As part of the efforts to support the economic reactivation of companies as a result of the pandemic and the economic and social crisis derived from it, in 2021 the Cluster Initiatives led by the Bogota Chamber of Commerce, together with public and private actors and academia, focused on the economic reactivation of some of the sectors and segments most affected by the pandemic through the digitization of their sales.

There were 7 flagship sectoral reactivation programs for the following segments: hardware stores, fashion brands, creative industries, restaurants, health service providers, tourism, and innovation in digital, financial and logistics solutions.

Within the framework of these programs, services were provided by various actors in the region, such as SENA, universities, unions, district, departmental and national public entities, private companies and, of course, the Bogota Chamber of Commerce. The main services offered under these programs include: training and advisory services; business alliances to facilitate access to digital, financial and logistical solutions; creation of permanent spaces for business; and promotion of innovation and sophistication in products and services, among others.

In total, throughout 2021, more than 8,500 companies benefited from these services, and there was a very positive impact on the increase in sales of companies that reported, close to 40%, on average.

Given these results, the Private Competitiveness Council and the Universidad del Rosario highlighted these programs of the Bogota Chamber of Commerce as a good practice in the framework of the Departmental Competitiveness Index. In this Index, in which the city ranks first, 13 dimensions of competitiveness in the 32 departments and the Capital District are evaluated. The publication highlights the role of the CCB and its Clusters in contributing to the ICT Adoption pillar in the business sector of the city and the region, given the emphasis of these 7 programs in the digitization of MSMEs. Nicolás Uribe Rueda, president of the CCB stated that "These programs are part of the great commitment we have in the entity for the reactivation, in which we seek to respond to the needs of the sectors most affected by the pandemic, focusing on micro and small businesses, which represent 97% of the business fabric of Bogota and the Region".

It is also worth noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of this cluster development program in the city, through which we have been able to impact the competitiveness of 16 economic sectors of vital importance to Bogota and the region. The flagship programs of the Bogota Chamber of Commerce.

The CCB's commitment for 2022 is to continue implementing programs to contribute to the strengthening and consolidation of the reactivation of several of the sectors that were strongly affected by the pandemic. Thus, this year 11 programs have been launched with a sectoral focus driven by the CCB's Cluster Initiatives that will benefit companies in the segments of real estate; energy efficiency; beauty and wellness; fashion; drugstores and health food stores; pharmaceuticals; gastronomy; creative industries; health; tourism; digital, financial and logistics solutions.