.

285. Jaime González
Founder of Trair
“The country needs to move forward, but the government must also support those of us who truly drive the country forward: the entrepreneurs. These ideas about creating businesses mean working hand in hand with the government, not just making announcements, but turning what the government announces into reality. Because to this day, everything has been just talk, nothing concrete.”.

286. Joseph Mildenberg
Director of the Karibana Golf Club
“"To move the country forward, it is important that we responsibly open all types of businesses and take all biosecurity measures, because people and companies can no longer endure being locked up and without income, which could ultimately create more panic and insecurity among the population.".

287. Juan Pablo Rocha
General Manager, The JuJu
“Colombians should agree on a single national project, on what we could build, so that later the different political positions can add certain nuances and colors, but on that built or designed project, a very simple line so that we all understand what we want to be as a country.”.

288. Juan Rodríguez
Escalar Partner
“Mood is crucial in designing and implementing alternatives for improvement. We have to act, leave uncertainty behind, understand that life has changed and we are forced to change with it. We need to adapt quickly to our new reality, we must overcome our fear, think long-term and understand that what worked before doesn't work in these times.”.

289. Juliana Ocampo
Partner at Orza Strategic Relationship Management
“To make progress in terms of productive capacity, there must be a combination of efforts in both the public and private sectors. A state reorganization is required (for example, are so many bodyguards and SUVs paid for by taxpayers really necessary for various public officials? Courts, congresses, councils, high government and others?)”.

290. Mauricio Millán
Covipacífico Manager
“At Covipacífico, we are working on the Pacific Connection Highway Project 1. We believe that one of the greatest contributions we can make to the country's progress is to continue promoting road development, thereby improving connectivity in the western part of the country.”.

291. Natalia Gutiérrez
Executive President of Acolgen
“The idea is to focus a major effort on investments in the Colombian electricity sector. To move forward with this, it is important that the National Government is committed to the procedures under its jurisdiction, which are key to the progress of energy projects, specifically the development of Prior Consultations and Environmental Licensing.”.

292. Nestor Cabezas
Helitours Manager
“Restoring trust in the justice system requires increased state investment in the judiciary and greater judicial independence. An urgent plan must be implemented to link the private sector with a strategy of equity and social justice, and to ensure that the private sector can actually operate effectively.”.

293. Oscar Gutiérrez
Founder BioCredit
“It is necessary for everyone to work with the same purpose, to work as a team, public companies, private companies, small businesses, all working for the same purpose. I believe that we can move forward as a country, as a society, and emerge stronger from the crisis that is affecting the world today.”.

294. Santiago Álvarez Clavijo
General Manager and Commercial Director of Latam
“Breaking the cycle of contagion reduces the spread of the virus. Protecting the user and their contacts from the virus. Supporting economic recovery and enabling safe working conditions. Promoting employment by being 100% made in Colombia, supporting more than 50 families in providing for their households.”.

295. Alexandra Hall Uribe
Founder of AHU Cosmetics
“We need to offer different platforms that solve simple problems, focusing on e-commerce, websites, and affordable, simple solutions that meet consumers' needs. That's how we can all support each other and move forward.”.

296. Álvaro Palacio
President of Asohofrucol
“Colombia has great agricultural potential; however, the country’s biggest problem is not having a development model for this sector that would allow it to reduce poverty, generate wealth, and participate in world markets.”.

297. Andrés Osorio
President of Compas
“In Colombia, it is important to strengthen foreign trade to make it one of the main drivers of the economy, and the basis for doing so is with modern, efficient, technological port terminals, capable of responding to the challenges of today's world and equipped with the necessary infrastructure.”.

298. Augusto Solano
President of Asocolflores
“To move forward amid this pandemic, there are no magic formulas; we need solidarity and to unite with clear purposes. The monumental and courageous effort made by President Iván Duque's government has yielded good results. We must support the government, stand by it, and avoid falling into political opportunism.”.

299. Diana Navas
Marketing Director of Pernod Ricard Colombia
“Our idea for moving forward then becomes promoting home entertainment experiences, leveraging support for the industry, artists, and agencies, because this is the time to work together.”.

300. Emerson Aguirre
President of Augura, Association of Banana Growers of Colombia
“At Augura, we believe that the priority at this critical juncture is collective and coordinated work. This is achieved by showing solidarity with the most vulnerable communities, strengthening the health system, creating educational opportunities, and guaranteeing food security.”.

301. Felipe Buendía
Physician and founder of the Dr. Felipe Buendía Clinic
“Although difficulties always arise, and in a unique and unprecedented situation for our generation amidst everything that is happening, we must always look for opportunities, take care of yourself, create, and above all, let's support each other, Colombian buy Colombian; this could help us all see the result of a collaborative economy.”.

302. Gabriel Escallón
President of Cimento
“We know that openness is key; we must have open stores so that there is supply, and that is what drives industries and their employment. Together we will move forward.”.

303. Gabriel García
CEO of Páramo
“We have several points that can help us move forward after the crisis, and specifically for the creative industries sector. Withholding tax will help many companies with cash flow; but we need to expedite the reopening of the sector, review protocols, and implement a two-year exemption from parafiscal contributions after activity resumes.”.

304. Gustavo Andrés Gómez
President of Asoexport
“It is important to explore these market opportunities generated from this new reality, with the aim of replacing imports both nationally and with our neighbors in Latin America.”.

305. Jorge Enrique Bedoya
President of the SAC
“"The rural sector is fighting against informal employment. Congress and the Government have the opportunity to reduce this indicator of 86% in the countryside by creating the agricultural contract and guaranteeing contributions to Health and Pension.".

306. Juan Luis Cardona Sierra
President of Uniban
“Our contribution to helping the country overcome this difficult time is precisely to continue deepening exports to foreign markets and ensuring the supply of national markets, in products that we handle such as bananas, plantains and pineapples.”.

307. Pablo Vásquez
Director Garotas Design
“As business owners, many of us are being affected because lower incomes for people mean fewer sales for businesses. In the midst of this, which we know will be temporary, we also need ideas like looking beyond the company's social purpose and seeing how we can contribute.”.

308. Ramón León
Founder of Elements Group
“We saw the need to address biosecurity and public health, so we started creating face masks according to the criteria of the authorities; but the idea to move forward is to support other local producers and associations so that we are all in the same value chain and so the industry can be strengthened by buying local.”.

309. Alfredo Varela de la Rosa
General Manager of Vaste Sas
“I believe that with respect to Covid, what we have not done well is the isolation of confirmed cases; it is not only the number of tests we are doing and knowing who is infected but the capacity we have to provide support to that person.”.

