The mobile segment is key for Facebook's business in Latin America

Facebook is experiencing high growth rates in Latin America and is in the process of opening new offices in the region to consolidate its local presence. In the short term, the US company will open a field office in Colombia's capital Bogotá.

To find out more about this plan and the company's outlook for the region we talked to Facebook's head of communications for the region, Alberto Arébalos.

BNamericas: Facebook previously announced that it was planning to open a field office in Colombia this year. When are you planning for this opening to take place?

Arébalos:  We are currently working on the opening of our office in Bogotá. We estimate that the office will be opened within the next two or three months. We are in the process of hiring the staff for it - we currently have three or four positions open. The growth in staff will be in line with the growth of our Colombian operation and we have a very positive growth outlook for this market for 2014 and the coming years.

BNamericas: You were also analyzing other options such as Peru and Chile for the office on the Pacific Coast. Why did you finally decide to open the office in Colombia?

Arébalos: We decided to open the office in Colombia due to several factors including population, the dynamism of the local economy and the high penetration of Facebook. We currently have more than 20mn users in Colombia. We may decide to open offices in these other markets in the future but we do not have concrete plans yet.

BNamericas: Are you planning any openings this year?

Arébalos: That will depend on the evolution of our business in the region this year. It is possible but we do not know yet. We are now focused on the opening in Colombia.

BNamericas: What is the outlook for the region this year?

Arébalos: What I can say is that we expect to have a positive year in Latin America in terms of growth. This year, the soccer World Cup takes place in Brazil and several companies are planning advertising campaigns based on our platform.

BNamericas: Which are the largest markets for Facebook in Latin America in terms of users?

Arébalos:  The largest markets are Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. In Brazil, we have more than 76mn users and some 47mn access Facebook every day. Meanwhile in Mexico, Facebook has a total of 47mn users and more than 27mn access the service every day. In Argentina, we have a total of 22mn Facebook users and 14mn access the service on a daily basis.

BNamericas: How important is the mobile segment for Facebook?

Arébalos: The mobile segment is very important for us. In Brazil, we have more than 20mn who access Facebook via mobile phones.  In Mexico, also more than 20mn users access Facebook via mobile telephones. In Argentina, nearly 7mn of our users access the service through mobile telephones

BNamericas: Which are the main markets in terms of revenue contribution?

Arébalos: Our largest markets in terms of revenue contribution are Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, in that order.