Colombia, a country of

Prosperity and Democracy

2nd Edition

Ministerio de Relaciones ExterioresRepública de Colombia

Prosperity and Democracy

Colombia, a country of Prosperity a country of Prosperity a country of and

Prosperity and Democracy

Colombia, a country of Prosperity a country of Prosperity a country of and

Language SpanishPo

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2,070,408 sq.km.

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928,660 sq.km.

Oceans Pacific and Atlantic

Terr

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Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador

Maritime bordersCosta Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Haiti

Land

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Bogota D.C.

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1,141,748 sq.km.

46.359.166

Colombia is five times the size of Japan, six times the size of Malaysa, 25 times the size of the United Arab Emirates. Colombia would fit into China four times, into India 1.5 times. France, Spain and Portugal would together fit into Colombia.

Población

Colombia tiene la tercera población más numerosa en América Latina y ocupa el puesto 24 en el mundo. La tasa de alfabetismo, es decir los habitantes de 15 y más años que saben leer y escribir, es el 91,6%.

La fuerza laboral colombiana es una de las más calificadas y competitivas, con un costo diez veces inferior al de los países desarrollados. Más de la mitad de la población es menor de 25 años.

Organización política

La República de Colombia es un Estado unitario, democrático, participativo y pluralista con separación de poderes. El Presidente es elegido por voto popular por un período de cuatro años.

Jefe de Estado: Presidente Juan Manuel Santos Calderón (2010 – 2014).

Colombia en organismos internacionales

Colombia hace parte de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) desde el año 1945, así como de la mayoría de las Organizaciones de la familia de la ONU, de la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA) desde 1948 y de diversas Organizaciones subregionales como la Unión Suramericana de Naciones, la Comunidad Andina (CAN), el Proyecto Mesoamérica y la Asociación de Estados del Caribe, entre otros.

Population

Colombia has the third largest population in Latin America and the 24th largest in the world.

The literacy rate, that is, the number of people aged 15 or over who can read and write, is 96.6%.

The Colombian labour force is among the most skilled and competitive, with a cost 10 times lower than that of developed counties. More than half the population is under 25.

Political organization

The Republic of Colombia is a unitary, democratic, participatory and pluralistic state with separation of powers. Colombia has a presidentialist government elected every 4 years. The National Congress has two legislative chambers.

Head of Government and State: President Juan Manuel Santos (2010-2014).

Colombia in international organizations

Colombia has been part of the United Nations since 1945, currently is also part of most of the organizations of the UN family; it has been a member of the Organization of American States since 1948 and of a wide range of subregional organizations such as the Pacific Alliance (Peru, Mexico, Chile, Colombia), UNASUR, the Andean Community, the Meso-American Project and the Association of Caribbean States, amongst others.

Colombia, A country of Prosperity and Democracy

4

“We are determined, as stated in our National Development Plan, to advance towards a “Prosperity for All”, which is based on three pillars:

more work, more security and less poverty”.

“President of the Republic, Juan Manuel Santos (June 10, 2011).

The Colombian State is a solid and strong democracy, with long traditions within the region. In the last ten years, partly as a result of the strengthening of its institutions, as well as the improvement of security throughout the country, Colombia has succeeded in positioning itself as a leader in the region. Above all, however, this has been the result of its people’s entrepreneurship.

Colombia has much to offer the world: it is a megadiverse country, committed to the environment, renewable energy and biofuels; it is also a safe and exotic destination for tourists. Through international cooperation, including South-South cooperation, Colombia is supporting other nations and regions of the world on a number of key issues, taking advantage of its experience and knowledge. At the same time, it has reaffirmed its commitment to the defense and promotion of human rights, given its democratic, ethical and human convictions.

A megadiverse territory, committed to the environment

* Clean energy Grid: power generation through renewable and clean energy sources. Examples are hydroelectric and wind energy.