310. Andrés Mejía
Director of Golden Hass and Royal Hass
“We must take advantage of the fact that we have a solid financial system and a government committed to channeling resources for financing, but this must be very inclusive so that it is truly reflected in the different spheres of society.”.

311. Cristian David Guzmán
Project Manager at Acotar Arquitectura SAS
“We must commit to sustainability and protect the environment. In terms of sustainability, we must support our own entrepreneurial ventures and human talent, moving away from looking outward and towards developing projects and megaprojects that we ourselves are capable of undertaking.”.

312. Felipe Giraldo
Founder and CEO of Bícono
“To revolutionize the food business, offering gastronomic experiences with the appropriate safety protocols for all our followers, this leads to them appropriating the brand and supporting us as a national business, providers of employment and excellent dishes that can only be found at our locations.”.

313. Juan Andrés Carreño
President of Asopostal
“"The government should make a greater effort to save formal jobs, especially in the service sector, which is the one most affected, but small and medium-sized service companies such as restaurants, hairdressers or commercial premises, which generate millions of jobs, are not being helped by anyone today.".

314. Juan Otero
Co-founder of Fresh Meet Colombia
“"We need to fully optimize everything we're doing, from the producer to the end consumer of anything, because we can all optimize and learn from everything we do.".

315. Juan Pablo García Cortés
Digital marketing strategist
“A risk management system that integrates and consumes health data from any EPS (Health Promoting Entity) across all its variables. In addition, there's a mobile application for individuals so that EPSs can generate value, action, and growth, helping people not only to take their medication and sleep well, but also to guide them on how to do things properly. This system is already developed and is being launched right now.”.

316. Juan José Daza
General Manager of Buscalibre Colombia
“It is time to focus more on teaching people how to behave, on working more on the civic and cultural aspects of people, of Colombians, so that we can have better behavior and thus avoid placing all the responsibility on the rulers, and instead we as citizens have that responsibility to behave better and to know how to behave in different situations.

317. Junior Bustillos
General Manager of the Cartagena Social Club
“"New types of industries must be created because we only have very few; to that extent, more employment will be generated.".

318. Laura Patricia Serrano Sotelo
General Manager of Efy Colombia
“I’m a big supporter of the sharing economy, and for me, it would mean supporting all these types of businesses that can help thousands of people with things like employment. We need to try to transform the traditional companies we have now into this type of economy to create more jobs.”.

319. Mauricio López
Commercial Manager of Green Superfood
“We must look at projects focused on supporting the entire production base in order to facilitate the transport of crops from the countryside to the main cities and the packing and export plants located in Colombia.”.

320. Jairo Palacios Ospina
Manager of the Sertta Group
“We need all business owners in the sector to unite to promote local production and ensure that at least 80% of the products on restaurant menus are Colombian. We can certify this or have a seal to make it much more attractive to diners.”.

321. Javier Diaz Molina
CEO of Analdex
“I believe that one of the fundamental problems facing our country today is corruption. For the country to move forward, it is necessary to eradicate this scourge, to combat corruption. It is necessary to create a functioning judicial system. To a large extent, corruption has spread due to impunity; the expiration of legal deadlines benefits the corrupt, and therefore there is no justice.”.

322. Juan Ricardo Gomez
Director of the Santafé and Belarte theaters
“Consume our own products in all areas; everything we Colombians know how to do. We have also shown that we are among the best, so let's return to what is ours, support everything we are, and I think that by doing so we will get this economy back on its feet.”.

323. Juan Germán Carvajal Cataño
General Manager of LHM Processed Products
“I support companies and businesses because they are ultimately the only generators and drivers of the economy and employment. If businesses are not supported at this time, it will be very difficult to emerge from this crisis.”.

324. Alberto Mario Rincón
General Manager L'Oréal Colombia
“We will move forward as long as we are on the same side of the same objective: protecting the health of our people and gradually reactivating the country's economy. Secondly, we must work hand in hand with our consumers, understanding their new reality and adapting in the most agile way with products, services, and value propositions.”.

325. Alfonso Castro Cid
Managing Partner Kreab Colombia
“The first idea to move forward is to continue investing in education; the nation’s budget must go there. An educated society is a society that transforms itself. The second is to connect our cities; we still have the infrastructure of a country from 50 or 60 years ago, and that way we cannot move forward.”.

326. Gustavo Toro
President of Cotelco
“"In order to move forward, we need a greater political agreement where the different political parties work together to move the country forward.".

327. Henrique Gómez Paris
National Director of Acodres
“If we regain faith in ourselves, in our country, if we regain faith in our competitors and understand that on this basis of belief we can reinvent our relationships and strengthen our human capabilities and the riches that Colombia offers to the world, without a doubt we will turn the page on COVID-19.”.

328. Juan Carlos Garavito Escobar
Director Clarket Colombia
“One idea is to increasingly focus on innovation and social entrepreneurship, ideas and projects that help us solve the major challenges facing Colombia by creating companies with a new economic model that are much more inclusive, sustainable and competitive.”.

329. María Fernanda Quiñones
Executive Director of the Chamber of Electronic Commerce
“The reactivation must take place in several ways, the first is that the benefits of e-commerce must be deployed to the greatest number of economic activities possible, the understanding of what e-commerce implies must be carried out, which is an approach from a value chain perspective, understanding that e-commerce is not enough to have an online store set up, it has multiple models.”.

330. Rogerio Sperb
Country manager Hub Andino de Becton Dickinson
“"My conviction is that trust in institutions and in private enterprise are fundamental to accelerating the engine of the country's recovery, at a time that is turbulent around the world.".

331. Daniela Konietzko Calero
President of the WWB Colombia Foundation
“One idea to move forward is to involve women more actively in the reactivation of the country; it is time to enhance all the transformative power of women, women entrepreneurs, women businesswomen and in general all the activities they can carry out to help under conditions of equality.”.

332. Felice Grimoldi Rebolledo
General Director Comfenalco Valle delagente
“Our idea for the country to move forward is to make greater social investment in the health, education, and employment sectors. Especially in those areas where the State has not yet reached, accompanied by the development of physical infrastructure, and also by supporting the informal population in our cities.”.

333. Juan Camilo Sierra Restrepo
Director of the Cali International Book Fair
“My idea to move the country forward is for the State to leverage extraordinary finances and public policies for initiatives in all areas and sectors that, added to the duty of each of us as individuals and through teamwork, will allow us to rebuild what has been lost due to the Coronavirus.”.

