South Florida can benefit from a new era in Colombia
For 20 years, I’ve sat across the desk from the people who actually build our economy: the manufacturers in Fort Lauderdale, the logistics operators near Port Everglades, and the agricultural exporters in Davie. My job is to look at a balance sheet and see the future. And right now, looking at the election victory of Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia, I don’t just see a political shift; I see a structural change in the math of doing business in South Florida.
As a first-generation Colombian American born in this country, I’ve always held a dual appreciation for the land of my parents’ heritage and the opportunities of my own home. I am, first and foremost, an American. But my roots have given me a unique vantage point on the “ship lost at sea” that has defined the U.S.-Colombia trade relationship for the last four years. I’ve seen the volatility my clients face when political instability creates a freeze on capital. I’ve felt the frustration of seeing a market of 50 million consumers hampered by red tape and uncertainty.
De La Espriella’s platform of security, fiscal responsibility and market-driven growth is the signal our local business community has been waiting for.
As a commercial lender and local entrepreneur, I know the risks of over-reliance on distant, unstable global markets. Economists have been telling us for years that we need to bring production closer to home. With a pro-American administration in Bogotá, we have a once-in-a-generation chance to turn that theory into a balance sheet reality. If Colombia can work with the Trump administration to refine the current tariff structures, it won’t just help Colombia — it will fuel a South Florida-based economic engine.
Colombia is the fourth-largest export market in Latin America. To capture this, we need to stop viewing trade as a “major player” game. The prosperity of our region is built by the specialized service firm in Fort Lauderdale that needs a faster way to clear customs, or the farmer in Davie who needs a more reliable logistics partner to move perishables.
The “wow factor” of this moment isn’t the election itself; it’s the potential for a frictionless, hemispheric supply chain that treats South Florida not just as a region, but as the true capital of the Americas.
For the skeptics who have seen trade deals come and go, I understand the hesitation. But the numbers don’t lie. When you streamline the path for local businesses to engage with a stable, pro-growth Colombia, you create a multiplier effect that reaches every neighborhood in our state.
Ultimately, we must seize this moment to formalize our economic integration. A robust free trade deal with Colombia — or at the very least, significant, targeted tariff relief — is the essential next step to unlocking this potential. By expanding South Florida’s footprint among our closest trade partners, we can build a more frictionless, prosperous supply chain that benefits every stakeholder involved.
It’s time to stop waiting for the “right time” and start building the pipeline. For those of us in the trenches of small business advocacy, the goal is simple: Let’s make South Florida the most profitable place on Earth to do business.
Greg Aguirre is a local entrepreneur and the founder and president of U.S. Capital Source Corp. He has spent two decades championing economic development in South Florida. Connect with him about small business and entrepreneurship on X or Linkedin @GregAguirre.