CPH Post - 2022 Colombia Supplement

COLOMBIA

H.E ANA MARIA PALACIO COLOMBIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK It is an honour to represent my country as the first Ambassador of Colombia to the Kingdom of Denmark. The opening of the embassy in Copenhagen underlines the enormous potential of enhanced Danish-Colombian relations at a time when there are boundless opportunities to learn, share, invest and co-operate.

Colombia is most probably best known in Denmark for its coffee, music, footballers and, thanks partly to the arrival of the Tour de France last week, cyclists.

But how much does the Danish public know about the Spanish speaking democracy’s impressive demographics – could the average person on the street guess its population, for example.

Well, with 51 million inhabitants, it’s the third most populous country in Latin America. Spread across 1,141,748 square km, it’s the world’s 26th biggest country. Not only does it border Panama, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru, but it also has both Atlantic and Pacific coastlines, so it’s bustling with both terraneous and marine biodiversity.

There are more bird, amphibian, butterfly and frog species than anywhere in the world, making Colombia the second most biodiverse country in the world, and number one per square km. From the high peaks of the Andes, which reach 5,730 metres above sea level, to its incredible rivers, paramos, savannas, deserts and, of course, the Amazonian Rainforest, it is also the home to a wide variety of climates.

Colombia’s commitment to the green transition is evident in the numbers. Despite its size, it contributes only 0.4 percent of global emissions and ranks 50th for its Environmental Index Performance. In April, it became the first country in the region to publish a Green Taxonomy. As part of its bid to become carbon-neutral by 2050, its green collaboration with Denmark is crucial, not only in terms of technology but also regulatory framework, as exemplified by the recent offshore wind legal framework established with the help of the Danish Energy Agency.

It’s more evidence that Colombia, following an internal conflict that lasted many decades, is building for the future. As a staunch defender of its democratic values and institutions, it knows only too well that true strength comes from solidarity.

Standing together with other nations, it is more resilient heading into a future in which it hopes the world will discover more of the joys it has to offer.

As the setting for the Disney film ‘Encanto’, the inspiration for Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez’s classic novel ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ and the homeland of Shakira, Colombia is a country of such magic, colour, sounds and natural beauty that visitors can’t help but fall in love with it.

We hope the information presented in these pages will serve as an inspiration to get to know more about our incredible country.

COLOMBIA 2022 SUPPLEMENT

Photo: Hasse Ferrold

Photo: Hasse Ferrold

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Photo: Hasse Ferrold

Colombia is also capitalising on its location at the heart of the Americas economically. An established regional hub, its competitive export platform includes 3,540 maritime routes and 2,400 airline routes that connect Colombia to more than 500 cities around the world, and 121 permanent free trade zones and 70 trade agreements with 65 countries ensure it is accessible to many. As an OECD nation since 2020, its investment potential is ever-growing. It is the number one country in Latin America for entrepreneurs according to the WEF’s 2022 GEM ranking.

Colombia doesn’t just have the second largest labour force in the region, but also a young one.

Some 40 percent of the population are under the age of 24, and 42 percent aged 25-54. And they are ever more middle class and urban, living in one of its 15 cities with a population of over 500,000, and a further 12 with a population of over 250,000. But despite the accelerated growth, a green approach ensures the environment is paramount. Some 14 BiodiverseCities integrate local diversity with economic development.

IN ORBIT TOGETHER THE COLOMBIAN AIR FORCE DID NOT HESITATE WHEN IT CHOSE AALBORG-BASED GOMSPACE TO HELP IT LAUNCH ITS SECOND SATELLITE LATER THIS YEAR

It’s fitting therefore that when Colombia launched its second satellite in November 2018 from the from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in India, the FACSAT-1 advanced nanosatellite platform, it did so in collaboration with GomSpace, a Danish manufacturer and supplier of cubesat and small satellite solutions for customers in the academic, government and commercial markets.

While Colombia’s 2007 satellite was an academic endeavour -built by the Space Program of the Universidad Sergio Arboleda in Bogota, it ended up surpassing its 50-day lifespan expectancy by years – in 2018, the second satellite launch was very much government-endorsed.

To this day, the FACSAT-1 satellite is still operated by Fuerza Aérea Colombiana (FAC), the Colombian air force. And it’s been so successful that the Colombians have returned for a second helping.

ALL ACCORDING TO PLAN GomSpace’s 770,000 US dollar contract to facilitate the FACSAT-2 satellite mission, along with a related intensive virtual technology transfer programme, was disclosed on 30 October 2020. The contract included the design, development, testing and operation of the nanosatellite.

