• These companies are committed to productivity and are part of the BIC Companies.

• Learn how to become a BIC Company with the support of the Bogota Chamber of Commerce.

ExpoBIC, the first scenario in Colombia dedicated to promoting the business transformation of Bogota-Region, recognized 300 entrepreneurs from Bogota and the Region for their commitment to BIC (Collective Benefit and Interest) Companies. Nationwide, 1,369 were recognized.

Nicolás Uribe Rueda, president of the Bogota Chamber of Commerce, stated that "We are committed to offering entrepreneurs different programs that allow them to implement strategies and initiatives that generate positive social, economic and environmental impacts. We are committed to the generation of shared value and responsible business conduct, which promotes business models with products and services that at the same time generate profitability.

With these actions, the CCB seeks to encourage the adoption of the BIC condition (Collective Benefit and Interest) in businessmen and businesswomen of Bogota-Region through a strategy of mentality and culture on the benefits, implications and commitments, complemented mainly with a process of training and technical assistance dimensions such as corporate governance; labor practices; environmental practices; practices with the community and management reports.

Success Stories

03 Smart Cities SAS BIC is a company that provides sustainable technologies that positively impact the quality of life of the environment, making use of renewable energies, electric mobility and IOT. In 2020 it became a BIC company and in 2021 it received its certification as a B company in Colombia. Alexa Oviedo, legal representative of 03 Smart Cities SAS BIC stated that "it has been two years of work dedicated to triple impact. We decided as conscious shareholders to commit ourselves to positively impact the Colombian economy not only economically but also socially and environmentally".

Twenty Ways SAS BIC is a textile company whose objective is to offer comfort and satisfaction to its customers through its sportswear. With the support of the CCB and the accompaniment of the different consulting firms, it became a BIC company in 2021. Blanca Benavides, legal representative of Twenty Ways SAS BIC announces that "to achieve fair trade practices, the TW company is sustained on the basis of real, accessible and rational prices, have adopted policies for the purchase of inputs with national companies that have environmental commitment and responsibility in their processes".

How to transform

The CCB offers entrepreneurs a process of accompaniment so that companies can become BICs. It has spaces for training and technical assistance. Training is provided through 4 workshops covering the following topics: bases and characteristics of BIC companies; business model dimension; corporate governance dimension; labor practices dimension; environmental practices dimension; community practices dimension; and management reports.

The technical assistance consists of the following components: characterization of the BIC dimensions; definition of activities to be carried out for each dimension; definition of the action plan; definition of the management report; and legal support for the preparation of bylaws and minutes for the filing of the procedure. This process is framed within the business reinvention model, which implies the accompaniment of a CCB consultant.

To become BIC companies, the organizations do not have to change anything from the corporate point of view. They voluntarily adopt a series of practices to position the corporate brand with a consumer who is increasingly aware and who demands more from companies because he/she understands that brands have certain values and principles in environmental and social matters with which he/she wants to identify.