The forum “Colombia frente al fenómeno de El Niño” brought together authorities, industry associations, business leaders and experts to analyze the possible effects of the climate event on agricultural production, food security, inflation and the country's energy supply. Participants also discussed the strategies needed to strengthen response capacity and protect Colombia's economic competitiveness.
Camacol's executive president, Guillermo Herrera, said in Cartagena that the country has $98 trillion pesos in housing projects that have not started construction, across more than 1,400 projects and about 257,000 homes in pre-sale. According to Coordenada Urbana figures, that investment could generate the equivalent of 2.3 million direct and indirect jobs. He presented the figure at the opening of the 2026 Colombian Construction Congress, where the guild called for financing conditions, confidence and fewer barriers to start works.
Atlántico Governor Eduardo Verano presented at the X Authorized Economic Operator (OEA) 2026 Convention in Barranquilla two road corridors worth about $238,432 million: the Corredor Internacional del Atlántico, with around $100,000 million for 7.2 kilometers of dual carriageway, and the Corredor Logístico del Atlántico, with $138,432 million to upgrade about 16.7 kilometers. The strategy includes security technology, with 44 SIART drones, and the strengthening of the SIES.
Experts surveyed in October for Fedesarrollo's and the Colombian Stock Exchange's Financial Opinion Survey expect an additional 25-basis-point hike in the Banco de la República rate in October, to 12.50%, a level that would hold through December. They estimate inflation at 6.37% in October and 6.87% at year-end, above the 2% to 4% target range. The dollar would average $3,190 this month and rise to $3,250 by year-end.
At the opening of the 2026 Colombian Construction Congress, Camacol president Guillermo Herrera said the guild has 1,424 structured projects worth 98 billion pesos to build more than 257,000 homes in 21 departments, with the potential to generate 2.3 million direct and indirect jobs. Herrera attributed the sector's crisis to decisions by Gustavo Petro's government, such as the end of subsidies and the closure of 'Mi Casa Ya' in December 2024.
Colombia has $98 billion in housing projects that have not yet broken ground, according to Coordenada Urbana figures presented by Guillermo Herrera, Camacol's executive president, at the 2026 Colombian Construction Congress in Cartagena. The pipeline covers more than 1,400 projects and about 257,000 pre-sold homes, and could generate the equivalent of 2.3 million direct and indirect jobs. The guild calls for restoring financing conditions, strengthening confidence and reducing barriers to start works.
The German government will contribute up to 22 million euros (about 24.7 million dollars) to finance ecosystem protection and biodiversity conservation projects in Colombia. The funds add to 3.6 million euros in Colombian contributions under an initiative led by the Ministry of Environment and Germany's development bank KfW, which will finance between nine and 18 projects of one to two million euros each. The first disbursement will come in the first half of next year, after the selection and execution manual is approved.
68% of Colombian consumers identify inflation as their biggest financial concern, followed by employment (59%) and interest rates (41%), according to TransUnion's Consumer Pulse survey for the third quarter of 2026. Annual inflation stood at 6.29% in September, versus 6.24% in August. 69% expect their income to rise over the next 12 months and 28% believe they could not pay at least one financial obligation, down from 31% in 2025.
The U.S. currency kept a calm, low-volatility behavior on Wednesday in Colombia's currency market, with a weighted average of $3,162.50 pesos and an orderly quote against the official representative rate. Traders attributed the peso's behavior to foreign-currency inflows from foreign sales of specialty coffee and flowers, and to institutional investors' interest in medium-term local-currency sovereign debt. Abroad, expectations that central banks will keep predictable monetary policies pushed away fears of capital flight in South America.
Guillermo Herrera, president of Camacol, said at the opening of the 2026 Colombian Construction Congress that housing investment fell from about 5% of GDP to 2.9% in the first half of 2026. He cited an IDB estimate that Colombia stopped producing around COP 47 trillion in value added from building activity, and pointed to falling sales, the closure of Mi Casa Ya and the deterioration of dialogue with the government as drivers of the slowdown.
