#coloMBIA Our World See this report at worldfolio.co.uk Monday, April 14, 2014 COLOMBIA in the international spotlight EDITOR IN CHIEF: ALBERTO LEANDRO LLARYORA This supplement to USA TODAY was produced by United World Ltd., Suite 179, 34 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0RH – Tel: +44 20 7409 3106 – [email protected] – www.unitedworld-usa.com PHOTOS: MARCA PAIS & GOBIERNO DE CHILE PAIS MARCA PHOTOS: The Latin American nation’s next chapter of success is to build on free trade with the U.S. and the development of the Pacific Alliance olombia’s imminent and of building a community of significant for North Ameri- zón acknowledges this relation- very good club of countries and exchanges and free movement accession to OECD like-minded, economically am- can businesses and investors in ship, stating that “both the U.S. obviously Colombia wants to of capital and people. membership is a bitious regional nations into the Colombia, bringing a common government and the U.S. people be there, continuing with good The alliance’s economic significant marker wide-ranging Pacific Alliance. framework for bilateral trade are two great allies of Colombia”, practices and learning from strength is undeniable; already it of international recognition of Colombia now represents and investment, as well as the while Aurelio Iragorri, Minister those countries in order to im- ranks as the world’s eighth larg- Cthe country’s economic suc- one of Latin America’s most protection of intellectual prop- of the Interior, adds that “we prove more.” est economy and seventh larg- cess story. However, the success attractive investment oppor- erty, labor rights and the envi- have had an extraordinary re- Besides the FTA with the U.S. est exporter, and reaps in more extends much further as the in- tunities. The groundwork for ronment. Colombia already had lationship with the American and entry into the OECD, Co- FDI than Mercosur. terlinked policy initiatives and sustained progress is being an excellent record on investor authorities”. lombia now has a third trump Colombia is resolving with strategies of the Juan Manuel laid through structural reform protection; in the World Bank Entry into the OECD enables card to strengthen its creden- determination issues that had Santos administration over the aimed at tackling and resolving rankings it comes in at number Colombia, in the words of Mr. tials as a regional ally and as a held it back for decades, car- last three-and-a-half years also long-standing economic, re- one in Latin America and fifth Garzón, “to belong to the club key gateway country to Latin rying out structural and so- start to bear fruit in areas such as gional and social issues and thus in the world. And while U.S. of countries with good gover- America. This is its member- cial reforms to ease the way national and regional social de- providing a firm basis for inter- agricultural exports have ben- nance practices [and] with new ship of the Pacific Alliance, a re- ahead. The country is set on velopment, poverty reduction, nal stability, for citizens and for efited greatly from the CTPA, levels of economic and social gional integration initiative with securing internal peace and the persecution of drugs-linked business alike. IMF figures show Colombia still had in 2013 a fa- development.” Meanwhile, for Mexico, Chile and Peru. The security, positioning itself stra- criminality and, of course, the growth in the period 2012-2014 vorable trade balance with the Gabriel Vallejo, Director of the union seeks to act in common tegically as a key gateway to process to bring an end to de- averaging 4% per annum – sub- U.S. of over US$3 billion. Department for Social Prosper- on trade and investment mat- Latin America. It is building cades of internal unrest. stantially higher than the rates The trade agreement has fur- ity, it “denotes recognition by ters, and the Inter-American on growth and bursting with This comprehensive success being achieved by countries ther strengthened the close liai- the major economic powers of Development Bank considers self-confidence, as well as set- story is now propelling a very such as Brazil and Mexico. son between the two countries, the world”. These comments are the Pacific Alliance as “the most ting up trade structures with confident Colombia into a new The United States-Colombia forged over decades of fighting echoed by Ricardo Triana Soto, ambitious integration proposal major trading partners – the era, one of welcoming the chal- Trade Promotion Agreement together illegal drug cartels and Executive Director of the Coun- in decades”, covering trade mat- principal of these being the lenges of competing in the wider (CTPA), in effect since May money laundering. Colombia’s cil of American Enterprises, ters but also technology trans- U.S. A new chapter of success