DOCUMENTO PAÍS WEB INGLÉS.pdf

8/13/2019 DOCUMENTO PAÍS WEB INGLÉS.pdf

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Liber tad y Or den

COLOMBIAA FAIRER, MORE MODERN

AND SAFER COUNTRY



This document aims to present general aspects of Colombia’seconomy, mining and energy sector, tourism, culture,cooperation projects and policies on foreign affairs, theenvironment and human rights, among other matters, and assuch is a key source of information



COLOMBIA



Colombia has been able to position itself as a regional leader during thelast decade thanks to the strengthening of its institutions, and theincrease of secure conditions throughout the territory and for all its

inhabitants but, above all, due to the capabilities and entrepreneurshipof its people. The Colombian State is a solid and strong democracy of greattradition within the region.

Colombia has much to offer the world. The Government works permanently tomake Colombia a safer place with better and more opportunities for all; tocreate a more modern country with an increasingly competitive economy thatgenerates formal and high-quality jobs, with trade agreements that allowColombian products to reach new preferential markets.

COLOMBIA



GenerInformatio

Borders with:Panama

Venezuela, Brazil

Peru, Ecuador

L

P

AB

B

LanguageSpanish

Population47,154,530

Total area:2,070,408 km2

Oceans:

Pacific and Atlantic

Maritime BordersCosta Rica, Nicaragua,Honduras, Jamaica,

Dominican Republic,Haiti, Panama, Ecuadorand Venezuela



Polit

OrganizatioColombia is a unitary, democratic, participatopluralist republic with a separation of powerPresident is elected by popular vote for a four-year

In its 2010-2014 National Development Plan “Profor All” which guides policy for this four-year perGovernment has identified four cross-cutting (innovation, good governance, international staand environmental sustainability) and three(equal opportunities, peace-building, and ecgrowth and competitiveness).

Head of State:

President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón(2010-2014).



According to the 2013

World Bank DoingBusiness Report,Colombia is the 3rd

most business-friendlyand most reforming

country of LatinAmerica.

Interesting Facts

Thanks to its Free TradeAgreements, Colombia

has become aconsolidated export

platform which is linkedto the world.

COLOMBIAPRODUCES 55%of the world’s

emeralds

Over 200,000 studentsgraduate annually

from higher education:

53% fromundergraduateprogrammes and 23%

from postgraduatestudies.

The Government’sEngines for Growth as

stipulated in theNational Development

Plan are: Infrastructure,Innovation,Agro-industry, Housing,

Mining and Energy.

The Government iscommitted to

offering incentives toboost investment and

investor stability.

According to theWorld Competitiveness

Ranking, in SouthAmerica Colombia hasprogressed the most in

competitiveness.

Mainflower

States aworldwiexportUS$1,

countrUnited

andKing


http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/documento-pais-web-inglespdf 8/50ECONOMY

President Juan Manuel Santos’ gocreate a fair, modern and safe countrthe economy grows and high-quality generated, benefitting all and thvulnerable in particular.

The economy has grown above the rand world average in the last two yeit is expected that it will reach a highin 2013.

Colombia has broken all records reForeign Direct Investment (FDI). 2012 year with the highest FDI in recenshowing greater confidence in the cou

The IMF has described the Coeconomy as “healthy and promising” tmacroeconomic policies that pstability. The IMF’s World Economic Report highlighted Colombia’s polcontrol inflation which have resulted ilowest rate in Latin America thproviding more stability and more ro

manoeuvre in the event of a crisis.



As a result of Colombia’s economic and fiscal policies, in 2012 StandPoor’s raised the country’s credit rating from BBB- to BBB+.

In 2013, Fitch Ratings revised Colombia’s outlook from stable to posi

“In Latin America, we have created the most employment in the past two years. Colombia has athe most amount of foreign investment of all Latin American countries. Colombia has man

lower it unemployment rate each month for the past 33 m

President Juan Manuel Santos, 4 Mar

Engines OF GROWTH UNDER WAY

In 2012, agricultural GDP by 2.63%, thehighest rate in the last 5 years. 5.1 millionhectares were cultivated, 94,000 morethan in 2010. 779,419 produces andfamilies have benefitted fromprogrammes aimed at increasing ruralproductivity.

AgriculturalCREDIT

Agricultural credit reachhistoric levels in 2012 with 6.5billion pesos for 267,358projects

RURALDevelopment779,419 producers andfamilies have benefitted fromthe Rural Development withEquality Programme, whichprovides incentives, credit andtechnical assistance.

