Management and technology consultancy Capgemini is to set up in Colombia, eventually creating up to 500 jobs, according to reports in the country’s media.

Peter Kroll, vice-president of Latin America with the firm, tells radio station Caracol that the firm is looking for systems engineers as a first priority.

He tells Colombian newspaper Portafolio that the firm will initially have a workforce of around 100 as a “conservative” estimate, but a “second wave” could take it to around 500.

He adds, speaking to Caracol, that a new free trade agreement between Colombia and the US that is due to come into effect shortly is one factor making this an optimum time to invest.

Elsewhere in South America, the firm has a presence in Argentina, Brazil and Chile, with operations in Guatemala and Mexico also under Kroll’s portfolio.