Agriculture Commissioner EU trade options known Colombian Pacific
The visit of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Union (EU), Phil Hogan, to Colombia for 8 and 9 February, is used to analyze closely the agricultural investment opportunities in the country, according to the European Office in Bogota. Hogan is accompanied by about 40 businessmen and trade representatives of the Old Continent and has already met with the president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos and Colombian ministers of Agriculture, Aurelio Iragorri Valencia, and Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Cecilia Alvarez-Correa.
The EU delegation also participates in Cali, capital of the agribusiness department of Valle del Cauca, in the forum “trade and investment opportunities between the Colombian Pacific and the European Union: Partners for sustainable agricultural comprehensive development,” the EU said in a statement.
The forum, organized by the regional government, the purpose of the trip to Colombia, where the commissioner and entrepreneurs are between Sunday and Tuesday, as well as Mexico, from 10 to 12 February, is to help European producers open new markets in these countries, which offer a “huge potential”, particularly Spanish companies, Hogan explained Thursday in a meeting with journalists. And the European Union, “seeks to promote opportunities for trade in agriculture between the EU and Colombia under the agreement” free trade between them.
“Commissioner Hogan’s visit to Colombia is an example of the importance of both trade relations and the EU commitment to rural and agricultural development in Colombia and especially with the departments that make up the Pacific region, which will play a role essential in the post-conflict “, said the ambassador of the EU in Colombia, Ana Paula Zacarias, referring to the peace process with the FARC guerrilla group.
According to ProColombia, the government agency that promotes non-traditional exports, tourism, investment and the country brand, 49 micro department of Valle del Cauca began exporting for the first time the EU after the entry into force of the agreement, in 2013.
The meeting will include a business conference with the participation of businessmen and Colombian and European Union representatives, particularly related to the sectors of processed foods, meats, dairy, fruits and liqueurs.
The EU delegation in Colombia said that between January and October 2015 the Colombian agricultural exports grew 22% to 1.700 billion euros (1.841 million dollars).
The purpose of the trip to Colombia, as Mexico from 10 to 12 February, is to help European producers to enter new markets in these countries, which offer a “huge potential”, particularly Spanish companies, explained Hogan. Regarding Colombia, the purpose of the trip is to bring greater value to the trade agreement with the EU, while in Mexico you want to update the existing agreement from 1997.
Besides eight Spanish companies, will form part of the companies in Germany, France, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Poland, Portugal and the United Kingdom delegation.
Source: EFE