334. Juan Díaz
CEO of Davinci Technologies
“My idea to move the country forward is to put technology at the service of the real digital transformation of the Colombian business fabric with 2 main objectives: The first, the reduction of fraud, counterfeiting and identity theft in Colombia which have skyrocketed in recent years. The second objective is to make Colombia a more agile country in its procedures, on average currently a procedure lasts 7.4 hours.”.

335. Javier Ramírez
General Manager of Fortox Security Group-Cali
“For reasons completely beyond the control of business leaders, Congress, and the government, these new times, brought about by the current pandemic, should compel us to break with old paradigms. We cannot continue doing the same things and expecting different results.”.

336. Antonio Jiménez
CEO of Helppeople
“My idea to move the country forward is to buy Colombian software. Today, the national software industry is ranked as one of the most important in the world. Currently, a large part of the operations of our companies in Colombia during the pandemic and the era of remote work are supported by Colombian software.”.

337. Bernardo Sánchez Escobar
General Manager of Aceites, SA.
“My idea to move the country forward is to continue believing that agriculture, and especially the countryside, is the world's largest storehouse of products, with the difference that today we are applying innovation and focusing on circular economy projects to demonstrate that the economic can be linked with the environmental and social aspects.”.

338. Boris Spiwak
Vice President of Spiwak Hotels
“My idea to move the country forward is an alternative model of universal basic income: it consists of dividing the state's stake in Ecopetrol into 45 million identical shares and giving one share to each citizen as a privilege and birthright. By removing the state's intermediation, the profits of the country's most important company would go directly and equally into the pockets of every Colombian.”.

339. Felipe González
CEO Tekton Technologies
“We, the entrepreneurs in the technology sector, want to unite to support Colombian micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. At StoreON®, we want to take that first step towards digital transformation by offering registration to our e-commerce service hub, which will allow them to upload their product catalog quickly and easily to the country's main marketplaces.”.

340. Carlos Alberto Guzmán Tovar
Country Chief Executive of Bureau Veritas Colombia and Panama
“"We need to democratize knowledge of biosafety protocols and promote the restart of activities in all sectors of the economy in a safe manner.".

341. Luis H. Pérez
Rector of the Autonomous University of the West
“The time has come for us to change our way of life, and to accept that we need to make new and extraordinary decisions in all areas of our lives. Likewise, we must accept this new, equitable, and supportive world that allows us to live in harmony with nature and with our fellow human beings.”.

342. Ricardo Rodríguez
Country Manager of Sonda Colombia
“We must continue to adapt our processes through innovation. It is clear that today’s situation has presented us with global challenges, and technology has been a key driver of major changes in organizations. That is why it is vital to continue supporting the digital transformation of organizations so that they can face the challenges of the market.”.

343. Sonia Quesada
General Manager of High Results
“We must continue working on the digital transformation of organizations in terms of communication. Language, formats, and audiences have evolved; new generations are digital natives. Therefore, companies must focus on establishing channels conducive to successful contact with their target audience.”.

344. Andrea Walker
Director of the Cartagena Art Fair
“"To improve the country, we must invest in education, close social gaps, and return to agriculture, to become an exporter of agricultural products and depend less on oil.".

345. Andrés Ramírez
Expert in Positive Psychology
“We must find an identity beyond the existing polarization. Also, in Colombia we must be able to see problems beyond Covid-19, such as insecurity, poverty and inequality.”.

346. Angelica Flechas
CEO and founder of Haptica
“We must understand that Colombia is a service-based economy. This is a time to rethink many things, to strengthen companies' value propositions. We will be able to move forward.”.

347. Evert Montero Cárdenas
President of Fecoljuegos
“One of the biggest problems we have is the lack of social responsibility. This can be addressed in schools, understanding that individuals are important but also part of a collective. We must understand what this means and make a social commitment to our country.”.

348. Felipe Andrade
Founding partner of Sanabria & Andrade
“"In Colombia, and in general in Latin America, we don't know how to accept differences, which should be one of the most important steps when thinking about how to improve the country.".

349. Ramón Dávila
Manager of Gases del Caribe
“The main problem is unemployment due to the economic downturn. This means that many people cannot meet their basic needs, forcing them to take to the streets. We need to provide better education and more opportunities.”.

350. Felipe Uribe
CEO of Signify
“"We need to take greater advantage of digitalization and current technological advances because the world is moving rapidly towards this and it is crucial for the country's development that they are capitalized on.".

351. Fernando González
Vice President of Planning at Solutions Group
“"It is important to show our people and the whole country that we are full of opportunities and that we must look at everything from a positive mindset.".

352. Fernando Pardillo
Manager of Volvo Cars Colombia
“For Colombia to move forward, it is necessary to reduce bureaucracy, which generates tremendous costs every year and facilitates corruption. This can be achieved through existing technology and a paradigm shift, since trade relations in Colombia are based on distrust.”.

353. Liliana Mendoza Ramírez
Entrepreneur and author of Renovare
In my opinion, the country's main problem lies in the lack of harmonization between available resources and the efforts of the actors in the system (government, sectors and society), since there is no balance of power to strengthen and articulate the three dimensions of sustainable development to the same extent: the social and human, the economic and the environmental.

354. Juan Esteban Vélez
President of Asdesilla
“We must invest in education, which is very low in our country and doesn't reach those most in need. These people lack the judgment to handle situations like the pandemic, so developing a good education system will better prepare us for any emergency.”.

355. Juan Pablo Rojas
CEO and founder of Vertebra Solutions
“We need to guarantee access to technology for businesses in all areas and territories. In these programs, it is crucial that the needs of both the largest and smallest companies are taken into account.”.

356. Manuel Parra
CEO of Human Bridge
“Within companies, it is necessary to communicate with their work teams, to see firsthand their needs in order to generate appropriate solutions and strategies.”.

357. Marco Llinás
Rector of Pan-American University
“One of the situations we must face is unemployment, which amounts to more than 191% of the population. Education, in this case, will be part of the solution, through universities that increasingly allow students to train through different cycles.”.

358. Maryury Romero
General Manager of Dell Technologies for Colombia
“A very big problem is that a large part of the population lacks access to technology. This has become evident during the pandemic. Therefore, many in education have been affected and have not been able to access learning platforms.”.

359. Mauricio Moreno
Owner of Ice Bar
“We are becoming completely inhuman, always criticizing others and never doing so ourselves. We only spread hatred and give off very bad energy. We need to educate ourselves so we can show the political class that they shouldn't make a fool of us.”.