436,00HECTARES

During thisAdministration, 4hectares have beereforested througForest IncentiveCertification.



In 2012, exports reached US$6million, an all time record for tcountry.

2010 2011 2012 Jan - Jul

39,820

57,420 60,666

33,937

2013

A fair, modern and safe country meansgreater investment and progressGDP has doubled over the past decade, from US$5,826 in 2000 to US$10,350 in 2012. In addition, Colombia has a dynami

internal market, with the 23rd largest population and the 2nd largest Spanish-speaking population in the world.

The 2013 World Bank Doing Business Report ranks Colombia as the 3rd most business-friendly and most reforming countrLatin America.

Colombia, total exports(USD million) Our exports

ARE GROWING RAPID

Colombia is aREGIONAL POWER

The export of products such as gold,

coffee, bananas, ferronickel and otherfuels place Colombia as one of thebiggest economies of Latin America.



134%

Investment

Foreign Direct Investment

increased by 134% fromUS$6,758 in 2010 toUS$15,825 in 2012, reachingthe highest level in thecountry’s history.

Growth in

FDI



COLOMBI



Panama.

Turkey.Costa Rica.

Israel. Pacific Alliance.

In force: In negotiation:Signed:

Free TraAgreements (FT

Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism.

Japan.

Korea.U.S.Canada.European Union.CAN (Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia).Chile.Mexico.Nicaragua.Northern Triangle (Honduras, Guatemalaand El Salvador).EFTA (Switzerland, Liechtenstein, *Norwayand *Iceland)* Have not started theratification process.CARICOM.Cuba.

Partial Agreement with VenezuelaCAN-MERCOSUR (Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia,Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil ).



COLOMBIA is positioning itself

globally

THE ENTREPRENEURS OF THECOUNTRY DOUBLED THEPOTENTIAL TOReach new consumers. The entry into force of four FTAs praccess to 1.4 billion new consumers and activation of agreewith Europe and South Korea brings access to a furthemillion.





INTERNATIONAL

COOPERATIONIN COLOMBIAIn terms of bilateral cooperation and Official Development Assistance (ODA), Colomstrengthened links with its traditional partners. The United States allocated USD 171,589ODA in 2012 – 2013; and an agreement on Earth Sciences was recently signed by the

institutions of each country. The Financial Cooperation Agreement was signed with GermIntergovernmental Negotiations were undertaken and, as a result, Germany granted €128The 2013 – 2016 New Cooperation Strategy was negotiated with Switzerland and the negtowards a 2014 – 2016 Peace and Human Rights strategy started. Consultations were carwith the European Union aimed at defining cooperation priority lines for 2014 – 2020 by priTrade and Competitiveness, Governance and Stability. Three Economic and Technical CooAgreements were signed with China for 20 million yuan each. Finally, with the United Kresearch, science and technology projects have been priority.



Likewise, new alliances were established with New Zealand, AustraSouth Korea. New Zealand announced its 3.9 million NZ dollars contto a project in the dairy sector and, at the same time, invited 100 smmedium-sized milk producers to visit the country so they could get tNew Zealander technology and farms. A mission concerning good p

in the mining sector was undertaken with Australia to achieve the tratechnical knowledge, experiences, and new technologies. Negostarted with South Korea to establish the cooperation framewprioritizing the Support to agriculture and rural development, Prodand competitiveness of the private sector, as well as the Improvemefficiency and transparency of the public administration.

The South-South Cooperation Dialogue for Cooperation was estawith the purpose of strengthening relations with Indonesia, Vietnam

Turkey, South Africa, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and thus promdevelopment of a common Project on telecommunications andgovernment.

Similarly, Colombia offers cooperation to counties in Africa, America and the Caribbean via its International Cooperation StraComprehensive Security, through which the country supports thagainst the world drug problem and terrorism, promotes instit

strengthening as well as commitment to the defence and promohuman rights.



In addition, Colombia’s Strategy forCooperation with the Caribbean Basin

promotes the exchange of knowledge,good practices and successful casesaimed at the economic and socialdevelopment of the region with thepurpose of deepening the cooperation andintegration relations with the 25 countries ofthe Caribbean Basin.

Currently, joint work is being carried out

with the Presidential Agency forInternational Cooperation (APC Colombia)on the Cooperation Strategy for Africa,which has the following areas of work: socialprotection and promotion; institutionalstrengthening; income generation;comprehensive security; culture; educationand sports. So far, initiatives within thisframework have been developed with

Kenya, Nigeria and Mozambique.