6

Colombia is one of the 17 mega-diverse countries in the world. It has the greatest biodiversity per square kilometer in the planet, and is a world power in terms of biodiversity and natural resources. It is home to approximately 10% of the Earth´s biodiversity and 7% of the Amazon jungle, although it represents only 0.7% of the world´s continental landmass.

Colombia has implemented a series of national policies designed to promote and maintain the conservation of the environment, and has allocated over 12.6 million hectares to the National Parks system, representing more

than 10% of its total land and sea territory.

Colombia has at least 737,000 bodies of water, including rivers, streams, lakes, lagoons and dams, which make it a world water power. It has important reserves of usable water in 1,600 lakes, lagoons and dams that have been identified so far, with a total approximate volume of 26,300 million m³. Groundwater represents a major potential for the sustainable development of the country, since approximately 31% of its fresh water is to be found in its aquifers.

Mitigation

Colombia has a privileged situation, with a clean energy Grid* in which over 75% of its generation is produced by hydro plants. Furthermore, important mitigation actions have voluntarily been taken in a number of sectors, including mass transport and investment in alternative sources of energy, such as biofuels.

77

One very valuable initiative for Colombia is the international implementation of mechanisms such as the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). Forests store large quantities of carbon, and therefore their sound management is a basic element in the solution to climate change. Today, it is estimated that deforestation and degradation of forests generate some 20% of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) worldwide. REDD projects provide financial benefits to preserve forests, and hence, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For countries with significant forestry potential such as Colombia, this represents an important source of financial resources to support the country’s sustainable development.

Adaptation

As a country, Colombia only produces 0.37% of the world´s GHG, but it is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. After the series of devastating floods which affected more than 3 million Colombians between 2010 and 2011, the Government has given priority to ensuring that adaptation to climate change considerations are mainstreamed into planning and decision-making processes. Currently, Colombia is developing a National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change. Its commitment to addressing the impacts of climate change is reflected in the active role it plays in international negotiations under the UNFCCC, where it supports the Adaptation Framework.

46.359,166

United States (37,9%)EU (15,3%) China (4,1%)Chile (3,8%)Ecuador (3,4%)Venezuela (2,9%)Brazil (2,5%)

United States (25,5%) China (14,5%)Mexico (11,1%)Brazil (5,1%)Germany (4,1%)Argentina (3,6%)France (3,1%)

157%

Colombia is first in: Production of Emeralds, variety of Palm Trees (244 species), bamboo Production in America, coffee Quality, major

exporter of Arabian Coffee, major coal exporter in Latin America, biodiversity per km2, number of

birds and amphibians in the world

Colombia is second worldwide in: Banana production, variety of Butterflies (300 families and 14,000 species), production and export of flowers,

production of blackberries

The tenth country in the world with the best environmental performance (Yale University)

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A dynamic economy

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United States (25,5%) China (14,5%)Mexico (11,1%)Brazil (5,1%)Germany (4,1%)Argentina (3,6%)France (3,1%)

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Colombia is first in: Production of Emeralds, variety of Palm Trees (244 species), bamboo Production in America, coffee Quality, major

exporter of Arabian Coffee, major coal exporter in Latin America, biodiversity per km2, number of

birds and amphibians in the world

Colombia is second worldwide in: Banana production, variety of Butterflies (300 families and 14,000 species), production and export of flowers,

production of blackberries

The tenth country in the world with the best environmental performance (Yale University)

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9

The Government of President Juan Manuel Santos aims to seal a social pact which will allow Colombians to build a better country based on democratic prosperity. The core of this proposal is the generation of employment, seeking to ensure that all Colombians have secure incomes, dignified employment, and affiliation to the Social Security system. For this purpose, five “driving forces for growth” were selected to kickstart the economy in this Administration: agriculture, social interest housing, mining, innovation and infrastructure. Colombia has set the basis for long-term development, opening the doors to investment in these sectors.

Infrastructure is key for supporting economic development, competitiveness and regional integration. The challenge is to increase the railway network from 906 to 2,000 km, the main highway system from 1,050 to 2,000 km, and the number of bridges in the primary road network from 1 to 27.