360. Sebastián Moreno
CEO of Critertec
“It is vital to focus on the educational transformation of all regions of the country, for which different strategies will be necessary due to the cultural and geographical variety of each one”:

361. Vartan Puiguian
Food Manager El Dorado
“It is clear that Colombia and its productive sector have a great opportunity. Right now, we can leave the past behind, put aside our differences. Now we can release the handbrake, accelerate, and break old paradigms. We must invest in modern, personalized education.”.

362. Bruce Mac Master
President of Andi
“At Andi, we have been insisting that today we have the obligation to face the future optimistically, realistically, knowing effectively everything we have on the table at this moment, knowing the cost we have assumed in terms of the company, its viability, employment, or even economic and state activity, but at the same time imagining that this generation will be remembered for the capacity we have had to move forward, we have to come out with strength and optimism with ideas, collectively united.”.

363. Daniel Mitchell Restrepo
President of Acoplásticos
“In the short term, a very strong countercyclical investment strategy must be activated in productive activities with many linkages, such as housing construction and public works, among others. To this end, we propose temporarily making public spending more flexible so that more resources are available for the execution of these projects, and we also propose creating the 'Works for Taxes' mechanism.”.

364. Sandra Forero
President of Camacol
“For Colombia to move forward, we need everyone’s commitment, and our idea to demonstrate that commitment is building trust. Trust in public and private work creates the conditions for the country’s social, economic, and sustainable development.”.

365. Nelson Baquero
General Manager at Athletic de Colombia
“The only way for humanity to cope with this situation is for everyone to become aware of the recommended precautions with true individual responsibility and continue taking measures such as staggered schedules by sector and others to avoid crowds. The economy must keep flowing.”.

366. Denise Camhi
JMC Director Miriam Camhi
“We must combat corruption at all levels. The money is there, but it gets lost along the way, and it's stolen from education, health, and basic services. Coming out of the pandemic, unemployment and insecurity will increase, and people's basic conditions will be severely affected. Tough times are coming.”.

367. Juan Luis Franco
BTG Pactual
“The main idea is that we have to learn to live with this virus. COVID has a lower fatality rate than initially thought. We must support social distancing measures, avoiding crowds, and using protective equipment such as face masks.”.

368. Julio César Mendoza
Executive Director of Cormoda Tolima
“We need to reactivate sectors of the economy while continuing to follow safety protocols. We must understand that we cannot remain confined, but rather learn to live with the pandemic so we can go back to work.”.

369. Victor Muñoz
Legal Director of Muro Abogados
“The participation of all social, economic, and political actors is needed so that, united, we can move forward into the future. Lawyers must focus on a fully digitalized justice system that is accessible to citizens and at the forefront of the demands of the 21st century.”.

370. Lilia Beatriz Sánchez
Former President of the Colombian Society of Economists (SCE)
“We are entering a stage that could be called a “War Economy,” and it will be necessary to legislate exceptionally, possibly thinking outside the box and devising a new series of Keynesian-style measures. The name of the game is: liquidity. To achieve this, we will have to resort to monetary and fiscal mechanisms, within a new framework of flexibility.”.

371. Leonardo Latorre Ramírez
Executive Manager in Commercial and Marketing Strategies
“To initiate a supercycle of infrastructure investment by capitalizing the FDN to achieve financial closures in Bogotá not only for the first, but also the second metro line, commuter trains, the Boyacá highway, the ALO, the Autonorte highway, the Seventh Avenue, among others. Likewise in other cities and regions with a special focus on ports and highways.”.

372. Santiago Castro
President of Asobancaria
“Colombia needs to get back to work, and its children and young people need to return to in-person learning. Let's start by entrusting our citizens with the responsibility of taking care of themselves and taking the necessary precautions, with severe penalties for those who don't.”

373. Luis Miguel González
President of Crecicorp Capital
“We must develop an ecosystem that helps promote creativity on all fronts, from research and development in large companies to micro-entrepreneurship.”

374. Nicolás Delgado
Marsh Regional Corporate Leader
“"The discussion must incorporate the value chains of products and services so that we can interlink everything and avoid another domino effect that forces us to start all over again.".

375. Juan Carlos Realphe
President of Zurich Colombia
“We must rebuild more resilient and inclusive societies, and this happens when people have access to financial services such as insurance.”

376. Francisco León
Country Manager of PayU
“Even though COVID-19 has had negative impacts on the economy and society in general, great opportunities can be derived from it.”

377. Camilo Sánchez
President of Andesco
“We need to believe in ourselves again, to show solidarity with Colombian businesses so that they can generate employment, and so that we can produce and consume what we are producing firsthand.”

378. Nicolás Carrero
Founding partner of Carrero & Associates
“My main idea is to stimulate productive industrial sectors such as agriculture, livestock, substitute goods and IT services, renewable energy and infrastructure, among others

379. Gustavo Morales
President of Acemi
“We can move forward if we continue to invest in the capabilities of both the public and private sectors, as we have done so far in the midst of the pandemic.”

380. Sergio González
President of ETB
“My idea for moving the country forward has two main areas of focus. The first is to reduce the digital divide; this, of course, implies a huge effort to connect more and more families every day, especially in the lowest income brackets.”

381. Elias Botero
President of Famisanar
“We must strive for innovation and industrialization hand in hand with sustainable development to guarantee quality of life in the medium and long term.”

382. Álvaro José Aparicio
President of Global Securities
“The positive message is to support businesses in generating employment. Of course, there is a fiscal cost that the government has to bear in relation to a social cost, which could be very high.”

383. Pamela Castro
General Manager of BelaVenko Abogados
“The challenge is to be visionaries, to think like entrepreneurs and to build together with our clients a promising corporate future, where disruption, technology, versatility and the collaborative economy play a leading role.”

384. Adriana María Cardona
Executive President of Certicámara
“Both the public and private sectors must protect their information systems and digital environments with highly secure and reliable technological mechanisms to ensure the continuity of the businesses and procedures they offer.”

385. Javier Ardila
General Manager of Analac
“"We must more vehemently encourage the consumption of quality milk to ensure healthy nutrition for Colombians and to maintain the stability of rural income and employment."”

386. Diego Fernando Quijano
Chief Operating Officer of BDO in Colombia
“We must establish multi-sectoral working groups, with the participation of both the private sector and the government, in order to develop public policy initiatives that will allow us to achieve the sustainable development goals established by the UN, encompassing the social, environmental and economic dimensions.”

387. Yaneth Giha
President of Afidro
“It’s time to think more about what benefits us as a society and as a country. It’s a time for generosity, expressed not only in donations – which are undoubtedly essential and in which both Afidro and our members have participated – but also in initiatives that bring us together around projects.”

