Foreign Investment in 2025 Reinforces Valle del Cauca’s Leadership in Environmental Sustainability
Cali, june de 2025. Foreign and national investment in Valle del Cauca throughout 2025 reflects investor confidence and strong environmental leadership. According to data from Invest Pacific – the regional investment promotion agency for Cali and Valle del Cauca – 11 projects were confirmed between January and May this year, amounting to USD $39 million in total investment and generating 1,798 new formal jobs across the region.
These projects include two new investments and nine reinvestments by companies from the United States, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. The investments span a range of sectors, including IT & software, BPO, personal care, logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, commerce, agricultural inputs, and food & beverages — with many of them driving significant impact in decarbonization efforts.
Among the highlights is the reinvestment by Fleischmann Colombia, a UK-based food industry leader that reaffirmed its sustainability commitment by inaugurating a new wastewater treatment plant in Palmira. The facility reuses water in its production processes, reducing pollutant loads by 92%, and transforms waste into green fertilizers to regenerate soil and protect aquifers.
Another milestone comes from German company Bayer, which launched its new iHub La Tupia Research Center in Pradera. This hub will promote regenerative agriculture, aiming for more efficient and sustainable practices through reduced fertilizer use.
“We’ve been working closely with the regional government, municipal mayors, the Cali Chamber of Commerce, ProPacífico, and the entire institutional ecosystem to position Valle del Cauca as Colombia’s most strategic region for technology development and environmental sustainability,” said Juan Carlos Castro, Executive Director of Invest Pacific. “The investment results we’ve seen so far in 2025 reflect that commitment — from regenerative agriculture and soil restoration to national energy supply infrastructure”.
Valle del Cauca has also attracted the attention of multilateral organizations and embassies for financing strategic decarbonization projects. Among them is a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) initiative, leveraging the region’s potential for biomass and bioethanol production. It aligns with the global CORSIA initiative (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), which aims to cut aviation emissions by 50% by 2050, with SAF expected to contribute to 70% of that reduction.
Additional sustainability-driven projects include:
Investment Driving Opportunities and Jobs
All 11 foreign investment projects reported so far this year have landed in Cali, Yumbo, Palmira, Pradera, and northern Cauca. Together, they represent nearly triple the number of formal jobs generated compared to the same period in 2024, and double the number of projects secured during that timeframe.
“Despite a global slowdown in FDI this year, Valle del Cauca continues to show growth, driven by projects that prioritize environmental sustainability and align with global decarbonization goals. Many companies already present in the region are doubling down on their commitment through reinvestment and expansion,” Castro added.
New investment highlights for 2025 include:
Key reinvestments include:
Also noteworthy is the development of the Pacific Regasification Plant, awarded in 2025 by Ecopetrol to Puertos, Inversiones y Obras S.A.S (Pio S.A.S.). Once operational by mid-2026, this project will transform Buenaventura into a major energy-port hub.
Valle del Cauca: A Competitive Investment Environment
The coordinated efforts between Invest Pacific and public sector partners have been essential in sustaining this positive investment momentum. From 2024 through May 2025, Invest Pacific has supported 32 investment projects totaling USD $164 million and creating 3,854 new jobs. Of those, 18 projects were established in Cali, with a total investment of USD $121.8 million and 3,180 formal jobs.
According to the latest Departmental Competitiveness Index, Valle del Cauca ranks as Colombia’s third most competitive region — a strong indicator of its appeal to international investors, particularly those looking to meet ambitious decarbonization targets.
The department leads the index’s Economic Diversification and Sophistication pillar, reflecting a high-tech, export-oriented business fabric. It also ranks second in the Business Environment pillar, thanks to its strong public–private collaboration and regional strategies for internationalization — including foreign investment promotion, infrastructure development, international cooperation, logistics, and technology transfer.
Invest Pacific, a nonprofit organization with over 14 years of experience, serves as a trusted ally to the business community, offering tailored insights, connections, and project management support. It works closely with municipal and district governments, the regional government, chambers of commerce, free trade zones, universities, and other ecosystem players to foster an optimal business climate for investors.
“Over the past decade and a half, the number of multinational companies operating in Valle del Cauca has tripled. In 2010, there were 80 foreign companies here — today, there are more than 240. This growth is a testament to Invest Pacific’s impact since its founding in 2010,” concluded Juan Carlos Castro, Executive Director of Invest Pacific.
