Free trade zones are geographical areas delimited within the National Customs Territory (“TAN”), where industrial activities of goods and services are developed, or commercial activities take place.
Types of free trade zones
In Colombia there are three (3) types of free trade zones; (i) permanent free trade zones (multi-business zones): in which multiple industrial users of goods and services or commercial users are installed; (ii) special permanent free trade zones (single-business) in which a single industrial user us installed to develop goods and/or services activities; (iii) transitional free trade zones: in which national or international fairs, exhibitions, congresses and seminars that are important for the economy and/or international trade are held.
Among the special permanent free trade zones there are free trade zones of goods, services, agro-industrial, health and port services. Also, it is possible to request the declaration of permanent free trade zones of technology parks or permanent free trade zones dedicated exclusively to the activities of technical evaluation, exploration and production of hydrocarbons offshore and their related activities.
Free trade zones users
Within the free trade zones, four (4) different types of users may be located:
- Operator user: is the legal entity that is authorized to manage, supervise, promote and develop the free trade zones, as well as to qualify its users;
- Industrial user of goods: is the legal entity installed exclusively in one or more free trade zones, that is authorized to produce, transform or assemble goods through the processing of raw materials or semi-finished products;
- Industrial user of services: is the legal entity that is authorized to carry out exclusively in one or more free trade zones, activities for the provision of services;
- Commercial user: is the legal entity that is authorized to develop activities of marketing, commercialization, storage or conservation of goods property of a third-party, in one or more free trade zones.