388. Juan Carlos Giraldo
Director of Achc
“My idea for moving forward is to have a new health system based on a powerful primary care scheme; the hospital component has to integrate in-person care with home and outpatient care, and the administration of insurance must be strongly regulated and separate from the management of funding sources.”

389. Pedro Otoya
President of Facture
“"To get out of this, we have to understand that the performance of groups is always superior to that of individuals, that we have to believe in others."”

390. Alexandra Reyes Gómez
President Carvajal Technology and Services
“We can address two issues: First, formalizing all employment as happens in more developed economies and, second, carrying out a tax reform for companies since the level of corporate taxation in Colombia is one of the highest in the world.”

391. Barbara Quiroga
Director of Livesti
“For our country to avoid stagnation and move forward, it is necessary to join forces to activate the economy, which requires allowing formal economic activity and improving the informal economy.”

392. Angela Diaz
Director of Acolap
“All stakeholders must undertake impactful campaigns that lead to the cultural shift required to live in this new reality under a culture of self-care. Without this culture, the road ahead will be longer and much more difficult, because the solution is no longer to remain in quarantine.”.

393. Jimmy Jimenez
Founding Partner of Integrity Legal Lawyers
“"For Colombia to move forward, a change in the criteria for applying the law is required, a real search for justice and a change in the way Colombia is administered, but only a strong justice system and working on the minds of Colombians will truly be able to generate change.".

394. Jorge Peralta
Partner at Peralta & Associates Lawyers
“My proposal is to involve all social sectors in solving the country’s problems. To involve academia, indigenous communities, excluded political sectors, and victims in a real way.”.

395. Jorge Rausch
Chef and owner of Criterion
“We all have to work together. Find ways to reach agreements. Restaurant owners with landlords. The government with business owners. Workers with employers. This is a time to show solidarity.”.

396. José Luis Valderrama
Country Sales Director Xertica Colombia
“We believe it is key to take advantage of the benefits of digital transformation in relation to improving logistics and, particularly, customer service, and not only that, but also to stay one step ahead of their new demands.”.

397. Juan Carlos Urazán
Founding Partner, Urazan Abogados Asociados
“Combating corruption is essential to restoring trust. In economic matters, aggressive campaigns must be launched to buy local products over imported ones.”.

398. Juan Esteban Saldarriaga
Founder of Rapicredit
“Contracting needs to be more transparent. The only way to prevent corruption is to move public and private sector contracting to a digital platform where citizens can audit it. We also need to consider how to create greater economic dynamism without raising taxes. We must seek to formalize more employment.”.

399. Juan Manuel del Corral
President of Grupo Cadena
“I would like that when the quarantine ends and we “look at the landscape again”, we see a new Colombia in which we all work to close the inequality gap, respect the environment, allow education and health to be priorities and transparency to be the way of making decisions.”.

400. Julián Hernández
CEO Kadoom
“My idea to move the country forward is to implement tax reforms that favor national entrepreneurs and allow, through tax structuring, small businesses to be more competitive against large industries.”.

401. Luis Carlos Arango
General Manager Colsubsidio
“"The challenge is to design increasingly strict biosafety protocols that allow the country to reopen: to restart the productive capacity of our workforce while taking all necessary measures to protect workers.".

402. Martha Gómez
Auction and Trading Manager
“To move the country forward, it is the obligation of all business owners to inject optimism. We must propose ideas and solutions from different sectors and work with greater passion for the opportunities we now see. From the commercial sector, all companies need liquidity to resolve current situations such as payroll, bonuses, and parafiscal obligations.”.

403. Patricia Vélez
Founder of Ambiente Gourmet
“We should have much more labor flexibility. Hiring with different schedules and lower benefits would help generate more jobs in the country. If it were possible to hire people by the hour, it would be a win-win for both employees and employers. It's a way to help students.”.

404. Paulo Etcheverry
General Manager of Siegfried
“"To promote, encourage and incentivize the reactivation of the thousands of businesses that have had to close. Without fear of contagion, with awareness of the need for care.".

405. Santiago José Castro Agudelo
Lottus Education Chief Learning Officer
“The most important thing for Colombia to get back on a path of growth and development is to have a competitive education system at all levels. It has become common to talk about coverage, but coverage without options. What options does a farmer have for his children?”.

406. Santiago Lopera
Manager of Colombian Wings
“To move the country forward, I would focus all my efforts and resources on education, but one that includes a new educational model and not the traditional one, one that forms true citizens, that prepares the child to face the current world with honesty and integrity, that teaches them to live from love, respect for differences and service.”.

407. Alejandro Arcila
Majority shareholder of Arcila&Sotomayor
“"We citizens must stop prioritizing a purely individualistic attitude that is unconcerned with others, and instead continue building society.".

408. Augusto Hernández Becerra
President of Hernández Law Firm
“"The country will only move forward if we succeed in fulfilling the goals of the Social Rule of Law.".

409. Camilo Martínez Beltrán
Managing Partner of DLA Piper Martinez
“A structural reform of the judicial system is required, one that ensures legal certainty in administrative and judicial proceedings.”.

410. Enrique Álvarez
Partner at Lloreda Camacho & Co
“In this context, it is necessary to accompany the economic measures adopted with educational processes for the future, which include the new realities, so that people can appropriate the new forms of economic interrelation.”.

411. Enrique Gómez Pinzón
Managing Partner at Holland Knight
“We cannot continue to stand out in the world for negative reasons, for achievements through cheating and taking advantage of others; it is time to use our intelligence and experience on positive issues and for all of us to unite and make Colombia move forward.”.

412. José Miguel de la Calle
Partner at Garrigues
“"What is interesting is that the law is a powerful tool that can have a positive impact on these two central aspects: economic growth and the reduction of inequality.".

413. Martín Acero
Managing Partner of PPU
“"An alignment of national interests is urgently needed in order to direct efforts towards common central issues such as education, health, the fight against poverty, equitable conditions for all and the satisfaction of basic needs.".

414. Mauricio Maestre
Senior Partner M&M Lwyers
“The only way forward is through education. A change in our country's education system and in the curriculum content of primary and secondary education is urgently needed.”.

415. Nicolás Lozada
Partner at Rincón Cuellar y Asociados
“"It is necessary that, in a society like today's, where a large number of people have access to the internet, we see virtual platforms as an opportunity to simplify the lives of many users who cannot find a solution in what we know today as justice.".