In terms of energy interconnection, Colombia is developing the infrastructure required for the Panama-Colombia-Chile interconnection project. The project is now under construction and will enable an increase in exports to Central America.

Colombia makes innovation a priority of its development strategy. Through investment in research and development, information and communications technology, and technological and scientific activities for innovation, the intention is to develop learning through research, to enhance the potential and capabilities of Colombia’s human capital, and to link up the productive sector with the academic sector.

Investment in housing is a basic tool in the struggle against poverty. One of the targets of the 2010-2014 Administration is to increase the number of houses built from 560,300 to 1,000,000.

Colombia’s agriculture has historically been characterized as one of the most productive sectors, with the greatest capacity for the generation of employment. In the quest for greater competitiveness and the reduction of poverty, Colombia aims to increase its total agricultural production by 33.9% between 2014 and 2019.

10

The mining and energy sector has been one of the fastest-growing areas of the economy in the last ten years, accompanied by high levels of foreign direct investment (FDI). In 2010, Colombia raised its daily oil production to 785,000 barrels, an increase of 14.6% compared to the preceding year. FDI in the mining sector has grown 664% since 2002. Also, Colombia has crude oil reserves of some 2,000 million barrels.

The world looks to Colombia with growing interest, as a stable country with a solid economy, with significant opportunities for business, legal security for investors, low inflation, a controlled fiscal deficit, diversifying products, skilled human resources and a private sector ready to exchange experiences and benefits. After the dynamic growth of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India and China), there is a new group of six countries called the CIVETS (Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey and South Africa), which experts say one day will represent driving forces of the world economy. The CIVETS economies are profiled as attractive destinations for investors, and will record average GDP increases of some 4.5% for the next 20 years - even higher than the estimates for the G-7 countries, at 1.8%. They are countries with a population which is mostly young and growing, with diversified and dynamic economies, political stability and a brilliant future. The emerging markets of the CIVETS will grow three times faster than the developed countries. Furthermore, these countries have shown good resilience to the world financial crisis. The consolidation of the CIVETS and their future alliances will lend new dynamics to the economies of the 21st-century.

“Any company with global ambitions must be active in relation to the CIVETS markets... We have to go where there is business to do”.

Speech of Michael Geoghegan, Executive Director of the HSBC Group, to the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, April 27, 2010. See www.hsbc.com.

In 2014, Colombia aspires to have completed the negotiations for 12 free-trade agreements with

50 countries

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JapanGulf Cooperation Council (GCC)Australia

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PanamaTurkey

In n

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CAN (Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia)MERCOSUR (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil)ChileMexicoNorth Triangle (Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador)Switzerland , Lichtenstein CanadaUnited States

EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, European Union (Signature)

By 2011, Colombia expects to have complete negotiations of 11 free trade agreements (FTA) with 48 countries, gaining

preferential access to over 1,500 million consumers.

21 double taxation agreements (ADT)

with 22 countries

Renewable Energy and Biofuels

13

Colombia has implemented a solid policy designed to generate a regulatory framework and create financial instruments and conditions for the sustainable production of renewable energy and biofuels.

The generation capacity of the National Grid in 2010 was 56,887.4 Gwh, of which 71% came from hydro plants and the remaining 29% from thermal and wind generation.

• Hydro generation accounted a total of 40,557.3GWh, or 71.3% of total electricity generated on the Grid

• Wind farms accounted for 38.6 GWh• Biomass generation produced 227.7 GWh.

Today, a number of studies are being conducted to increase generation from renewable forms of energy in Colombia, in particular solar energy, biomass and geothermal energy, which has great potential due to the country´s geology and geography. Medellín´s EPM (Empresas Públicas de Medellín) has commissioned the first windfarm, Jepirachí, in the Upper Guajira region, with 15 turbines providing 19.5 MW to the Grid, and with the possibility of expansion to other parts of the country.

