Jorge Mario Velásquez, President of Grupo Argos, receives the ANDI Order of Business Merit for his leadership and contribution to the country’s development

• The award was presented during the National Assembly of ANDI Members, in recognition of more than four decades of professional trajectory, the last of which at the helm of Grupo Argos.
• Among other qualities, ANDI highlighted the strategic vision, commitment to the country’s development, and contribution to strengthening Colombian entrepreneurship demonstrated by the President of Grupo Argos throughout his 40-year career.
• Jorge Mario Velásquez has led a profound transformation of Grupo Empresarial Argos, consolidating its position as one of the leading investment platforms in infrastructure and building materials in the Americas.

On Friday, August 15, the National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI) presented the Order of Business Merit to Jorge Mario Velásquez, President of Grupo Argos and Chairman of the Boards of Cementos Argos, Celsia, and Odinsa, recognizing his inspiring leadership, integrity, and ability to generate economic value in balance with social well-being and environmental stewardship.

This recognition highlights the career of leaders who, from the private sector, have made significant contributions to the country’s business development, driving economic growth, competitiveness, and the strengthening of institutions.

Under the leadership of Jorge Mario Velásquez since 2016, Grupo Argos has executed more than 30 strategic transactions worth over USD 16.5 billion and reduced consolidated net debt from COP 13.3 trillion in 2016 to nearly zero by 2025. Over the past decade, the company’s net income has multiplied almost 11 times, its dividend per share has grown 157%, and it has consolidated a project portfolio of approximately COP 40 trillion.

Among the milestones of his management are the monetization of Cementos Argos’ U.S. operations for more than USD 4.1 billion; the consolidation of Celsia as a leader in non-conventional renewable energies in Colombia and its international expansion; and the transformation of Odinsa into a specialized manager of road and airport concessions with strategic assets under management such as El Dorado International Airport, Pacífico 2, and the Oriente Tunnel.

ANDI also highlighted his role in promoting corporate governance and sustainability as central pillars of business strategy, ensuring that Grupo Argos and its businesses have remained among the top-ranked companies in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 13 consecutive years, thanks to the leadership of high-impact environmental and social initiatives such as planting more than 22 million native trees and generating over 3,700 rural green jobs.

The Order of Business Merit is one of the highest distinctions awarded by ANDI and is granted exclusively to business leaders whose careers stand out for excellence, ethics, social responsibility, and concrete contributions to economic development and the strengthening of Colombia’s business fabric.