416. Santiago Arbouin
Partner at CMS Rodríguez Azuero
“"Under the current circumstances, we must work intensively for immediate economic and social reactivation; strengthening existing industry and encouraging the creation of new companies, in order to get the economy moving again.".

417. Tatiana Garcés
Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie
“"The Government must dedicate even more resources, understanding that this increases the fiscal deficit, to temporarily increase the subsidy to the informal 60% and loans to companies to reduce bankruptcies and further job losses.".

418. Cristian Dieb
CEO of IPG Media Brands
“"The government must provide economic relief to companies and establish alliances that allow the incorporation of new technologies to maintain jobs; in these times, connectivity is a fundamental factor to face the crisis.".

419. Eduardo Cardona Mora
President CRL LEGAL
“We can invite our clients and consumers of legal services to adopt alternative legal conflict resolution methods such as conciliation in their corporate culture and introduce public and private companies to a culture of compliance.”.

420. Julio César Andrade
General Manager, Online Business Group SA.
“Our solution is to support the health system with the contributions we generate, which reach the figure of 1.85 billion during this first half of the year, thanks to the exploitation rights that our operation generates.”.

421. Luis Alberto Botero
President Alliance Team
“This situation has given us a push to move forward and be more aware of caring for the environment, of innovation processes, and to look for alternatives to stay connected with each other.”.

422. Luis Carlos Guerrero
President of CenturyLink
“To make economic and social progress, the country must increase its investment in technology. Likewise, it is crucial to promote banking services, e-commerce, and the digital economy as a matter of public policy.”.

423. Andrés Ávila
Vertical Manager of Zebra Technologies Latam
“"One of the ideas we could have, in this new normal, in which we are facing such important challenges as enabling new purchasing channels, is the integration between the different links in the supply chain.".

424. Daniel Rivero
Founder of the Monterrosales Educational Group
“Colombia requires an action plan of at least 12 years where phases of cleaning/restructuring/renewal are structured.”.

425. Julio E. Latorre
General Manager, League Against Cancer, Bogotá Chapter
“"From the health sector, I think the country should emphasize fundamental issues such as health education, culture, drinking water and nutrition, but mainly combat hunger and inequality.".

426. Laura Gutiérrez
Co-founder of Doc Doc
“Telemedicine applications like doc-doc will help open borders and democratize access to health, allowing more people to have services, lowering their costs and reducing waiting times for guidance from medical specialists.”.

427. María Claudia Lacouture
Executive Director of Amcham
“A strategy is needed to prepare Colombia for the medium and long term, which includes, but is not limited to: public policies that enable the country to develop a new value proposition in its productive apparatus and its internationalization.”.

428. María Mercedes Jaramillo
Manager and spokesperson for American Eagle
“We believe the country’s main problem is the lack of awareness and solidarity among its inhabitants. To the extent that each person takes care of themselves and those around them with full responsibility, we will overcome this pandemic.”.

429. María Victoria Vanegas
Manager of Cutis Dermatological Drugstore
“We need to achieve effective collaborative alliances between the government and the business sector, which go beyond simply establishing tax burdens and focusing on net profit.”.

430. Miguel Ángel Espinosa
CEO of Fitac
“"The National Government must eliminate some procedures that are cumbersome during the pandemic, that are useless and do not add value to small, medium and large companies that want to continue contributing to the country.".

431. Alejandro Castañeda
President of Andeg
“We need to be a catalyst for investment in order to boost employment.”.

432. Carlos Leal
President of the Board of Directors of Acipet
“We must be positive and accompany it with public policies for formal employment.”.

433. Gabriel Sánchez
Global Training Aviation (GTA) Manager
“The aeronautical sector has been one of the most affected along with tourism in the midst of the pandemic; that is why reciprocity is required from the companies that are part of the business, clients and suppliers, a chain of solidarity where compliance and loyalty are important.”.

434. Germán Espinosa
President of Campetrol
“The idea for moving forward is to make an energy transition. The oil industry is resilient, and we must be able to transform ourselves and take a leap in quality: we are going from being a chamber of oil services to a comprehensive services chamber.”.

435. Germán Pardo
President of the Colombian Society of Engineers
“To move forward, it is necessary for the country to understand that public works are sacred; the investment of our resources must always be for the benefit of the community. Public leaders are administrators of resources; they are not generators of science and technology, they do not design, and they do not build. Institutional integrity is the guarantee of success for harmonious development.”.

436. Juan Carlos Vélez
President of Fendipetróleo
“It is very important that the Government initiate a strategy to reactivate all sectors of the economy, even if it is done in different phases. And it is important that there be a direct injection of resources to small and medium-sized enterprises that are not just loans.”.

437. Juan Manuel Sánchez
President of Fenalcarbón
“Development should be promoted by strengthening social, urban and transport infrastructure, where a public works plan is financed through royalty resources, local and multilateral loans, foreign investment and other mechanisms.”.

438. Juan Miguel Durán
President of Colfecar
“"We need to be much more efficient, stay ahead of the curve, and automate procedures.".

439. Sandra Fonseca
President of Asoenergía
“Linking this informal population to institutions, formal networks, and structural development circuits is fundamental. The country must promote direct policies and programs to incentivize sectors that are major job creators.”.

440. Alejandro Albán
CEO Azembla SAS.
“To encourage a change in culture, where the common good is above the individual. It is a very altruistic ideal, but without achieving this we will never be able to stand out as an advanced society.”.

441. Alejandro Diaz
CEO Sushi Fans
“We must promote the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. Beyond financial support, there should be entities that provide free training, subsidized by the State, to small business owners.”.

442. Angela Amaya
Partner at Amaya Intellectual Property
“Legislation that condemns the misuse of public funds in perpetuity; and, on the other hand, greater coverage in education, entrepreneurship, values training and greater investment in health, urbanism, planning and design of the countryside, towns and cities.”.

443. César Ahumada Avendaño
General Manager of Sayco
“My idea to move forward in the country from the General Management of the Society of Authors and Composers of Colombia SAYCO, is the work we do daily for the well-being of the more than 9000 associates, to give the value that our Colombian composers deserve.”.

444. Daniel Correa Hernández
CEO Destra Entertainment Lawyers
“My proposal is to update the traditional education system with a cutting-edge system that is delivered virtually, under a dynamic and interactive scheme, where children begin their learning by playing and having fun.”.

445. Fabián Motta
CEO of SmartPR
“We must have a roadmap, a long-term national objective, and we must all commit to that objective. In my opinion, that objective should be education, an education designed for the coming decades, an education that will allow our future generations to be the creators of the new solutions that will transform the world.”

