Bogotá launches a program to transform its airport environment into a development hub.

The Bogotá Mayor's Office, led by the Planning and Economic Development Secretariats, launched the Bogotá Airport City program, a strategy that seeks to consolidate the capital as a hub of global connectivity and competitiveness in Latin America. The main objective is to transform the area surrounding El Dorado Airport into an area where living, working, and investing are combined with opportunities, convenient mobility, and quality services.

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“This project settles Bogotá's historical debt to the Airport and leverages the collaborative efforts of the district and national governments, residents of the area, and business leaders,” stated Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán during the program's official launch. He added, “We have the airport with the largest number of passengers and cargo in Latin America, and with this program, we will leverage this potential and that of economic development and the urban transformation of the city.” To coordinate the necessary actions, the Bogotá City Airport Intersectoral Commission was created. It is responsible for projects and investments in the airport environment, the integration of this area with the city, the promotion of incentives to attract investment, the identification of financing sources, and the improvement of the quality of life in the area. This commission is made up of the Ministries of Economic Development, Planning, Mobility, Finance, Habitat, the District Tourism Institute, and the Bogotá Urban Renewal and Development Company (RenoBo), among other entities. The program seeks to establish a competitive airport ecosystem that will promote strategic projects through collaboration between different levels of government. Úrsula Ablanque Mejía, District Planning Secretary, explained that “we are working in a coordinated manner to develop major city projects near the airport: the airport and its surrounding areas will receive an investment of more than 20 billion euros in the coming years: the El Dorado Max IP led by Odinsa with its Calle 63 (to Funza), the Airport International Modal Center that will allow the TMSA trunk service to reach El Dorado, but also Calle 13, the ALO, the RegioTram de Occidente, and metro line 2 that ends in Engativá. These are decisive projects for the city and will leverage new investment.”

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In the area of ​​urban planning, the program includes the implementation of Strategic Actions (SA) in the Engativá and Fontibón areas. According to Santiago Carvajal Giraldo, manager of the Bogotá Airport City Program, "In Florida City, we will develop 94 hectares for urban use, at least 30 hectares of which will be used to consolidate an economic network of specialized industry and logistics, high-value and high-level business centers with skilled employment, and another 30 hectares for new public space and facilities, which will be used for education, research, and innovation centers in the aeronautical and aerospace sectors."

Strengthening the business community in the area is also a priority. The program aims to leverage El Dorado Airport's current capabilities to facilitate the growth of local businesses. Technical assistance will be provided to 25 companies that are part of the airport supply chain , with the goal of improving their competitiveness and sustainability by strengthening business value chains.

María del Pilar López Uribe, Bogotá's Secretary of Economic Development, explained that "in this context, El Dorado Airport is positioned as a key hub for competitiveness. Promoting its integration as a central axis for the city's logistics, business, and technological development is a priority in our long-term vision."

To strengthen investment attraction, Bogotá has developed a diverse offering that includes favorable urban development conditions, enabling infrastructure, business promotion strategies, and skilled labor training programs.

According to Carlos Alberto Suárez, Executive Director (e) of Invest in Bogotá, “At Invest in Bogotá, we celebrate the launch of Bogotá Airport City as a strategic commitment to boosting our city's competitiveness and international reach. This project represents a unique opportunity to attract high-value investment, strengthen key sectors such as logistics, technology, and business tourism, and consolidate Bogotá as the leading business hub in Latin America. Our commitment is to coordinate public-private efforts, facilitate the arrival of new investments, and support companies that believe in the transformative potential of the Bogotá Region.”

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As part of this investment boost, the design of differentiated tax incentives through the District Development Plan's Commission of Tax Experts is also being considered. This measure aims to position Bogotá among the most competitive cities in terms of taxation for attracting investment.

The program also includes the creation of a brand identity that will position Bogotá as a global hub. Under the concept "Bogotá, a hub with the world," the brand strategy seeks to attract foreign investment, promote tourism, and consolidate the city as a benchmark for airport development in the region.

The official launch of Bogotá Airport City took place at the Courtyard by Marriott Bogotá Airport Hotel. During the event, district authorities, business leaders, and community representatives learned about the opportunities and benefits of this initiative, which articulates public and private efforts to develop the airport environment. PAULA GALEANO BALAGUERA

Portfolio Journalist