arena of free trade with the U.S. 2012, has already been very Vice-President Angelino Gar- who says that “the OECD is a fer, educational and academic is already being written. PathThe Santos administration to with negotiationspeace continuing cess maywith involve a national millionprosperity people out of poverty so income from the develop- to a decades-old conflict and pursues various interlinked on the others. Nevertheless, compact for a new start or, and more than 1.3 million ment of oil and mineral re- for remedying circumstances strategies to achieve peace Vice-President Angelino Gar- as Mr. Garzón states, “in the out of absolute poverty”. He sources is being redistributed that have historically fostered and poverty reduction zón emphasizes the govern- search for peace, we have to emphasizes programs such as so that poorer regions are now social discontent. Dr. Cor- ment’s will to reach a peace secure a road of forgiveness ‘More Families in Action’ in able to invest locally in social rea states that “peace must The government of Juan Man- agreement that will “allow the and reconciliation.” Dr. Cor- which an allowance is paid to development and job creation. come from within a society”, uel Santos is determined to country to move forward in rea remarks that “justice is one mothers, provided their chil- Interior Minister Mr. Iragorri something amplified by Mr. finally turn the page on more consolidating economic de- of the key pillars in building a dren attend school and have adds that this redirection of Iragorri when he says that “a than four decades of internal velopment, in reducing pover- stable and lasting peace; its ab- prescribed vaccinations, thus resources to the local level is country which doesn’t invest unrest through a path of dia- ty and in implementing a more sence [previously] has resulted linking payments with respon- essential in the government’s in its people will never be logue, agreement and national equitable distribution of land.” in wounds not healing and we sibilities and fostering social fight against inequality. able to achieve peace.” The reconciliation. Minister of Former Minister of Justice have learned that lesson.” and personal development. The Santos administration goal is peace with prosperity, the Interior Aurelio Iragorri Dr. Ruth Stella Correa notes Poverty reduction is rec- The poverty reduction has clearly interlinked strate- for the whole country and for states that “the first decision that land and social justice ognized as one of the key el- program also aims to redraw gies for both bringing an end all its people. we made was to disarm our are the vital components of ements in bringing greater income distribution between words...and try to find a point a peace agreement and that social inclusion and social jus- different regions of the coun- of convergence in dialogue.” the government already has tice. Gabriel Vallejo, Director try. Rafael Pardo, the Minis- A UNITED WORLD SUPPLEMENT PRODUCED BY: The peace process started in policies in place to promote of the Department for Social ter of Labor, is clear that “the Laura Llames, Project Director; Miguel Rodríguez-Villa, September 2012 and agree- restitution of land and the Prosperity, highlights the suc- backwardness of rural areas Editorial Director; and Gemma Gutiérrez, Regional Director. ment has been reached in two provision of justice for victims cess of the Santos administra- has a great deal to do with the of the six peace agenda points, in the conflict. The peace pro- tion in taking “more than 2.4 persistent violence there” and Our World Insert is produced by United World. USA Today did not participate in its preparation and is not responsible for its content 2 monday, april 14, 2014 Distributed by USA TODAY COLOMBIA The cradle for outstanding ventures The country’s sustained economic growth and confident, well regulated financial sector demonstrates that Colombia is a serious competitor Colombia’s economy is on a Juan Pablo Córdoba, also planned. There will also roll. For over a decade, the President of the Colombian be an ETF covering the main country has averaged more Securities Exchange (BVC), quoted companies in Co- than 4% annual growth and recognizes that the challenge lombia, Chile and Peru, the it is now consistently reg- for the Colombian economy three countries that com- istering higher rates of ex- is to now “sustain growth of prise the Integrated Latin pansion than Mexico and 5-6% over a decade, since America Market, or MILA. Brazil – even in 2008 and this is what is going to make Mr. Córboda goes on to 2009, when just about ev- a difference in terms of pov- say that he sees the strong ery other country in Latin erty reduction, expansion of local stock exchange as America was suffering seri- the middle class and wealth “the ideal framework for ous downturns.