Keywords
Business dynamics
Business density
Public policies
Abstract
large companies. The main objective is to assess the city's competitive progress, while also providing
a theoretical framework on urban competitiveness. The descriptive methodology used data from the
Private Competitiveness Council, statistically processed to measure the behavior of these indicators
and their evolution over the period. The findings show that Cartagena maintains an intermediate
performance compared to other major cities in Colombia and the Caribbean region, with sustained
growth in business registration rate, though lagging behind Bogotá and Medellín. Business density and
the participation of medium and large companies have shown moderate improvements, indicating a
need to strengthen the business ecosystem and improve the business environment to attract and retain
investment. The conclusions suggest that Cartagena should implement comprehensive policies that
promote business formalization, incentivize company creation, and enhance infrastructure and human
capital. Additionally, fostering entrepreneurship zones and technological innovation is recommended
to consolidate its competitive position. These results provide a benchmark for designing public policies
that drive Cartagena's sustainable economic development, positioning it as a regional competitiveness
hub.
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