MinComercio Issues Decree to Integrate the Popular Economy into Free Trade Zones
According to the Ministry of Commerce, integration will take place through two key transformations.
In Colombia, Decree 1317 of 2025 was issued, granting the National Government the authority to integrate the popular economy “in a structural manner” into the country’s free trade zone regime. Officials explained that this integration will occur through two major reforms. The first is the creation of Special Permanent Free Trade Zones for the Popular Economy, enabling productive units within the popular economy to access preferential tax, logistics, and production conditions.
The second transformation applies to general-regime free trade zones, where industrial and commercial users operate. The decree establishes that these zones must incorporate productive units from the popular economy as suppliers of goods and services, fostering value chains that strengthen installed industry, enhance local capacities, and extend the benefits of the free trade zone regime to the country’s productive base.
“The Government of President Gustavo Petro is making a fundamental decision today: integrating the popular economy into the free trade zone regime by creating new zones specifically designed for its productive units, while also ensuring their participation within general-regime free trade zones. This opens real pathways for formalization, growth, and competitiveness for those who sustain the economic life of our territories,” stated Diana Marcela Morales, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.
She further emphasized that these measures will allow productive units within the popular economy to access specialized services, logistics platforms, productive transformation processes, and quality standards that enhance their ability to produce, transform, and add value.
Additionally, she noted that the progressive formalization and business strengthening accompanying these processes will improve access to credit and financing, creating opportunities for investment, expansion, and productive modernization.
Finally, the Minister announced that the Ministry will implement technical assistance and training programs, in coordination with national entities, to strengthen productive, organizational, and commercial capacities.
Source: Valora Analitik (12/12/25).
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