Colombia's ICT sector faces the challenge alone / Multimedia Editor's Analysis

The Colombian technology sector is at a turning point where growth potential is colliding with structural inertia and the market's intrinsic caution. Furthermore, the General National Budget made it clear that for the current government and the Ministry of ICT, this sector is not a relevant one. The 2026 budget proposal states that information and communications technology will be cut by 23 percent.

Fortunately, the ICT sector, driven primarily by the faithful commitment of private enterprise, telecommunications operators, and multinationals, boasts resilience if anything other than innovation.

Projections are optimistic, placing global IT spending above $5.7 billion by 2025, with projected local growth of 9.6 percent for this year—a figure that triples the growth of the national economy.

ICTs, both in Colombia and around the world, are not only a driver of competitiveness, but also a fundamental pillar for the nation's socioeconomic progress. It's no coincidence that in Europe, the United States, and throughout Asia, investment in ICTs and innovation is among the top priorities and relevance.

Therefore, this industry will have to face its main challenges alone. Per capita spending on technology and investment relative to GDP in Colombia are lower than the regional average, indicating an urgent need to accelerate the pace. This caution is not accidental, but rather the result of a combination of factors. On the one hand, the current economic uncertainty is leading to a postponement of long-term investments. On the other hand, the Colombian market is not known for being an early adopter of technologies, which creates a risk of competitive lag.

The adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) is an eloquent example of this caution. Although 69 percent of Colombian companies anticipate a significant impact from AI, exceeding the Latin American average, many organizations are still in the proof-of-concept or adoption phases of this revolution.

This slowness in mass adoption is an imminent danger that could leave Colombian companies at a disadvantage compared to international competitors.

And, to top it all off, investment and momentum are being concentrated on technological innovation. Bogotá has attracted 60 percent of foreign direct investment projects in software and IT over the last six years, generating more than 42,000 jobs.

And the rest of the country? Technological investment drives aspects such as the promotion of human talent, especially in STEM careers, qualified talent, and the construction of innovation ecosystems that should spread to all regions. Despite everything and against all odds, I am confident that this sector will once again show its mettle and the love it has for Colombia. Even if it does so alone, without any major counterpoint from the government.