economy
May 5, 2026
Did the winter wave affect your business? Find out about financial aid to prevent your company from closing
Córdoba, one of the departments most affected by the harsh winter. Photo: Courtesy/ Ombudsman's Office
TL;DR
- Small and medium-sized businesses in eight departments affected by the 2026 winter wave can access special preferential credit.
- The Emergency Credit Program, regulated by the Ministry of Finance, aims to provide immediate liquidity and support productive recovery.
- Beneficiaries must be individuals or legal entities in Córdoba, Antioquia, La Guajira, Sucre, Bolívar, Cesar, Magdalena, and Chocó, demonstrating damage from the hydrometeorological event.
- The program offers zero-interest loans (compensated interest rate) financed by the Ministry of Finance, usable for working capital, investment, or debt substitution.
- Maximum loan amount is 120 minimum monthly legal wages, with a repayment period of up to 36 months, including grace periods and monthly installments.
- The program includes 90% coverage guarantees from the National Guarantee Fund to reduce risk for financial institutions.
- The initiative targets 328 municipalities declared in a state of Economic, Social, and Ecological Emergency, focusing on those with high structural vulnerability.
- The goal is to prevent business closures, maintain supply chains, and preserve employment in regions heavily impacted by the winter wave.