Colombia firmly believes in the multilateral system for dialogue and agreementon international policy. Furthermore, through its engagement in Multilateral

Organisations, Colombia is increasing its relevance and position on theinternational stage. Thus, the Government, and in particular the Ministry ofForeign Affairs, continues to defend the national interest in all political and legalscenarios from a strategic point of view, always seeking to maintain fluid,constructive and respectful dialogue. Colombia's commitment to the principles ofmultilateralism is reflected in its support for the universal system (United Nationsand its Agencies), as well as the regional and subregional arenas.

MULTILATERAL

ORGANISATIONS





Some of the multilateral organisations of which Colombia is a Member State

The United Nations (and its specialAgencies and related bodies)Colombia has been committed to theUnited Nations, its Agencies and RelatedBodies since its creation in 1945.

Organisation of American States (OAS)

Colombia is a founding-member of the OAS,and has played an active role from itsinception at the IX American InternationalConference of October 1948.

Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)

The Pacific Alliance

Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)

Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC)



2 Colombia is an Associate Member of MERCOSUR, which means that it takes part at a political level but not in the commercial and economic integration process of the Member States.

Other multilateral organisations andmechanisms for political dialogue andconsultation of which Colombia is amember include: the Association ofCaribbean States (ACS); theInter-American Development Bank

(IDB); the Andean Community (CAN);the Amazon Cooperation TreatyOrganisation; the Latin AmericanEnergy Organisation; the Agency forthe Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons inLatin America and the Caribbean(OPANAL); the Latin American andCaribbean Economic System; EuropeanUnion-Latin America and the Caribbean

(EU-LAC); the South America-AfricaSummit (ASA); the South America-ArabCountries Summit (ASPA); the TuxtlaMechanism for Dialogue andConsultation; the Common Market ofthe South (MERCOSUR)2; theIbero-American Summit; and theCaribbean Community (CARICOM).

The Pacific Alliance: deep integratioaimed at prosperity.

The Pacific Alliance is a mechanism for the economic and commintegration of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, formally establisthe Framework Agreement of 6 June 2012. The Alliance also incluimportant cooperation component and a commitment to flexible migra

The deep integration sough through the Pacific Alliance makes its Memarkets more attractive to the rest of the world, and in particular to tPacific Region.



210 3.2%

5%

Chile

Member States Observer States

GDP growth in 2012

MILLION

Average inflin 2012

13,000USD GDP per capitain the Alliance

total population of theMember States



COLOMBIA

A COUNTRY COMMITTEDTO HUMAN RIGHTS



Human Rights and IHL National System (SNDH-DIH)The System coordinates all activities and public policies related to the National Comprehensive Human Rights and Internhumanitarian Law Policy promoting a differential and rights-oriented approach. Six subsystems or components comprehensive policy were created to guarantee the operation and usefulness of the SNDH-DIH:

1. Citizenship, Culture and Human Rights Education.

2. Civil and political rights.

3. IHL and armed conflict.

4. Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental rights.

5. Justice.

6. Equality, non-discrimination and respect for identities.



2,500,0001,300,000

Fight against Poverty

The Colombian State, via entities such as the Department for Social Prosperity, carries out efforts to reduce poverty and guthe equality of groups subject to special constitutional protection.

In addition, Colombia is one of two Latin American countries that have most reduced inequality, as measured by t

coefficient, since August 2010.

During thisGovernment

COLOMBIANSOVERCAME POVERTY

overcame extreme

COLOMBIANS

poverty

“Our obsession is fighting ag

poverty and extreme povPresident Santos. Jul

Violence against women

The National Public Policy for Gender Equality Comprehensive Plan to Guarantee WomViolence-Free Life were approved in March 20central aim is to guarantee the full enjoyment of wrights by applying the principles of equalinon-discrimination. The objective is to join foguarantee the provision of comprehensive care to Cowomen, highlighting their important contributioneconomic, cultural and social development of the The Government also announced an unpreceinvestment of over 3.5 billion pesos in projects inof women.



Colombia’s commitment with trade unionists

Colombia has a Protection Programme aimed atguaranteeing the right to life and to personalintegrity of particularly vulnerable groups, includingtrade union members. The recently created

National Protection Unit, within the Interior

Ministry, “organises, coordinates and undertakes

the provision of protection services to those who

the National Government considers, by virtue of

their political, social, humanitarian, cultural,

ethnic or gender-related activities, conditions or

situations, their status as a victim of violence or

displacement, human rights activist or trade

union member in a situation of extraordinary or

extreme risk. Since its creation, the Unit hasprotected 633 union members and 20% of its budgethas been designated to their protection since 2012.