As an incentive to invest in biofuels, producers enjoy access to a special regime which allows them to import machinery duty-free, and gives them a preferential rate of income tax of 15%. Furthermore, both ethanol and bio diesel used to mix with gasoline and diesel are exempted from consumption taxes as an incentive measure.

14

In 2009, two biodiesel plants were set up in El Salvador and Honduras, designed and built with Colombian technology, with capacities of up to 10,000 L/day and with the possibility of using different sources

of raw material. This places Colombia as a leader in the development of technologies and transfer of knowledge, as well as in the

production of biofuels.

At the moment, Colombia produces 1.1 million litres/day of ethanol and 1.8 million litres/day of biodiesel. These figures will increase with the development of ethanol projects fueled from sugarcane and beetroot, with a production capacity of some 1.5 million litres-day by 2012. New plants will shortly be added to the six existing biodiesel plants, increasing production by 1.8 million L/day.

Colombia, as leader of the biofuels discussion group in the Meso-America Project, has replicated its experiences in other countries in Latin America.

Mining and Energy

16

”The entire world now sees Colombia as an energy power, and as a mining power”1. The strong growth in the mining and energy sector has brought Colombia onto the radars of the world. Mining and energy exports rose 47.6% between January and May 2011, for a total of US$ 15,284 million, or 69.4% of Colombia’s total exports.

The Government intends to increase production and reserves of hydrocarbons, signing 205 new E&P contracts in the next four years. By 2014, 570 wells will have been drilled, to achieve a production of 1.15 million barrels of oil a day.

The generation of electricity on the National Grid at June 2011 was 80.1% hydro-generated, 13.3% produced by thermal generation, and 6.6% by small generators and co-generators.

In the first half of 2011, Colombia produced 929.226 barrels of oil a day, according to Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos. This represented an increase of 16.3% compared to the same period of 2010, when production reached 767,000 barrels per day.

Foreign direct investment in the mining sector increased 664% between 2002 and 2008, reaching a total of US$ 196 million in 20082.

In mining, Colombia is Latin America´s largest producer, and the world’s 10th largest, with more than 74,000 t of production in 2010.

According to British Petroleum, Colombia is ranked third in the region for oil production, and has reserves of 1,990 million barrels of crude.

“Colombia is projecting itself as an energy power in the region. There is a great demand for Colombian electricity”3. In interconnection, Colombia is currently developing the infrastructure required for the Panama-Colombia-Chile interconnection project. Projects currently under construction will bring increased electricity exports to Central America.

1 Juan Manuel Santos at the closing session of the Management Dialogues in the Ministry of Mines and Energy2 Ministry of Mines and Energy. El sector minero colombiano: fuente de oportunidades. October 2010

3 Ibid.

Tourism, A country of diversity

El Gobierno de Colombia viene desarrollando iniciativas en distintos frentes para posicionarse como destino turístico de clase mundial y alcanzar un crecimiento sostenido del sector: mejorar la competitividad turística, la infraestructura de servicios y de transporte; desarrollar megaproyectos turísticos; crear parques temáticos, y flexibilizar el tema de visados para tener una “Política de Cielos Abiertos”.

Colombia y Estados Unidos ratificaron la “Política de Cielos Abiertos” en mayo del presente año, lo que permitirá el incremento de las frecuencias en las rutas aéreas ya operadas y la creación de nuevas rutas sin limitaciones.

Durante la Feria Internacional de Turismo (Fitur) 2011 en Madrid (España), Colombia se posicionó como el nuevo destino verde, haciendo énfasis en el patrimonio natural que posee como principal estrategia para el turismo internacional.

El diario Los Angeles Times destacó el crecimiento del 17% del turismo en Colombia en el 2009 con respecto al 2% mundial y el ingreso de las cadenas hoteleras Hilton, Sonesta, Intercontinental, NH y Marriot5 al país.

