Foreign Minister Mondino arrived today in Bogotá, capital of the Republic of Colombia, for a two-day official visit to the country, during which she will have a busy schedule of meetings with political authorities and representatives from the business community.
On the first day, the Foreign Minister held a luncheon at the Residency of the Argentine Ambassador with CEOs and other executives from Argentine companies established in Colombia, such as Mercado Libre, Techint Group (controller of Tenaris, Ternium and Tecpetrol), Direct TV Colombia and Siegfried (local name of Roemmers Group).
In this context, the Foreign Minister and the executives discussed the importance of the commercial relationship between the two countries and the existing business and investment opportunities. They also exchanged their views on the growth prospects for their respective sectors and on the Foreign Ministry’s work to promote Argentina’s exports.
In Colombia, Mercado Libre employs 4500 workers and expects to have over 5500 employees soon. The Techint Group, the main steel manufacturer and supplier of pipes for the local oil industry, has been operating in the Colombian market for over 40 years. Siegfried, one of the main companies in the Colombian pharmaceutical sector, employs nearly 1000 workers and has a total investment of over USD 200 million, while Direct TV Colombia leads in communications and digital entertainment at the local level.
After the luncheon, the Foreign Minister visited the Argentine Embassy, where she toured the facilities and met the staff. At the end of the work day, the Foreign Minister presided over the celebration of the Malbec World Day, organized by the Embassy together with Hilton Hotel Bogotá, at which, before a number of attendees, she referred to the sustained growth in the demand for Argentine wines in Colombia and the rest of the world, and highlighted the diversity and quality of Argentina’s supply.
The next items on the Foreign Minister’s agenda for tomorrow are a meeting with her Colombian counterpart, Luis Gilberto Murillo, and working meetings at the UN and OAS Peacekeeping Missions in Colombia.
