More than complying: competing
In Cartagena, there are more than 41,000 active companies. All started the same way: with commercial registration. That foundational act formalizes the dream, gives it legal existence, and integrates it into the formal economy. Complying matters. Complying is the foundation.
TL;DR
- Over 41,000 active companies in Cartagena begin with commercial registration, formalizing their existence.
- In 2025, new company registrations increased by 11% to 9,517, showing business resilience.
- Simply complying is no longer sufficient; the differentiator is between sustaining and projecting, and between operating and competing.
- 1,034 companies strategically chose to affiliate with Cámara Preferencial, a step beyond basic registration.
- Affiliated companies accounted for 18% of total revenue ($14.09 trillion) and 17% of assets ($17.28 trillion) in 2025.
- 80% of affiliated companies are microenterprises, indicating the program's value for smaller businesses aiming for growth.
- Affiliation provides access to strategic training, business information, networking, cost-impacting benefits, and differentiated attention.
- Cámara Preferencial aims to foster a more competitive Bolívar by supporting business scalability, market expansion, and adaptation.
- The key question for the territory is not how many companies comply, but how many are preparing to compete.