6. Hotels spring up as Colombia grows safer for tourists. Los Angeles Times, August 6, 2010.

16

The New York Times incluyó a Colombia en su lista de lugares turísticos recomendados para visitar en 2011.

10. Cali, Colombia

Cafe culture is on the rise while salsa fuels the night life.

Cali has always felt like the grittier stepsister of Medellín, but tucked amid the colonial homes of the barrios of San Antonio or Granada are a number of new jewelry boutiques, low-key cafes and salsotecas teeming with crowds as sexy as any in South America.

Salsa remains Cali’s lifeblood. If the dance floors of Tin Tin Deo or Zaperoco are too full, try La Fuente, a pint-size bar jammed with sweaty students who spill out onto the street most nights. Or, follow the sounds of Latin jazz to Guayusa, just next door. Those with serious salsa chops hitch a cab out of town to the suburb of Juanchito, whose dance floors do not fill up until after midnight (but go in a group, as this section gets dicey at those hours). Also be sure to check out a performance of Delirio, the monthly cabaret that is part Cirque du Soleil, part salsa clinic.

— LIONEL BEEHNER

732 790

1353

1.431

1.320

1474

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Jan-Nov2010

Jan-Nov2011

Variation 2008 – 2009: 10,7% (Includes cruises)-Variation 2009 - 2010: 8,9% (Includes cruises) - Variation Jan - Nov 2010 - Jan - Nov 2011: 10.8%

Source: Proexport

Source: Ministry of trade, Industry and tourism.

In six years, the number of visitors tripled.

While tourism in the word increased 6,7% in

Colombia this trend

increased 8,9% in 2010

Main nationalities of visitors (January - October 2011)

United States 17%, Venezuela 14%, Ecuador 7%, Argentina 6%, Brazil 6%, Peru 6%, Spain 6%

Tourism, 2000 – November 2011Thousand of visitors*

732 790

1353

1.431

1.320

1474

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Jan-Nov2010

Jan-Nov2011

Variation 2008 – 2009: 10,7% (Includes cruises)-Variation 2009 - 2010: 8,9% (Includes cruises) - Variation Jan - Nov 2010 - Jan - Nov 2011: 10.8%

Source: Proexport

Source: Ministry of trade, Industry and tourism.

In six years, the number of visitors tripled.

While tourism in the word increased 6,7% in

Colombia this trend

increased 8,9% in 2010

Main nationalities of visitors (January - October 2011)

United States 17%, Venezuela 14%, Ecuador 7%, Argentina 6%, Brazil 6%, Peru 6%, Spain 6%

Tourism, 2000 – November 2011Thousand of visitors*

732 790

1353

1.431

1.320

1474

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Jan-Nov2010

Jan-Nov2011

Variation 2008 – 2009: 10,7% (Includes cruises)-Variation 2009 - 2010: 8,9% (Includes cruises) - Variation Jan - Nov 2010 - Jan - Nov 2011: 10.8%

Source: Proexport

Source: Ministry of trade, Industry and tourism.

In six years, the number of visitors tripled.

While tourism in the word increased 6,7% in

Colombia this trend

increased 8,9% in 2010

Main nationalities of visitors (January - October 2011)

United States 17%, Venezuela 14%, Ecuador 7%, Argentina 6%, Brazil 6%, Peru 6%, Spain 6%

Tourism, 2000 – November 2011Thousand of visitors*

18

Colombia is a country with strong cultural diversity, expressed in more than 700 festivals and carnivals. Its architectural and artisan techniques are unique, handed down from its most traditional cultures; there are hundreds of historical monuments; and there is a wide range traditional wisdom, customs and values which are the hallmark of the local people.

The Government has been developing initiatives on several fronts to position the country as a world-class tourist destination, and to achieve sustained growth in that sector. It intends to improve competitiveness in tourism, service and transport infrastructure developing megaprojects for tourism; to create theme parks, and to make visa regulations more flexible, and to develop an “Open Skies” policy.

