Colombia Safety and Security Industry

Colombia’s safety and security industry is a market with high growth potential. There is little local production in this industry and almost all electronic security equipment used in Colombia is imported. Colombia imported USD 601 million in 2020 of safety and security equipment. China is a strong competitor in this market and increased its market share from 51 percent in 2019 to 85 percent in 2020. USD 28 million was imported from the U.S., representing only a 5 percent market share. 

Colombia has three types of security problems: internal conflict (ELN and other guerrilla groups), criminal organizations, and street crime. In April 2021, a series of violent protests exacerbated security concerns in Colombia. In addition, Colombia has faced recent insecurity problems that include police stations attacks, a car bomb detonation inside a military base, and a rifle attack on the President’s helicopter. These high-profile incidents have increased nation-wide demand for state-of-the-art safety and security technology and specialized consultancy services to improve the protection of police and military installations.  

The National Police is expanding its activities in civilian and urban surveillance, adapting its force, and upgrading its equipment to response to security threats. The Colombian Military Forces have made commitments to increasing the security in an around its bases. The U.S. Commercial Service is collaborating with Colombia’s Safety and Security sector to incorporate U.S. equipment and technology into the national strategy for improving security. 

The U.S. International Trade Administration’s Global Team for Safety and Security is organizing a webinar to give U.S. companies the opportunity to provide a Virtual Product Pitch of their goods and services to members of Colombia’s Safety and Security sector. The event will take place on August 31, 2021.

U.S. companies interested in this opportunity and the Safety and Security market in Colombia should contact Lina Contreras lina.contreras@trade.gov in the Commercial section of U.S. Embassy Bogota for more information.