The dollar closed this Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at COP 3,191.69 in Colombia, an increase of COP 27.93 over the day's TRM of COP 3,163.76. During the session the currency traded between a high of COP 3,202 and a low of COP 3,178.88, with 1,448 transactions worth US$1.387 billion, according to the Banco de la República. The rebound follows several sessions of downward trend and comes in a year in which the TRM has accumulated a drop of COP 593.32, equivalent to 15.79%.
The 2026 Colombian Construction Congress, organized by Camacol, will take place on October 21, 22 and 23 in Cartagena. It will bring together representatives of the construction sector, authorities, business leaders and experts to analyze the challenges of housing, the economy and urban development in Colombia. The agenda includes conferences on the economic outlook, access to housing, innovation, artificial intelligence and public policies on urban development. RTVC Sistema de Medios Públicos will cover several sessions of the event.
The dollar in Colombia resumed its upward bias and closed at COP 3,189.50, up COP 15.50 from Tuesday's COP 3,174. The currency opened at COP 3,185.10, hit a low of COP 3,178.88 and reached a high of COP 3,202. Acciones & Valores said the oil recovery and the rate differential favor the peso, though the relief remains contained because fiscal sentiment is still sensitive after Congress approved the 2027 General Budget.
The U.S. dollar opened the Wednesday, October 21, 2026 session in Colombia higher, with a Representative Market Rate (TRM) of COP 3,163.76, according to the Banco de la República. The October 20 report allows that upward movement to be observed. The outlet notes that exchange houses set their buy and sell prices independently and that currency swings affect sectors such as coffee, oil and flowers.
The U.S. dollar ended the October 21 session in Colombia at COP 3,198, after opening at COP 3,185 and ranging between a high of COP 3,202 and a low of COP 3,178. The close represented a COP 35 increase over the COP 3,163 TRM set by the Financial Superintendence. The average trading price stood around COP 3,191 and roughly USD 998 million was traded.
The dollar in Colombia trades higher near 3,202 pesos, above the TRM of 3,163.76, as investors track doubts over approval of the 634.9 trillion peso 2027 budget, after the Senate Secretariat warned of differences in the vote on article 65 between both chambers. A 31.7% year-on-year rise in August imports and a trade deficit of US$2.770,4 billion also weigh. Abroad, the dollar index is around 101.7 points and Brent is back near US$110 a barrel.
Colombian fintech Bold obtained COP 37.45 billion in financing from BBVA Spark to expand its lending capacity to micro, small and medium-sized companies in Colombia. The deal was structured as a bilateral loan, with Cuatrecasas advising Bold and PPU advising BBVA Spark. Bold, which started as a card-reader company, processes about COP 20 trillion a year in card and QR code payments and has onboarded more than 700,000 merchants in Colombia and Peru over six years.
The U.S. dollar began Wednesday's session trading higher in Colombia. The Representative Market Rate (TRM) stood at COP 3,163.76 per dollar, while the currency opened in the market at around COP 3,182.55, according to foreign exchange market reports. The rate may change throughout the day depending on supply and demand.
The dollar price in Colombia began Wednesday's session at an average of COP 3,194, up COP 31 from the Representative Market Rate (TRM) of COP 3,163.76. According to an analysis by Corficolombiana, the market is resolving the crossing of two medium-term trend lines: one upward since late August and one downward since late September. On Wall Street, the Nasdaq rose 0.51% and SpaceX gained 11.3% after reporting quarterly results.
Colombia's electricity bill has risen 7.24% between January and September 2026, above the 5.74% inflation rate, amid pressure from El Niño. A Boston Consulting Group analysis proposes making better use of existing grids: carrying 10% more electricity could cut bills by 7% to 8%, and bringing infrastructure to maximum efficiency would lower them by 10% to 20%. It also proposes adjusting tariffs, managing demand and using AI in procurement.