Colombia and the United States ratified the Open Skies policy in May 2011, and this will allow increased frequency of routes already operated and the creation of new routes without limitations.

During the 2011 tourism fair (FITA) in Madrid, Colombia positioned itself as the new green destination, emphasizing its natural heritage as its principal strategy for international tourism.

The Los Angeles Times noted the growth of 17% in tourism in Colombia in 2009, compared to 2% in the rest of the world, and the arrival of the Hilton, Sonesta, Intercontinental, and Marriot hotel chains4.

4 Hotels spring up as Colombia grows safer for tourists. Los Angeles Times, August 6, 2010

El Gobierno de Colombia viene desarrollando iniciativas en distintos frentes para posicionarse como destino turístico de clase mundial y alcanzar un crecimiento sostenido del sector: mejorar la competitividad turística, la infraestructura de servicios y de transporte; desarrollar megaproyectos turísticos; crear parques temáticos, y flexibilizar el tema de visados para tener una “Política de Cielos Abiertos”.

Colombia y Estados Unidos ratificaron la “Política de Cielos Abiertos” en mayo del presente año, lo que permitirá el incremento de las frecuencias en las rutas aéreas ya operadas y la creación de nuevas rutas sin limitaciones.

Durante la Feria Internacional de Turismo (Fitur) 2011 en Madrid (España), Colombia se posicionó como el nuevo destino verde, haciendo énfasis en el patrimonio natural que posee como principal estrategia para el turismo internacional.

El diario Los Angeles Times destacó el crecimiento del 17% del turismo en Colombia en el 2009 con respecto al 2% mundial y el ingreso de las cadenas hoteleras Hilton, Sonesta, Intercontinental, NH y Marriot5 al país.

6. Hotels spring up as Colombia grows safer for tourists. Los Angeles Times, August 6, 2010.

16

The New York Times incluyó a Colombia en su lista de lugares turísticos recomendados para visitar en 2011.

10. Cali, Colombia

Cafe culture is on the rise while salsa fuels the night life.

Cali has always felt like the grittier stepsister of Medellín, but tucked amid the colonial homes of the barrios of San Antonio or Granada are a number of new jewelry boutiques, low-key cafes and salsotecas teeming with crowds as sexy as any in South America.

Salsa remains Cali’s lifeblood. If the dance floors of Tin Tin Deo or Zaperoco are too full, try La Fuente, a pint-size bar jammed with sweaty students who spill out onto the street most nights. Or, follow the sounds of Latin jazz to Guayusa, just next door. Those with serious salsa chops hitch a cab out of town to the suburb of Juanchito, whose dance floors do not fill up until after midnight (but go in a group, as this section gets dicey at those hours). Also be sure to check out a performance of Delirio, the monthly cabaret that is part Cirque du Soleil, part salsa clinic.

— LIONEL BEEHNER

732 790

1353

1.431

1.320

1474

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Jan-Nov2010

Jan-Nov2011

Variation 2008 – 2009: 10,7% (Includes cruises)-Variation 2009 - 2010: 8,9% (Includes cruises) - Variation Jan - Nov 2010 - Jan - Nov 2011: 10.8%

Source: Proexport

Source: Ministry of trade, Industry and tourism.

In six years, the number of visitors tripled.

While tourism in the word increased 6,7% in

Colombia this trend

increased 8,9% in 2010

Main nationalities of visitors (January - October 2011)

United States 17%, Venezuela 14%, Ecuador 7%, Argentina 6%, Brazil 6%, Peru 6%, Spain 6%

Tourism, 2000 – November 2011Thousand of visitors*

19

The New York Times included Colombia in its list of recommended tourist destinations to visit in 2011.

20

CORPORATE TOURISM

Why not hold an event in Colombia?

Colombia is ready to host world-class events, bringing together thousands of visitors every year. It offers everything from spacious luxury hotels of local and international chains to modern boutique hotels for business, converted farmhouses and tourist inns. There is also a wide range of conventions centres, fairgrounds and meeting rooms with all the logistics needed to make any event a success.

