“Colombia is known the world over for its tropical fruits, oil, coal and coffee, but above all is known for its people who are very innovative. There is no denying the fact that some years ago we witnessed violence and drug mafia, but we have given the world authors, painters and singers like Shakira. Her ‘hips don’t lie…’ is the most popular number in the world. Go to any bookstore, check who is author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. His ‘Hundred Years of Solitude’ is an internationally acclaimed title. Know the name Fernando Botero Angulo, the known painter and sculptor. Colombia is known by the Colombians who created a place in arts, sciences, innovations and entrepreneurship."
In my younger days I used to hear of violence in Colombia.
“Till ten years ago the country was characterized as a violence ridden country, but in the year 2001 it was said to be safer than Washington. Today it is totally changed. President Álvaro Uribe is the second President in the world whose popularity is above 80%. He is a very practical person. He has worked for democratic security, security for investors, action against drug traffickers, criminality and right extremists. Attacks like Maoists and Naxalites have reduced by 90%. The security forces have full control against such elements and we have the right atmosphere for investors. Social cohesion is another strong point. There is high level of investment and savings have been increasing. We have reduced poverty by 14% in the past ten years. We are growing and reducing poverty. We are an emerging economy with promising investment. Indonesia, Vietnam and Egypt are among these emerging economies.”
How are Colombia’s relations
“India and Colombia have very good friendly relations. Diplomatic ties between the two nations were established 50 years ago on 19 January, 1959 at the time of Prime Minister Jawahar lal Nehru.”
What did you imagine about India?
“My vision of India was very romantic till three years ago. I thought of camels,villages and yoga, but now understand that India is much more.”
About Indian investments in Colombo?
“We have 26 Indian companies in Colombo Tata, Reliance, Hero Honda, ONGC, Reliance Petro, BPOs and IT companies. Colombia is second partner in Latin America of Indian products after Brazil. There are 14 MOUs between Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Federation of Indian Export Organisations, Delhi Haryana Chambers of Commerce and Industry with Colombian Federation of business. We have six MOUs with the Universities of Jamia,JNU, Symbiosis, IGNOU andPune. We have the Bilateral Investment Promotion Protection Agreement (BIPPA), cultural and science and technology agreement. A double taxation agreement is coming shortly. There are seven more MOUs between the governments on health, transportation, oil and gas, checking narcotics traffic and terrorism.”
Talking about the progress Colombia has made in the past years, the Ambassador said :
“Colombian democracy is not rhetoric, its real. We have a big middle class, but we have 99% drinking water in capital Bogota which is pure and potable. In one years period we have had just 9 minutes interruption in power supply in the entire nation. While there is 40% poverty, there is no gender discrimination. We are not a racial country. We have 94% literacy rate. A population of 44 million people and 43 million mobile phones. Colombia is the most stable democracy in Latin America. Fifty per cent of our university students are women. If we talk of evolution of women in Colombia, 32% of the companies are managed or owned by women. There are 75 universities in Bogota and we got four million visitors at Bogota Book Fair. ”
The respect he has for Indian culture and the country is evident from the fact that his wife, a lawyer by profession, has recently taken up a Ph.D course on ‘Influence of cultures’ at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and he is overjoyed to see his young daughter speak Hindi which she has learnt at her schoo
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