Colombia
The original report was published in the USA Today on Wednesday, July 20, 2011
 Presidents Santos and Obama met in April 2011 to discuss cooperation between the two nations in security, economic and social issues Colombia and the United States have built a strong, long-standing relationship based upon respect, cooperation, and common goals.
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Colombia’s President is engaged in global efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change, and is also working with other nations to improve multinational understanding in
the r
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Ricardo Triana of the Council of American Enterprises points out that economic stability has defined and distinguished Colombia amidst the global economic crisis
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Colombia’s financial solidity since the beginning of the millennium has positioned it well to play a more important role nationally as well as internationally
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The turbulent events Colombia has witnessed in the past few decades, while giving off a negative image in the international arena, have in turn made the country more self-sufficient in many ways.
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Grupo Aviatur is eager to lead Colombia as the world’s next favorite tourist destination
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Exciting changes are in the air for Grupo Bolivar, one of Colombia’s key financial groups
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Since 1921 Inversiones Mundial (IM) has actively participated in wholesale commerce – bringing commercial and industrial development to all corners of Colombia, expanding operations to a global
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 Luz Mary Guerrero, Co-founder and President of Servientrega Starting from the ground up, Servientrega is more than a mere courier service
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 Goods and services exports from the U.S. to Colombia in 2010 amounted to $12 billion Since 2006, when the free trade agreement (FTA) was signed with the United States, Colombia has been on the verge of entering into the biggest market in the world
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Colombia has embarked on a plan to expand technology infrastructure and Internet usage, especially among businesses and rural communities, through greater fiber-optic networks
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Colombia is becoming a popular new base for business process outsourcing (BPO) and contact centers
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From biology and medicine to anthropology to technology, companies enjoy a conducive environment for innovation
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SENA focuses on preparing Colombians to work in the country’s most important existing economic sectors, while at the same time keeping an eye on the technologies and needs of the future
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The San Vicente de Paul Hospital has a century-long history of attending to the healthcare needs of those in need, as well as to those of paying patients
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Investments in water and sanitation infrastructure will be focused on society’s most vulnerable and initiatives launched to reduce Colombia’s exposure to climate change
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Now under way, the Social Business Responsibility project aims to meet the basic needs of the population and protect the environment
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Covering around 33% of the country but only 1% of its population, the region consists mostly of traditional indigenous tribes and is a gem for those with a spirit of adventure
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 The massive eastern plains are also suitable for extensive ranching The huge Orinoco River forms part of the border between Colombia and Venezuela and is flanked by huge plains rich in flora and fauna
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 Rainfall has been known to exceed 523 inches in one year The area boasts diverse geography, unique ecosystems and unexploited natural resources
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 Colombia has a culture rich with literature and has been the cradle of great writers such as Novelist and Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Ga It is difficult to encompass all of what Colombian culture is, as the culture is as diverse as its ethnic populations
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Centelsa’s five state-of-the-art production plants have supplied cable to multiple energy and telecom companies internationally and provide invaluable community support
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 The Cali Tower in Cali, Cauca Valley Department’s capital city The department is home to blossoming high-tech industries
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We have witnessed in all international communication media that Latin America is deemed as a priority for the US government. Let us talk about this strategic approach of the Obama administration for Colombia.
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 Gabriel Silva Lujan, Ambassador of Colombia to the u.s. Human rights, democracy, energy, technology, and social and economic development are listed in the new agenda between the U.S. and Colombia
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In Juan Manuel Santos’ 2010 presidential inaugural speech he promised to pass a land restitution law to return stolen lands and to help the victims of violence
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Between 2001 and 2007, the Colombian Stock Exchange grew fourteen-fold, and it has embarked on a project that unites the Peruvian, Chilean and Colombian markets
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Famed for its fine coffee beans, Colombia’s varied terrain and climate make it ideal for a wide range of crops
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Business entrepreneur Carlos Mattos linked up with Hyundai, taking the Korean brand to unforeseen heights
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Olimpica is an excellent example of how one man can turn a family business into a mega-business
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Juan Valdez is synonymous with a good ‘cup of Joe’. The company behind the growing international chain of Juan Valdez Cafes, Procafecol S.A., is less famous yet no less important
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 Carlos Piedrahita, President of Grupo Nutresa Grupo Nutresa’s international growth means high quality treats for a larger market
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 Luis Carlos Sarmiento Gutierrez, President, and Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo, CEO of Grupo Aval Owned by Colombians, Grupo Aval is spreading its reach throughout the region
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 Maria Claudia Lacouture, President of Proexport Colombia’s economy is on the rise giving foreign investors many reasons to be a part of its growth and Proexport is helping investors get the most out of its free trade zones
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The government is incentivizing the private sector to help Colombia extend its digital infrastructure and bring in new technologies and software
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 From R&D, education and business to art, culture and music, Colombian talent impresses on a global scale According to the President, Colombia is a ‘born entrepreneur’ but the nation also excels in the arts
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Six years ago the founders of Corbic seized the opportunity to advance innovation in cardioneurovascular healthcare
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Colombia’s excellent healthcare system has been applauded by the World Health Organization and its affordable prices are luring in patients from abroad
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 Dr. Fernando Pedroza and Dr. Lina Valero, Directors of Clinica La Font Clinica La Font has grown from a clinic to a medical complex devoted to beauty and health, and the country’s only ISO-certified cosmetic surgery organization
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 Maria Fernanda Mejia, President of MAC MAC is the leading battery manufacturer in Colombia. Created in 1957, it now has close to 54% of the national battery market and 91.5% of MAC batteries come from the original battery assembly lines
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From soaking up the sun on virgin beaches to diving into a rich variety of cultures to getting drenched in one of the wettest places on Earth, Colombia has so much to whet the appetite of the adventur
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 Well-preserved Cartagena de Indias was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1984 The Caribbean region of Colombia is on the northern coast, next to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and by the Andes mountain range, making for some of the most unique landscapes
in the world
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 Colombia’s islands appeal to tourists looking for somewhere unique Various groups of small coastal islands in both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea make up the Insular Region
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 Environmental conditions in the tierra templada (temperate land) make it the most arable and populous part of Colombia’s Andean region The Andean region is home to the majority of people in the country and is its most economically active
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Located in southwestern Colombia, the Department of Cauca Valley is one of the country’s most pristine places
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The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 grew Buenaventura’s status as a port city, and today investors are contributing to consolidate the port’s relevance in global trade
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 The private and public sectors have joined in environmental and social projects Cauca Valley has several initiatives underway to improve quality of life for its residents
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LOCATION:
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama
CAPITAL:
Bogota
AREA - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
CLIMATE:
tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.3%
industry: 38%
services: 52.7% (2010 est.)
AGRICULTURE - products:
coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp
INDUSTRIES:
textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
EXPORTS:
$40.24 billion (2010 est.)
EXPORTS - commodities:
petroleum, coffee, coal, nickel, emeralds, apparel, bananas, cut flowers
EXPORTS - partners:
US 42%, EU 12.6%, China 5.2%, Ecuador 4.5% (2010 est.)
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