Colombia is internationally known for the organization of events, with innovative ideas that exceed the expectations of corporate visitors. Major local and international events host thousands of visitors – such as the Latin America WEF in 2010, the 50th IDB Governors´ General Assembly in 2009 and the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in 2009, amongst many others.

Colombia is also an active member of ICCA, and for the first time in its history the World Bank´s Doing Business report has ranked Colombia as the best business climate in Latin America.

Colombia offers a wide variety of museums, fairs, festivals, cultural events and good food. As an international destination, Colombia also offers visitors the chance to play golf, with over 50 courses, among the best in Latin America.

Bogotá, Cartagena, the Coffee Triangle, Santander, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla and Santa Marta offer a diversity of destinations, and count with the most modern facilities, as well as history, culture, sports, adventure, ecotourism, sun and sand.

Photo: Colombia, the only risk is wanting to stay Photo: Colombia, the only risk is wanting to stay

21

Cartagena was declared a World Heritage city by UNESCO in 1984, as “Port, Fort and Monumental Group of Cartagena”. UNESCO later declared the Coffee Belt to be part of the “World Cultural Heritage of Mankind”.

Cooperation, A pillar of the Colombian’s foreign policy

23

Cooperation, the tool of Colombia’s foreign policy

International Cooperation is a privileged instrument of foreign policy, which allows Colombia not only to comply with its development objectives, but also to set up new mechanisms and means of understanding and to diversify relations and agendas with other countries and regions.

South-South Cooperation

Under concepts of fairness, trust and joint efforts, Colombia today is recognized as a country that offers knowledge, technical skills, and experience, through South-South and Triangular cooperation.

At the regional level and in order to maximize the impact and effectiveness of cooperation, the country leads and supports programs like the Cooperation Strategy between Colombia and the Caribbean Basin, the International Cooperation Strategy in Comprehensive Security and the Regional Cooperation Program in Central America, which respond to requests from partner countries.

Central America, Caribbean and South American Countries

West Africa and Egypt

24

Bilateral cooperation and official assistance for development

Colombia intends to make a qualitative leap forward to achieve democratic prosperity, and the Government´s main objective in its cooperation policy is to achieve a shift towards technical and financial cooperation and away from the humanitarian assistance for development provided hitherto.This includes a diversification of topics and geography for the agenda of issues such as science, technology, innovation, environment, health, the Frontier Plan for Prosperity, and the Integral Action Plan for 29 municipalities identified as those which require priority attention.

Multilateral Cooperation

1. For the Government, it is of great importance to deepen exercises in planning, coordination, follow-up and evaluation of the cooperation provided by the United Nations System, so that it will be an effective tool, complimentary to and coordinated with the National Development Plan. During 2010 and 2011, progress has been made in the definition, evaluation, alignment and extension of 10 cooperation frameworks with some of the UN Agencies.

2. Humanitarian assistance for disasters. In recent years, Colombia has made donations of some 3,350 t of aid in kind, and provided US$4.3 million of non-reimbursable financial cooperation, along with technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of countries affected by natural disasters. Its interest in the support for the process of reconstruction of Haiti continues.

Colombia wishes to emphasize its very great appreciation of the generosity and solidarity of the International Community in response to the request for aid sent as a result of the massive flooding suffered in 2010-2011. The financial aid received by official cooperation sources totaled US$30.5 million, and 430 t of aid was received in kind.

A country committed to Human Rights

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The firm and unyielding commitment to the defense and promotion of human rights arises from Colombia´s own open, democratic, ethical and human convictions, and not as a result of external considerations. Actions taken respond to the needs for respect and promotion of human rights, dramatically reducing crime and forms of conduct which are the most serious threat to life and to the fundamental rights of Colombians.