446. Guillermo Navarro Romero
Partner at Muñoz Abogados
“Our idea is to focus on entrepreneurship, innovation and value creation through Intellectual Property; to spread awareness of the exclusivity system (legitimate monopolies), so that all entrepreneurs understand the benefits and develop business models based on their intangible assets, but with collective collaboration.”.

447. Ignacio Llano Domínguez
General Manager of Manitoba SAS.
“Comprehensive work, strengthening values in homes, institutions, and businesses to reduce the inequality gap and lack of opportunities. Everyone rowing towards the same cause, understanding differences better, so we can work more constructively and dynamically.”

448. Jaime Eduardo Forero
Co-Founder and CEO of Rino Films
“As businesses and leaders, we need to return to civic education, because we've forgotten that not all education comes from home; we also have a responsibility to education as a society. In this way, we prevent further corruption within our government, social inequality, injustices in the streets, abuses of power, and we foster respect for life.”.

449. Juliana Echeverri Molina
Founding Partner of My Brand Legal
“If there is a better level of education, this offers a better opportunity for a professional to enter the world of work, improves the rates of informal economy in the country and in turn offers a better quality of life for families who, by having better incomes, can have access to better conditions for themselves and their children.”.

450. Lucas Nosiglia
President of Avicanna Latam
“More than an idea or a formula for the country to recover its growth, a profound change of mentality is needed; in which, regardless of political, cultural or ideological differences, all sectors of society can contribute to the progress of the nation.”.

451. Martha Cecilia Carvajal Ávila
Country Manager Tiendadeo Colombia
“"Working significantly and quickly to reduce unemployment through actions such as encouraging entrepreneurship among the self-employed and unemployed, with relief in tax and social security contributions for a period of time that allows them to start their businesses.".

452. Mauricio Maestre
Senior Partner M&M Lawyers
“The only way forward is through education. A change in our country's education system and in the curriculum of primary and secondary education is urgently needed. This includes incorporating courses related to Financial Literacy, Resource Management, and Strategic and Assertive Communication to foster empathy, ethics, and values in new generations.”.

453. Max Beck
CEO of Uberflug Colombia
“Moving from “chamboneering” to “engineering” (with affection 😉) through leaders with strategic thinking and the will to oppose the usual.”.

454. Raúl Buriticá
Manager Buriticá Abogados SAS.
“Greater transparency in resource management, greater citizen participation in oversight, implementation of technological aids especially in the most remote municipalities. State investment in infrastructure, especially in roads, seaports and improved response times for imports and exports.”.

455. Rayet Harb Gas
Zerenia Clinic Manager
“"I believe that if we can introduce these innovative service models into healthcare pathways, the benefits we will obtain as a country will be significant.".

456. Romeo Pedroza Garcés
General Manager of Pedroza Consultores
“We propose the implementation of policies to strengthen the institutional capacity of companies, so that they have a long-term vision and corporate governance systems that allow them to access public and private financial support, because they are socially responsible and worthy of credibility.”.

457. Sergio Marcelo Cabrera Gordillo
Partner Sergio Cabrera Abogados
“"The country must project itself as attractive to continue promoting foreign investment in the agro-industry, encourage economic integration between regions, and intensively develop the promotion of jobs to progressively reactivate consumption and spending in households.".

458. Travis Miller
General Manager Young Living Colombia
“To generate a solid entrepreneurial option through network marketing. Beyond seeking product sales, our channel focuses on generating consumer networks, which allows for sustainable entrepreneurship.”.

459. Andrés Arboleda
CEO of Tudeclaración.com
“Companies need to think about how to migrate quickly and more permanently to electronic means, but not only that, they also need to ensure that the service is reliable and secure. We know that there are procedures that can be done online, and that can be done without having to go to an office.”

460. Camilo Viví
Country Manager of RICOH Colombia
“I summarize the idea in three principles: love your country, love your neighbor, and love your work. I believe that through the combination of these three principles, which are the foundational principles of Ricoh but are also universal principles, we will be able to move forward as a society and as a country.”.

461. Carla Celia
Director of Carnaval SAS (Barranquilla Carnival)
“To move forward, we need higher-income people to think about new support models for the most vulnerable families, because these days what has become common is finding cases of people who, due to job loss, have no way to guarantee a livelihood.”.

462. David Orozco
Chef and owner of the restaurants Oculto and Chorilongo in Bogotá
“"To counteract several problems, you first have to step outside the norm.".

463. Fernando Silvestre
Manager Neoris Colombia
“"The pandemic presents opportunities such as generating value by digitally connecting businesses, companies, and the government sector.".

464. Gabriel Calderón
Manager of TuOrden.com
“We need to support collaborative economies and design strategies to reduce informality. If programs or policies are not designed to address these issues, other problems such as social security will arise.”.

465. Gerardo Reategui
RedBus Manager
“The government must listen to all sectors: from the pharmaceutical industry to consumer goods and technology. Furthermore, it must promote savings and investment. And it must prevent the decapitalization of companies.”.

466. Julio César Bolaños
Administrative Manager Sweeten Your Ride
“"We need to work together between the State and the productive sectors and transform the workforce into a workforce with new skills.".

467. Laura Milena Quintana
Administrative Vice President of Movich Hotels
“I believe that what we must do is take steps to reactivate the economy while taking care of our people, and that the government should focus on taking truly effective measures so that companies or businesses are highly incentivized to return to previous levels of employment.”.

468. Leah Belsky
Business Manager and Senior Vice President of Coursera
“Helping Colombians acquire the skills relevant to the world of work in business, technology, and data science will be essential to moving the economy forward. Universities, businesses, and governments must help in this effort by providing access to high-quality education that reaches people at all stages of their lives.”.

469. Luis Burgos
Orange Tree Manager
“My idea to move forward is that from the creative industries side, we should allow them to resume operations by opening rehearsal rooms, studios, and later live shows with reduced capacity.

470. Oscar Restrepo
Regional Managing Director for Colombia and Ecuador at NH Hotels
“Links must be established between the government and private enterprise to identify needs and create simple processes to promote real formalization in the different sectors of the country's economy, thereby generating a process of business and social strengthening, accompanied by an improvement in education so that young people can be part of a productive chain that generates value and growth for the country.”.

471. Alberto Llamas
Director of Financial Management at Llamas Arenas Business Group
“Each person, from their personal role as a member or leader of a family, society, community, or political party, must do what is expected of them and must do it well.”.

472. Alipio Caro Ribero
General Manager of NFC Electronics
“The solution for the country to move forward cannot be limited to government subsidies. These don't solve the problem, nor are they sustainable in the long run. We must all work together. Businesses need to transform, not reinvent themselves. Business leaders must work on optimizing company operations.”