Victims and Land Restitution Act (Law 1448 of 201

The Victims and Land Restitution Act representstep forward for the country in terms of recognisiand dignifying victims of the armed conflict throuthe materialisation of their constitutional rights. this, the Government has established, within framewoof transitional justice, a set of judicial, administratsocial, economic, individual and collective measures the benefit of victims of violence.

The Unit for Victims’ Attention and Reparation and tLand Restitution Unit were created in February 2012guarantee the effective enjoyment of the rights of tvictims as well as the effective restitution of dispossessed land. Around 200,000 people have be

compensated since the Law was passed; and over 32,0requests have been received for the restitution of mthan two million hectares.

Protection given to indigenous communities

490 claimants have been protected through the NatioProtection Unit in land restitution proceedings

guarantee the free exercise of their rights.



Victimsand Land

RestitutionLaw (Law 1448

of 2011)

More than 200,000 victims have been compensMore than 32,000 land restitution applications for more than

2 million hectares have been recieved.

Universal Periodic Review Second Cycle

Colombia underwent its second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) before the United Nations Human Rights Council betand 27 April 2013. The progress made and challenges remaining were presented and the country address

recommendations made and questions raised by the countries that attended.

The UN Human Rights Council backed Colombia and 46 delegations expressed their support to the peace process cunderway between the Government and the FARC. Colombia was recognised for its progress made, particuachievements in the comprehensive reparation of victims through the Victims and Land Restitution Act as well as for suefforts in education, poverty reduction, gender-based policies in defence of women’s rights and regulatory frameworprotection and guarantee of the rights of persons with disabilities.

Colombia received 160 recommendations and accepted 126, 120 of which have already been implemented or will bcourse. Colombia rejected 26 recommendations, took note of 8 and undertook 7 voluntary commitments.





MEGADIVERS

COMMITTED TTHE ENVIRONME

C l bi i l ifi d f h ld’ i i h h f l h d i I



Colombia is classified as one of the world’s countries with the greatest amount of natural hydric resources. Its average watis calculated to be six times that of the global average and three times than that of Latin America. The total amount of grounis approximately 5,848 km3, almost three times the amount of available surface water.

Th l i d t i i C l bi i d t th i l tit di l l ti C l bi h



species4010

The glaciers or snow-capped mountains in Colombia are unique due to their latitudinal location. Colombia has an approglacier area of 48.6 km², representing 1.7% of the total tropical glaciers in South America (2,744 km²).

In July 2012, the Environment and Sustainable Development Ministry presented the National Policy for the CompreManagement of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity and aimed at imand maintaining adaptation global, regional, national and trans-border levels. Similarly, it will be aligned with, and will gother environmental management instruments such as existing or future biodiversity conservation policies, plans, proje

programmes.

Colombia is ranked first in emerald production; varietiesof orchids (4,010 species),birds, frogs, and biodiversityper square kilometer.

Colombia is second in bamboo diversity in Latin America,

plants, amphibians, butterflies,

production of bananas and flowers.

Mitigation

Colombia is in a privileged position due to its cenergy matrix in which over 75% is generatehydroelectric plants. Important mitigation acare implemented on a voluntary basis in diffsectors, including mass transportation systemsinvestment in the development of alternative ensources such as biofuels.

Colombia highly values the implementatiointernational mechanism such as REDD (ReduEmissions from Deforestation and FDegradation). Forests store large amountcarbon and thus their proper manageme

essential as a solution to climate change. Curreit is estimated that deforestation and fdegradation generate close to 20% of greenh



Fotografía Caño Cristales: por Mario Carvajal (cc) 2012 .

Bird species

19% of world bird sp

gases (GHG) at a global level. REDD projecfor the provision of financial benefits to pforests and therefore reduce GHG. This wimportant financial resource for forest-fcountries, such as Colombia, to sustainable development.

AdaptationAs a country, Colombia only contribu0.37% of the world’s GHG, but is vulnerable to the effects of climate changthe devastating floods that affected moremillion Colombians between 2010 and 20Government has prioritised guaranteeinconsiderations of climate change be incorin the planning and decision-making pro

part of this commitment, Colombia participates in the ongoing negotiationsUN Framework Convention on Climate and strongly supports the Cancun AdaFramework.



