Tecnoglass with COO Christian Daes: A NASDAQ Colombian pride

Following on from the historic "Cumbre de las Américas" (Americas' Summit), which shows the starting of a whole new period, the entire region encounters more than a few global financial troubles, for instance really being the one with largest social gap, although it features countries like Colombia, that have attained a serious regional role in the past 10 years. Business & Investment sat down with Christian Daes, COO of TECNOGLASS, to talk the country's and the company's present and future.

Question: Which position do you consider Colombia may play in the market throughout the next four years?

Christian Daes: Colombia plays and will go on playing a great function in Latin america, as it's the major state which has achieved sustainable increase many years, together with a vast improvement concerning difference over the past 12 years, whilst some difference continues to be there. These triumphs are often the result of having get over law-breaking, of the good results on the economic environment and the improved number of investments as a result of having improved regarding safety. This type of elements have increased tourism and overseas investment. The nation is promoting internally.

Question: Nowadays, the highest challenge for Colombia should be to turn out to be again an exporting nation, because it has ignored it's own industry. In spite of this, the part of Colombia it is always essential, given that has 2 in some manner socialist countries as neighbors; and also the South Cone nations are developing slower than us.

Christian Daes: Tecnoglass has been benefitted since the revaluation of the US dollar because the majority of the company's earnings are in such currency and much of that costs are in Colombian pesos. We've actually been with Jorge Silva from Microsoft, who inform us that they have frozen the dollar. Will you be attending to use financial resources to decrease uncertainty?

We are now imagining as well as simulating plenty of choices, but we haven´t made any conclusion up to now. The dollar´s revaluation continues to be useful for us as exporters. The circumstance is affecting us associated with general arrangements we've got fixed in pesos; but still at the same it improves the costs in pesos over-all goods we export, for instance manual labor in addition to national supplies.

Question: Nearly one year ago Tecnoglass came into the NASDAQ. You are the only company that is actually part of the world´s major electronic value market. Vice Minister Felipe Sardi told us the Colombian satisfaction regarding companies like Tecnoglass. What meant joining the NASDAQ for the business?

Christian Daes: Entering the Nasdaq is playing at the major leagues, so our credibleness has risen substantially concerning banking institutions, suppliers along with customers. As a result, the corporation is much better known, we obtain even more authority plus much more income. In addition, being in the Nasdaq ensures that our company is really serious, that we have clear corporate governance and a really serious board; and that also the company's statistics are trustworthy. Nasdaq has provided us the access to low bank rates and bigger accords regards to bonding capacity.

Question: You've gotten authorized a 0.50 dollar return for every share intended for 2015, to be distributed quarterly in cash. Just how ended up being your entire commitment to give back part of the share capital welcomed by your shareholders?

Chrsitian Daes: Fantastically, while using the positive results, as well the dividends, the share has moved up roughly 50% over the last three to four months, so this means the market is starting to know the value of the company and also the commitment from the management. It's not only about delivering good results, but in addition about sharing those profits, making adequate profits to share them in funds.

Question: You are making regular reinvestment of the gains in evolutionary changes in addition to technological advances, with the intention to reach the goal of selling one billion dollars yearly in 5 years. Precisely how chief is reinvestment for business success?

Christian Daes: Whenever a corporation desires to grow, it needs resources and if these gain income are passed out amongst shareholders, probably the sole method to rise is indebtedness. We have been extremely traditional in terms of debt, and then we want to invest almost all the gains in the corporation. This is the first time we distribute the profits which is just because we are inside stock exchange. Having said that, it is always much better to expand and empower the organization.

Question: Just what particularly Miami and South Florida mean to Tecnoglass?

Chrsitian Daes: Specifically, they are our base. We are local people in Miami, this is actually a very broad-based city where the vast majority of investors are people from other countries and they of course view us great seeing as our company has been supplying them for a number of years with no quality troubles, which makes the most vital thing for any constructor: shipping and delivery on schedule, first-rate products and ready help in case the building work is delayed.

For further information: http://www.manufacturingglobal.com/Tecnoglass/executives/Jose%20Manuel-Daes/91 http://www.manufacturingglobal.com/Tecnoglass/executives/Christian-Daes/90 http://www.manufacturingglobal.com/article/tags/1446/Christian-Daes http://www.manufacturingglobal.com/Tecnoglass/profiles/104/Crystalclear-views-for-the-continents-most-unique-buildings http://www.businessreviewamericalatina.com/Tecnoglass/executives/Christian-Daes/214 http://www.businessreviewamericalatina.com/Tecnoglass/executives/Jos%C3%A9-Manuel-Daes/215 http://www.theworldfolio.com/interviews/tecnoglass-nasdaq-colombian-pride-/3726/