The Law of Justice and Peace

President Juan Manuel Santos was invited to the IX Assembly of the States Parties of the International Criminal Court on December 6, 2010 in New York, where he emphasized the “decision to combat impunity in Colombia, and unequivocal support for the International Criminal Court. I have come to assure you that the Government of Colombia has the firmest of will - and I wish to make this most clear- to recognize and materialize the rights of victims to truth, justice and reparation”5.

The process of transitional justice in Colombia, developed by what is known as the “Law of Justice and Peace”, is an unprecedented development. Colombia is the only country to offer comprehensive application of the principles of truth, justice and reparation for the victims of the demobilized illegal armed groups. It aims to i) achieve demobilization, disarmament and reintegration of illegal armed groups, ii) recognize and materialize the rights of victims to truth, justice and reparation, and iii) bring to justice the leaders of the illegal armed groups responsible for atrocities.

5 President Juan Manuel Santos, addressing the IX Assembly of the States Parties to the Court in New York, December 6, 2010

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The Law of Victims and the Restitution of Lands

The Law of Victims and the Restitution of Lands (Law 1448/2011), was signed into the statute book by the President in June 2011, and is projected to be applied over a period of 10 years.

The law seeks to provide full reparation through economic indemnities and the restitution of lands for some 4 million people who have been the victims of armed conflicts since 1985. They represent about 1 million families, including the displaced. Reparation will be given to some 100,000 families each year, that is, some 8,500 families a month or about 350 families every day for the next 10 years. The Government has decided to fund this with an investment of US$ 25,000 million, for implementation.

Human rights defenders

Today, the Colombian Government is promoting a series of initiatives designed to institutionalize an active strategy for the protection and guarantee of human rights defenders.

The National Guarantees Working Group and Regional Guarantees Working Groups. The Government continues with the dynamics of its National Guarantees Working Group and Regional Guarantees Working Groups to offer guarantees for the work of human rights defenders. Since it began in April 2009, the Groups have held 11 Regional Group hearings and four National Group meetings. The mechanism is designed to achieve two purposes: firstly, it establishes direct interaction with social organizations with regard to their needs and guarantees; and secondly, it moves forward in the construction of agreements and commitments to facilitate their work as human rights defenders. The State has acquired 91 commitments in the area of prevention, 61 in protection, and 66 in investigations and trials.

Protection Program for human rights defenders: The Program has an emergency procedure to be followed for the approval of the security measures, and can be adopted by the Director of the Human Rights Program in the Ministry of the Interior. The Program has had its budget strengthened from US$2.5 million in 1999 to more than US$80.5 million in 2011.

Of the 11,715 beneficiaries of the Protection Program, there are 1,650 union members, 1,150 human rights defenders and 489 members of the former political party UP and the Colombian Communist Party PCC, 762 displaced and 230 journalists.

Population directly benefited by protection measures: 1999- April 2011.

Source: Ministry of Interior

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Programa de Protección de Defensores de Derechos Humanos: el Programa cuenta con un trámite de emergencia para la aprobación de las medidas y puede ser adoptado de manera discrecional por la Directora de Derechos Humanos del Ministerio del Interior y de Justicia. El Programa se ha fortalecido presupuestalmente al pasar de USD2.5 millones en 1999 a más de USD80.5 millones en 2011.

De los 11.715 beneficiarios con medidas de protección se destacan: 1.650 sindicalistas, 1.150 defensores de Derechos Humanos, 489 miembros de la UP y del Partido Comunista Colombiano, 762 desplazados y 230 periodistas.

Fuente: Ministerio de Interior y Justícia

Población Beneficiada Directamente con Medidas de Protección

177880

2.354

4.8575.221

5.4465.507

6.097

9.44410.716

11.17910.806

11.715

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 abr-11apr-11

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Colombia, a country of

Prosperity and Democracy

2nd Edition

Ministerio de Relaciones ExterioresRepública de Colombia

Prosperity and Democracy

Colombia, a country of Prosperity a country of Prosperity a country of and

Prosperity and Democracy

Colombia, a country of Prosperity a country of Prosperity a country of and