New Jobs in Colombia

July 27, 2005

Parquesoft plans 3 new parks by Dec - Colombia

Colombian software complex Parquesoft plans to launch three new IT parks in the cities of Bogotá, Medellín and Villavicencio by December 1, 2005, Parquesoft founder Alfredo Roldán told BNamericas.

"In Villavicencio we plan to launch 20 start-up companies, expected to be operating by 2008. In Bogotá and Medellín we plan 20-25 companies in each park. Investments for these new centers are estimated at US$300,000 over three years," he added.

Parquesoft expects its chain of nine software technology parks (12 by year-end) to generate revenues of US$15mn in 2005, including overseas sales of US$5mn, according to previous reports.

Currently there are 250 companies located in the parks and 150 projects to develop other IT companies during 2005. Parquesoft works alongside Colombian software developers' federation Fedesoft and together they plan to launch 500 new software companies, with 80,000 new jobs created, by 2010.

Fedesoft expects its membership to grow to 300-350 firms by year-end compared to 200 today. The association also plans to grow exports to US$2.5bn within five years.

"This is part of our global strategy and we are doing well. In the past three years our growth has reached 645%, considering the number of firms, employees and the national and international positioning of our companies," Fedesoft president Andrés Quintana told BNamericas.

Fedesoft saw revenues in the industry grow 13.5% in 2004 compared to 2003 and aims for domestic sales to increase 30% this year, plus 10-15% growth of overseas sales, according to Quintana.

"During [the international IT conference] Softic we generated sales worth US$11.7mn last year and for this year we are preparing two new conferences which we expect to produce 30-40% growth [of that figure]," he added.

Commenting on piracy, both executives said the reduced rate recorded in Colombia, surpassed only by Costa Rica in Latin America, is the result of an anti-piracy agreement with key players in the industry: the government and the private sector.

"We have talked to everyone in the industry and reached agreements to buy a large number of licenses for low prices. Piracy is the result of a lack of purchasing capacity but if companies can pay a monthly fee, there is a business [case]," according to Roldán.

Cristina Molina
BNamericas.com

By Peter Miami on Jul 28, 2005, 15:08 in Friendly Talkzone.

mikecolombia says on Aug 27, 2005, 10:26:

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