473. Álvaro José Materón
General Manager of Toolmate Colombia
“Greater sense of belonging, we must continue working and supporting formal employment, leading strategies that highlight the ability to get ahead in the worst moments, never losing optimism.”.

474. Camilo Pérez
General Manager of OOH Digital Networks
“It’s not theoretical, it’s practical. It’s Digital Signage and it applies to all sectors of the economy; screens in airports, banks, universities, shopping centers, warehouses, fast food restaurants, everywhere!”.

475. Daniel Puentes Prias
CEO of Partners Academy
“Colombia is a country with millions of talented people who need to understand what opportunities exist in the labor market and what skills they need to develop to be more competitive.”.

476. Diego Francisco Vargas
General Manager of the Bogotá Free Trade Zone
“We propose making free trade zones one of the central pillars of economic recovery. We have significant results in terms of attracting investment, generating formal employment, and diversifying the export basket.”.

477. Fabio Henrique
Regional Director of Panduit RoLATAM
“Support for the Colombian startup ecosystem from locally present multinational companies, as well as from a well-structured government program, will be fundamental for micro and small businesses to adapt to the new business scenario.”.

478. Ricardo Galeano A.
General Manager of i-GECO
“We need to reduce the inequality gap by generating higher value activities and abandoning repetitive activities.”.

479. Nicolás Alfredo Camelo
General Manager of Controls and Automation
“"It's about continuing to build a company to generate the most decent jobs, ensuring that my employees can live well and not just survive. This is how we boost consumption, which is ultimately what drives our economy and allows the country to move forward.".

480. Santiago Alvarez Clavijo
General Manager of RP Advanced Mobile Systems
“"The way to contribute to this is with innovative products such as RP face masks, which, due to their attributes, can eliminate/disintegrate fungi, viruses and bacteria on contact.".

481. Alberto Pardo
CEO and founder of Adsmovil
“Entrepreneurship is an important factor, a motivator, and a pillar for small and medium-sized enterprises to generate growth and employment. It would be good to see how a massive plan for job creation and entrepreneurship can be developed.”.

482. Juan Sebastián Álvarez
CEO CBRE Colombia
“"The most important thing is to be able to understand the communication between landlord and tenant and how this communication, when taken to a good negotiation, will allow us to address the new challenges of today.".

483. Catalina Prieto
Country Manager of Despegar and Viajes Falabella Colombia
“For the country to move forward, it is essential to generate employment, for which we need to reactivate demand. In addition, it is important to give priority to those companies that are based in Colombia.”.

484. Roman Joya
Country Manager Almundo
“The country needs to see itself as a world-class tourist destination. We must focus on tourism as an engine of economic growth. We have everything to offer the best. We need to see the potential in every place to turn it into a great tourist destination.”.

485. Ana Isabel Coba
General Manager_Plaza de las Américas
“"The ideal way to move forward in Colombia is through solidarity in generating opportunities, so that everyone, through their efforts, can find ways to create the best living conditions for themselves.".

486. Andrés Valencia
CEO of E-Containers
“We all have to participate in the solution. We need rapid change from businesses. Cultural changes, which take years, must be implemented quickly. Companies must adapt to what the country needs.”.

487. Gabriel Contreras
CEO of Sinnetic
“Working in a cashless environment and accelerating incentives for business formalization are two elements that must be addressed to create a new country and boost economic development.”.

488. Héctor Cateriano
Founding partner Mas Equity Partners
“Let’s try to propose that there be more science students, who are generally the ones who create companies and jobs. We also need to curb corruption and there should be a mandatory, community-based military service so that all young people can contribute.”.

489. Jaime Bejarano
Country Lead Red Hat Colombia
“"Young people and students should be trained in new technologies and current information technologies that are Open source, in this way they are people who can start businesses in a growing industry.".

490. José Mutis
SAS Country Manager for Colombia and Ecuador
“"We must ensure that analytical intelligence reaches everyone. It's not just about technology; it's about leaders changing their mindset and relying on analytical intelligence to make better decisions.".

491. Juan Carlos Delgado
County Manager C&W
“Investing in roads would help us boost the agro-industrial sector, support vulnerable populations, and even be a way to bring education and generate employment, now that we need it so much.”.

492. Kefu Liu
General Manager of Comercializadora Liu Fenping Colombia SAS.
“"The government needs to provide us with better support so that companies can create strategic improvements to positively impact the market, since our main objective is to preserve jobs.".

493. Milton Quiroga
CEO Cyte
“We must try to use technologies like cryptography to be able to carry out processes completely digitally and without biological risk. It makes no sense to use paper when we have technologies like blockchain.”.

494. Rafael Álvarez
President of IC Constructora
“All companies must protect employment at all costs, prioritizing the collective over the individual, and we as business owners and as part of this entire business fabric must do our part to protect employment and ensure that, despite the circumstances, all companies and businesses survive. We must try to support the most vulnerable sectors that are going through a difficult time, through social responsibility.”.

495. Ramiro Cornejo
General Manager of Kia for Colombia
“Our commitment at KIA is to ensure that customers and our dealer network see us as an ally, a source of support that Colombia needs in good faith. To move forward as a country, we need to stop thinking individually. We need to take care of the planet, including through hybrid mobility.”.

496. Zach Oschin
CEO and Founder of Elenas
“In these times of Covid, it is necessary for the Colombian government to protect small and medium-sized businesses so that they can survive, but it is also a responsibility to find solutions to support us.”.

497. José Luis Garcia
General Manager of Grafer
“"That we may internalize that we are all one. That the good or bad we do to others, we do to ourselves.".

498. Jorge Alberto Marrugo
Manager of Farmacos De La Costa
“New leadership is needed to advance new public policies that incentivize different economic sectors, prioritizing local production focused on new global market trends, and thus achieve increasingly solid and autonomous companies that, over time, require less intervention from the state.”.

499. Javier Carrasco
General Manager of Joyco
“The important thing now is to be ourselves and do what is expected of each of us. We must foster integrity, authenticity, and courage as guiding principles in our daily work. It is essential to always speak the truth and be ourselves in order to promote our own identity and that of our work.”.

500. Adriana Restrepo
President of Sony Music Andean Region
“We need to abandon the traditional processes that were previously used in all kinds of industries to adapt to today's reality, which may well be due to the digital world; it even happens in music, which was all consumed virtually, but now it's about how to make things like concerts move to the virtual world.”.

See article in The Republic

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