Endemic butterfly species in Colombia: 350 (first place worldwide)

Sustainable Development Goals

Twenty years after the 1992 Earth Summit, Heads of State met at the High-Segment of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, to adopoutcome document entitled “The Future We Want”. Colombia is pleased that onthe main achievements of this Summit was the process to developSustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a proposal submitted and develoby Colombia.

The importance and usefulness of developing a set of SDGs that incorporatebalanced way all three dimensions of sustainable development and

interlinkages and are coherent with the UN Post-2015 Development Agendaacknowledged.. Colombia highlighted that the SGDs should be action-orieconcise, easy to communicate, limited in number, global in nature and univerapplicable to all countries while taking into account different national realitiescapacities.

The High Level Panel was an initiative of the UN Secretary General with the purof making recommendations for the post-2015 development agenda. ForMinister María Ángela Holguín was appointed a member of this important p

The final report was presented to the Secretary General on 30 May 2013, includseries of concrete recommendations for the SDGs.





COLOMBIA: ADIVERSE TOURISMDESTINATIONThe Government of Colombia has worked to improve security conditions throColombia, which has made the country a safe tourism destination both for its nand for foreign visitors.

“The new Colombia is seen and felt in our beaches and rainforests, in our modeand small villages, all along our roads which, in addition, are surrounded by flandscapes.” President Juan Manuel Santos, February 27, 2013.

The security-related achievments are reflected in the sustained yearly increasnumber of foreign tourists visiting Colombia. Whilst tourism in the rest of thgrew by an average rate of 3.8%, in Colombia it grew by 8.9% between 20

2012.

Colombia has a great cultural diversity which is expressed in over 700 celebrations festivals and carnivalssuch as the ‘C



CARTAGENA

MALPELO

Colombia has a great cultural diversity, which is expressed in over 700 celebrations, festivals and carnivals such as the Cde Blancos y Negros’ and the Carnival of Barranquilla. Likewise, it is characterized by the continued use of architectuhandicraft techniques from the most traditional cultures, the hundreds of historic monuments and varied knowledge tracustoms and values that identify its population.

CARTAGENA was declared World Heritage by UNESCO under the title ‘Port, Fortresses aGroup of Monuments of Cartagena.’

The ‘COFFEE CULTURAL Landscape of

Colombia’ was declared World Heritage byUNESCO.

The ‘MALPELO Flora and Fauna Sanctuary’ declared World Natural Heritage Site byUNESCO.

COFFEECULTURALLANDSCAPE



Medellín

The Government of Colombia has developed different iniciatives toposition the country as an international tourism destination. Byincreasing competitiveness in the tourism industry and improvingservices and transport infrastructure, the Government is alsoworking towards creating a more modern country.

Recently, nine countries have eliminated the tourist visarequirement for Colombians: Georgia, Jamaica, the RussianFederation, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, Turkey, Mexico, Venezuela andGuatemala. Four countries have suspended the transit visa requisite:France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Colombians may enter Mercosur countries and its AssociateMembers with their national identity cards: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia,Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Medellín, WORLD'S MOSTINNOVATIVE CITY IN 2013

Citigroup and the Wall Street Journal

recognized the city for its infrastructure

development, its economic and cultural

growth.



933,0

1,053.01,195.0 1,223.0

1,692.7

806

1,035.84

996

476

952894829911851805

1,582.0

1,354.01,475.0

International tourist arrivals inColombia and the world

8,9%

2015 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2012-1

Arrivals in Colombia (thousands)Arrivals in the world (millions)

Colombia: Average annual

growth 2005-2012

Arrivals growthin Colombia 2011: 7.3%

World growth

2011: 4.6%

Arrivals growth inColombia 2012: 7%

World growth2012: 4%

World: Average annualgrowth 2005-2012 >> 3.8%



COLOMBIA: A COUNTRY



COLOMBIA: A COUNTRYWITH STRENHS IN

CULTURE, EDUCATION,AND SPORTSBesides Spanish, there are 68 native and creole languages in Colombia which are spoken by 850,000people from indigenous backgrounds, Raizales from San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina,inhabitants from San Basilio de Palenque, as well as by the Romani people.

There are 87 indigenous ethnic groups, three population groups of Africandescent and the Romani people, representing 13.7% of the national population.

THE GOLD MUSEUM IN BOGOTAHas a collection of 54,000 gold and stone pieces from theQUIMBAYA, CALIMA, TAYRONA, SINÚ, MUISCA and

TUMACO cultures.





