Conformity assessment services, executed by the conformity assessment bodies (CABs) accredited by the Colombian accreditation body ONAC, are crucial in strengthening Colombia’s productive sectors through certification, inspection, calibration, and testing services. In this study, the total number of CABs was initially characterized by accreditation scheme and scope, establishing a correspondence between each scope and its associated economic group or class. These associations were mapped to the relevant divisions and sections of Colombia’s economic structure, as defined by the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC). This mapping provides a granular view of how conformity assessment services align with various sectors of the economy.

To quantitatively evaluate the distribution of CABs across economic divisions at the departmental level, we employed the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI). The HHI is a widely recognized measure of market concentration, calculated as the sum of the squared shares of each entity within a defined market[1]. In this context, the HHI was applied to assess the concentration of conformity assessment scopes—lower HHI values indicate a diverse and widespread distribution, whereas higher values reveal concentration within a few economic sectors.

Source: ONAC. Calculations by the Research Coordination for Economic and Social Studies for Quality Infrastructure – ONAC.

For our analysis, the HHI thresholds were set as follows: values below 0.15 denote low concentration (high diversity), values between 0.15 and 0.25 suggest moderate concentration, and values at or above 0.25 reflect high concentration. Notably, Bogotá registers an HHI of 0.09, indicating that its conformity assessment infrastructure is well-diversified across multiple economic sectors. In stark contrast, departments such as Chocó, Caquetá, Putumayo, Guaviare, and Tolima exhibit HHI values exceeding 0.33, signifying that the CABs in these regions are predominantly clustered in a limited number of economic divisions. This high degree of specialization may be driven by the dominance of sectors such as mining or agro-industry, where stringent technical regulations and market dynamics require a focused evaluation framework.

From a public policy standpoint, such disparities in economic concentration are significant. Regions with highly concentrated sectoral activity may be more susceptible to external shocks—such as fluctuations in commodity prices or sudden changes in market demand—compared to regions with a more diversified economic base. For example, a department in the Llanos region that heavily relies on petroleum production could face severe instability in response to crude oil price volatility. Conversely, areas with a balanced mix of industrial, technological, and service sectors are likely to demonstrate greater resilience to such economic disturbances.

Overall, the application of the HHI in this study provides critical insights into the spatial and sectoral configuration of Colombia’s conformity assessment infrastructure. By identifying areas with both diversified and highly concentrated economic activities, the analysis offers valuable information for policymakers and industry stakeholders. These insights can help guide strategic interventions aimed at fostering a more balanced and resilient quality infrastructure. Enhancing the breadth and depth of certification processes in underrepresented sectors may not only mitigate risks associated with economic concentration but also promote sustainable development and strengthen overall competitive positioning in both domestic and international markets.

[1] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Glossary:Herfindahl_Hirschman_Index_(HHI)