No 21
Photo: Mario Carvajal
FOR A WORLD FULL OF CHALLENGES, COLOMBIA OFFERS IT SOLUTIONS
Since last 22 June, ten Colombian companies from the Information Technology sector -IT- attended the EXPRO SEMINAR in the Netherlands for one week. During the seminar, the companies went to the "Value Chain Analysis" program, launched by the Centre of Promotion of Importation from Developing Countries -CBI- in association with Colombian entities such as PROCOLOMBIA, INNPULSA and FEDESOFT. The IT sector is a priority for our national government since it generates investment flows of more than $643,2 US million dollars through approximately 149 foreign projects. The industry also offers to our Colombian companies options in the European market .
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The aim of this seminar was to collect enough information that allows these companies to identify the main opportunities and bottlenecks in the Colombian exportation value chain on IT. In addition, the companies were also able to contact with importers of the European Union/ European Free Trade Association (EU/EFTA) that will help our SMEs to do business in the European market. More information: http://colombiabringiton.procolombia .co/en#/for_a_world_full_of_demandi ng_challenges_colombia_offers_a_wo rld_full_of_it_solutions_
STRIVING FOR GREEN GROWTH IN OUR CITIES! THE MISSIONS FOR WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTINUES regions of Colombia to create business opportunities. In this sense, the technologies and visions of the institutions and companies in the Netherlands represents an asset to help Colombia achieve this goal.
On 16 June, the Ambassador of Colombia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands welcomed the Colombian delegation with members of the public and private sectors from different regions of the country. During one week, the delegation received a training on effective ​water and waste management in Dutch cities. The delegation concluded the first day with a networking event with Dutch entrepreneurs at the Colombian Embassy. The Colombian Government is focusing its efforts towards green growth by promoting an economic development that is friendly to the environment, and to halt the depletion of natural resources in order to guarantee the welfare of current and future generations of Colombia. Thus, investment and innovation must aim for sustainable growth in the cities and reg
The mission had a wide participation from various entities and regions in order to break the gap among them to reach a common pattern and level of development. Among the participants of the Mission were: the Ministry of Housing, City and Territory; the Government of Cundinamarca; the National Guarantees Fund -Findeter-; the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development; the National Planning Department -DNP-; the Regulatory Commission for Drinking and Basic Sanitation –CRA-; the Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering ACODAL-; the Cerrejon Foundation; the public entities of Medellin; Aqueduct of Magdalena; the Metropolitan Aqueduct of Bucaramanga. It is important to mention that trainings on water and waste management have also been promoted to Dutch companies and public entities by having various meetings and conferences with high impact in Colombia, as well as the sign of Memorandums of Understanding between both countries.
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TENIS QUE CUENTAN LA HISTORIA DE COLOMBIA DESDE OTRO ANGULO
On 5 June, a delegation from the Embassy and Consulate of Colombia to the Netherlands attended the launch event of the Colombian sneakers made by the Dutch company SYOU. These sneakers were made in Colombia with our national materials and talents. The Colombian sneakers promote the image of our country abroad by showing the good quality of the product and excellent hand work with creative designs.
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According to Merijn Ten Thije, a partner of the company, "if you buy Colombian SYOU and someone asks you about them (happens often), you will tell the story and you will end up talking about Colombia, starting from a pair of shoes”. More information: • https://vimeo.com/98047555 • https://vimeo.com/101481908
UNIVERSITIES OF COLOMBIA PARTICIPATED AT THE V IBERO-AMERICAN WEEK OF INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE The last Spanish version of the yearly International Criminal Court moot court competition took place in The Hague between 1 and 5 June, in the context of the V Ibero-American Week of International Justice. During the contest, twenty teams participated: 2 from Argentina, 1 from Brazil, 2 from Chile, 6 from Colombia –University of Cauca, Rosario University, Grand Colombia University, National University, Santo Tomas University and Sergio Arboleda University-, 1 from Costa Rica, 5 from Spain, 2 from Mexico and 1 from Venezuela. The University of Buenos Aires was the winner, while the second and third places were held, respectively, by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (Brazil) and the National University of Colombia. Sonia Lorena Russi Noguera, from the National University of Colombia, was awarded as the best speaker.
