Colombia - The Banker

Gerdau steel plant in Brazil: issued a $1.25bn investment grade bond in November

With bank lending drying up last year, many Latin American corporates turned to the bond market to strengthen their cash positions. The resulting boom has instilled a sense of confidence in the region, with firms in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia leading the way. Writer Jason Mitchell

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Good neighbours: Colombian president Alvaro Uribe (left) shakes hands with Peruvian president Alan Garcia

While the Western world has been struggling through the global financial crisis, Latin America has shown a remarkable resilience to the upheaval. Two countries in particular - Colombia and Peru - are showing particularly impressive growth, and look set to become important emerging economies. Writer Jason Mitchell

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Cesar Prado, Colombia’s financial regulator, Superintendencia Financiera

Stable government is creating an atmosphere of confidence in Colombia. Now it needs its free trade agreement with the US ratified. Writer Jane Monahan.

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Óscar IvÁn Zuluaga, Colombia’s finance minister

Óscar Iván Zuluaga has overseen the end of an economic boom and the onset of a period of uncertainty since becoming Colombia’s finance minister in February 2007. The Banker interviewed him at the Finance Ministry in Bogota. Writer Jane Monahan.

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Sergio Fajardo, Medellín’s mayor

The Colombian economy’sstellar performance has been one of the main reasons for the unprecedented rise in foreign direct investment, from about $500m in 2002 to a forecast $8bn this year, as president Alvaro Uribe, who came to power in 2002, recently pointed out to The Banker (for full interview, see page 20).

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