More Than 70 Colombian Companies Eye Canary Islands as Gateway to Europe

More than 70 Colombian companies have expressed an interest in expanding into the European market through the Canary Islands following a business conference held in Bogotá.

The event, organised at ProColombia’s headquarters, was attended by the Canary Islands’ Deputy Minister of Economy and Internationalization and Vice President of Proexca, Gustavo González de Vega, who presented the islands as a strategic business and investment hub linking Latin America with Europe.

A total of 72 companies indicated they are interested in establishing a presence in the Canary Islands, highlighting growing commercial ties between Colombia and the archipelago.

The Canary Islands Government has identified Latin America as a key region in its internationalisation strategy, with Colombia becoming an increasingly important partner. Officials say interest has grown in both directions, with Colombian businesses looking to access European markets via the islands, while Canarian companies are also exploring opportunities in Colombia.

During the conference, González de Vega outlined the competitive advantages of the Canary Islands, placing particular emphasis on Proexca’s Canarias LatamTech programme. Now in its third year, the initiative supports technology and audiovisual companies from Latin America that are looking to establish themselves in Europe.

Two Colombian businesses that have previously taken part in the programme, Packsa and Tiempo de Cine, shared their experiences with attendees, describing the opportunities the Canary Islands have provided for international expansion.

The visit also included meetings with interested companies and representatives from major regional financial institutions, including the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), to discuss future cooperation and investment opportunities.

Speaking after the mission, González de Vega welcomed the level of interest shown.

“We are very pleased with the success of this initiative, with 72 companies already expressing an interest in the Canary Islands. It is also important to highlight our meetings with the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), where we explored opportunities for knowledge transfer and for Canarian companies to expand their exports to Colombia and the wider Latin American market,” he said.

The mission forms part of the Canary Islands’ wider strategy to strengthen economic links with Latin America while positioning the archipelago as a preferred gateway for companies seeking access to European markets.