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The Ibero-American Week is an academic event led by professor Héctor Olásolo, a Rosario University faculty member. The event was organized by The Hague IberoAmerican Institute for Peace, Human Rights and International Justice with the institutional support of the International Criminal Court, The Hague University for Applied Sciences, the Grotius Center for International Studies, the T.M.C. Asser Institute, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court and the Ibero-American General Secretariat. For more information, please visit the website: http://www.iberoamericaninstituteofth ehague.org/es/actividades/semanaiberoamericana-de-la-justiciainternacional-y-los-derechos-humanos
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OUTSTANDING PRESENTATION OF MAITE HONTELÉ AND HER SALSA GROUP IN THE HAGUE
Under the Promotion Plan of Colombia Abroad of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Colombia joined the tour in the Netherlands of the well-known DutchColombian trumpeter, Maite Hontelé and her Colombian band. The tour started on 4 June at the Paard van Troje theater in The Hague with an outstanding salsa concert, in which diplomatic members and private sector in the Netherlands joined. Maite and her band delighted the public with their music full of Colombian and other Latin American rhythms. Maite, who lives in Medellin – Colombia, have been touring in France, Germany, Spain, Surinam, Oman, Kazakstan, Aruba, South Korea, Aruba, India and Israel. She was guestplayer with famous artists such as Buenavista Social Club, Oscar D’León and Rubén Blades.
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Her musical production includes “Llegó la mona” y “Mujer sonora” albums, as well as “Déjame Así”, her single that helped her to be nominated for the Latin Grammy’s Awards in the category of Best Salsa Album in 2014. In June she launched her new album “Te Voy a Querer” with the single “Me da Igual”. Maite and her band continue touring until 17 June promoting this important sample of the Colombian musical culture in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The tour includes the following cities: The Hague, Groningen, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Nijmegen, Haarlem and Terschelling.
THE NATIONAL POLICE OF COLOMBIA HOSTED THE XXXII INTERNATIONAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE (IDEC) Colombia was the host country of the XXXII International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) for the second time. During the four days, Cartagena de Indias received the top Drug Enforcement authorities worldwide from 127 countries, among them was the DEA Administrator and the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The objective of the conference was to search new strategies to counter the global challenge of illicit drug trafficking. More information: http://portal.policia.gov.co/es-co/Noticias/Lists/Noticias2014II/Mostrar.aspx?ID=3099
Colombian citizens abroad can also benefit from the virtual offers of the National Learning Services (SENA), which has six technological careers and two
specializations on high technological education, as well as ten English levels and more than 300 programs of complementary academic programs. These programs are free and can be done through internet and will receive a certificate once is completed. Registrations can be done in the SENA website: www.senasofiaplus.edu.co. http://www.cbi.u/About%2520CBI/subweb/inte grated-country-programme-colombia-/294359
specializations
Colombian citizens abroad can also apply to ICETEX Scholarships. More information: http://www.colombianosune.com/noticia/becasicetex-junio-162015?_mrMailingList=403&_mrSubscriber=341463
Newsletter No. 8 of Colombia Nos Une: http://redescolombia.consultorpc.com/mailing/18092004/403.html?t=5051404359090758564307505e0e01655959075303 0c0904005c050a03500800544a180b01515957460e00010b
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EVENTS
JUANES TOUR IN EUROPE Juanes will delight the European public with his tour “Loco de amor” with a concert in Amsterdam on Sunday, 12 July, at Paradiso. The successful Colombian artist, winner of two Grammy and 20 Latin Grammy, returns to Europe with his new album “Juntos” and will share stage with high profile artist like Robbie Williams, Lenny Kravitz, Raphael and Elton Jon. The dates of Juanes concerts in Europe are the following: London, 3 July; Berlin, 5 July; Hamburg, 7 July; Oberhausen, 8 July; Paris, 9 July; Bree, 11 July; Amsterdam, 12 July; Milan, 15 July; Locarno, 16 July; Freiburg, 18 July; Madrid, 24 July and Barcelona, 25 July. Do not miss it! More information: http://www.paradiso.nl/web/Agenda-Item/Juanes.htm
The Tall Training Ship of the Colombian Navy, ARC “GLORIA”, will participate in the ninth edition at one of the most attractive sailing events of the world, SAIL AMSTERDAM, from the 19th to the 23rd of August 2015. More information: https://www.sail.nl/en2015/ships-sail2015/participatingtallships/arcgloria?lpg=5963
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