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SearchIn Pereira, the Government presented priorities for the new National Development Plan and preliminary figures for projects: a national portfolio estimated at $535.1 trillion and 21 initiatives for the Coffee Axis worth $38.7 trillion. Neither figure implies approval or funding.
President Abelardo De La Espriella launched regional meetings in Pereira to develop the 2026–2030 National Development Plan (PND), the road map through which his Government seeks to define investment priorities for the next four-year term. The president said the document must translate territorial needs into viable, executable projects, rather than a list of promises.
In the Coffee Axis, the priorities mentioned include connectivity, transportation, infrastructure, and energy, as well as initiatives for agriculture, tourism, industry, and opportunities for young people. Vice President José Manuel Restrepo said the dialogues would also address education, social issues, competitiveness, regional strengthening, and the transformation of the State.
The figures disclosed at the meeting describe preliminary initiatives. According to reports, the national portfolio comprises 334 projects with an estimated value of $535.1 trillion. For Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío, 21 initiatives worth $38.7 trillion and a projection of more than 151,000 direct jobs were mentioned.
These amounts do not equate to allocated resources or contracted works. The initiatives must undergo technical assessment, prioritization, and structuring, and their funding sources have yet to be established. The options mentioned include the national budget, territorial resources, private investment, and international cooperation. Inclusion in the portfolio therefore does not guarantee that a project will be carried out.
One of the projects cited was the Coffee Train, with an estimated cost of $5.15 trillion. Its mention also does not imply approval or funding. The projected employment for the regional initiatives as a whole is likewise preliminary and does not constitute a guarantee of jobs.
The Government plans to gather proposals from communities, local authorities, business associations, academia, and social organizations, with the National Planning Department (DNP) responsible for technically organizing the input. According to the reported timetable, the planning process includes submitting the preliminary draft to Confis and Conpes, delivering the foundations to the National Planning Council, and holding a phase of public hearings. The bill must then be filed with Congress and complete its legislative process there.
This process means that the priorities announced in Pereira are still part of the plan’s development. Their final inclusion and the possibility of funding or carrying out each initiative will depend on subsequent institutional assessments and decisions.
The reconstruction of areas affected by the August 10 earthquake was identified as a government priority, alongside regional development. De La Espriella said he seeks an “ambitious but responsible” plan, with clear priorities and projects that can be carried out. He also stated that public resources must be managed with integrity.
For now, the Pereira meeting marks the beginning of a territorial discussion, not the approval of a package of mega-projects. For businesses and local governments, the information announced makes it possible to identify sectors and projects under discussion, but their economic scope will depend on structuring, final selection, and the allocation of resources.
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