SAN AGUSTÍNARCHEOLOGICAL

PARK

Colombia has seven sites on UNESCO’s List ofHeritage: Port, Fortresses and Group of MonumCartagena, Los Katíos National Park, Historic CeSanta Cruz de Mompox, National Archaeological Tierradentro, San Agustín Archaeological Park, MFlora and Fauna Sanctuary, and the Coffee Landscape of Colombia.

In addition, it has eight cultural expressioUNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage: FeSaint Francis of Assissi, Quibdó; Traditional knowlethe jaguar shamans of Yuruparí; Marimba mustraditional chants from Colombia’s South Pacific Wayuu Normative System; the Carnaval de NeBlancos; Holy Week processions in Popayán; the CarBarranquilla; and the Cultural space of Palenque

Basilio.



Sports

The excellent performance at international sports tournaments and the high

sportsmanship level of Colombian talents, that have attracted internationalattention, are the result of Government investment in and support to sport.

In 2012, Colombia won 8 medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games, 2 at theParalympic Games, 12 Senior World Championships and 27 world youthchampionships.

Falcao, James Rodriguez and Jackson Martinez in football; Camilo Villegas andMaria Jose Uribe in golf; Rigoberto Uran and Nairo Quintana in road cycling;Mariana Pajon and Carlos Oquendo in BMX cycling; Cecilia ‘La Chechi’ Baena in

roller skating; Maria Isabel Urrutia and Oscar Figueroa in weightlifting; CatherineIbarguen in athletics. These are some of the Colombian sportspeople who havedemonstrated the results of the sports development programmes theGovernment has successfully implemented.

Colombia has also stood out, regionally and internationally, as a venue forimportant sporting events. The country successfully hosted the 2010 SouthAmerican Games in Medellin, the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2013 WorldGames in Cali. These achievements, along with the awards earned, placeColombia in a privileged position on the global sports stage.



Education

The rapid internalisation of Colombia higher education has been anoutstanding development, offering specialist, masters or doctoral studies toforeign students.

5 Colombian universities were included in a list of the 38 bestqualified according to the 2013 QS Latin American UniversityRankings.

Colombia, the land of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, also has much to offer in theflied of teaching Spanish as a foreign language. Colombian Spanish isinternationally recognised for its correct and polite use, for its clearpronunciation and pleasant accent. According to the International Systemfor the Certification of Spanish as a Foreign Language (SICELE), 20 of the 43renowned Latin American Institutions that teach Spanish are located inColombia.

During this Administration, free basic, primary and secondary education was

achieved at national level, benefitting more than 8.5 million students inColombia.



CultureColombia offers the world rich cultural expressions that demonstrate its

mega diversity, the importance of culture as driver of development,engagement with global artistic trends and the strength of its popular cultures,as a result of several traditions coming together in one country and theirrelationship with nature and the land.

Botanical art exhibitions, documentaries that address issues of environmentalconservation, ornithological watercolours and photography books, andexhibitions on water as a shared heritage, are some examples of how Colombianart takes biodiversity as a subject of its artistic reflection.

The relationship between nature and culture in Colombia is also reflected in therichness of its traditional cultures: those who live in different areas of thecountry's ecosystems have specific cultural expressions, with their owntraditional music and dance, their architectural craftsmanship, and their culinaryknowledge. These ecosystems include the highlands (UNESCO World Heritagesite of Coffee Region and the Andean Altiplano) and the lowlands (MomposinaDepression, including UNESCO World Heritage site Santa Cruz de Mompox, the

WE ARE HOME OF



WE ARE HOME OFTHE MOST ANTIQUEFILM festival in Latin

America. TheInternational Film

Festival in Cartagena

hosts a diverseselection of films,

short films andinternational videos

since 1960.

Pacific rainforest, the southeastern Plains, the tropical rainforest, among others).Culture in Colombia enhances social wellbeing and citizen participation fo

inclusive development, contributing to the fight against poverty as well agenerating employment, foreign exchange, investment and trade. This iembodied in what has been called the silent revolution of libraries and in areas suchas music, dance or circus, giving Colombia experiences that are of internationareference for artistic practices that promote social inclusion.Creative industries generate employment and amount for about 2.5% of GDPaccording to the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) and theMinistry of Culture. This has served to stimulate their development with newincentives. An example is the passing of legislation such as the Book and Cinema

Laws, which are aimed at boosting the performing arts and promoting Colombia aa location for film shoots.



A FAIRER,MOREMODERN AND

SAFER country





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