A little over a year later, in December 2021, GomSpace signed a second contract with FAC, this time worth 667,000 US dollars, to continue with the partnership up to and including the anticipated launch in late 2022.

Photo: Hasse Ferrold

Colombia’s first satellite was launched in 2007 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome – a launchpad that grabbed Danish headlines in 2015 when Andrea Mogensen left Kazakhstan vertically on his way to becoming his country’s first man in space.

Colombian Ambassador Ana Maria Palacio (centre right) with Colombian Air Force representatives (left to right): system engineer MY Juan Manuel Cardenas Garcia and lieutenant colonels TC Sonia Ruth Rincon Urbina and TC Jorge Giovanni Jimenez Sanchez

In December, it was confirmed that GomSpace has successfully implemented phase A/B/C of the FACSAT-2 mission. The new contract covers Phase D/E, which will include the integration and validation phase of FACSAT2, transfer of knowledge, LEOP, and mission operations implementation.

It is contended that the resolution of the FACSAT-2 will be far greater than the FACSAT-1, enabling the satellite to monitor all sorts of activities in Colombia, from the movement of tectonic plates and high contamination zones to instances of deforestation and illegal mining.

GLOWING REPORTS A FAC team led by Captain German Darío Sáenz have been present at the GomSpace Headquarters in Aalborg since August 2021, working closely in the preliminary design activities and continued capacity building of the FACSAT2 project.

The aim has been to gain comprehensive knowledge about the different phases of the project and to be part

of the completion of the satellite – and the message coming through so far is ‘Mission Accomplished’!

“It has been a great pleasure to get to know the team and to meet them on a daily basis, here at our global headquarters in Denmark. We look forward to the upcoming #launch,” GomSpace wrote on LinkedIn in mid-June.

“This new contract with the Colombian Air Force shows the value GomSpace is providing to customers seeking to gain technological competence while building their own space capacity,” added Niels Buus, the CEO of GomSpace. “We are very pleased to have the Colombian Air Force as a returning customer.”

Meanwhile, Colombia has been underlining its further ambition by using a temporary ground station in Antarctica with a view to establishing a satellite command and control station in the Antarctic Territory.

This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

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GREEN

FRIENDS HOW DENMARK IS SUPPORTING COLOMBIA’S GREEN TRANSITION: A NEW BILATERAL AGREEMENT HAS BOLSTERED COLOMBIA’S EFFORTS TO LEAVE NON-RENEWABLES BEHIND

By AMY THORPE As the worsening climate crisis forces the world to transition to green energy, expertise from the pioneering country of Denmark is in high demand.

This is why the government recently launched the Danish Energy Transition Initiative (DETI), a scheme that aims to help partnered countries lower their carbon emissions through innovative technology and policy-making.

Having faced barriers to achieving this independently in the past, Colombia is among the first nations to be benefitting.

A GLOBAL PROBLEM AFTER ALL …

DETI is headed by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities. It includes individual consultancy projects lasting between 3 and 12 months in Colombia, among other developing countries. It is a supplement to Denmark’s existing 16 existing energy collaborations, which symbolise the country’s continued dedication to international climate action.

“We know that climate change is hitting the world's poorest and most vulnerable people the hardest,” said the minister for development aid, Flemming Møller Mortensen.

“Global warming has more serious consequences in poorer countries than in our part of the world.

Therefore, it makes good sense for us to help countries limit CO2 emissions. The green transition is crucial for us to achieve our international development and climate ambitions.”

THE CURRENT SITUATION Approximately 75 percent of Colombia’s energy came from fossil fuels in 2020, according to BP’s Statistical Review of World Energy, and nearly 80,000 kilotonnes of CO2 were emitted in 2018 based on World Bank data. Colombia anticipates a significant increase in electricity consumption by 2030, raising the stakes regarding its ongoing transition to renewables.

On the upside, Colombia has massive potential for wind energy – an estimated 109 GW in total, largely concentrated on the Caribbean coast. Wind has therefore been one of the main focuses of the country’s collaboration with Denmark, even though there are challenges, such as the high cost of construction and the complicated process of obtaining project permits.

However, some progress has been made. In line with the goals of DETI, Colombia’s coastal city of Barranquilla signed an agreement with Danish offshore wind developer Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners in March. If construction goes to plan, the wind farm will have a capacity of 350 MW and will be the first offshore wind farm in South America when it is completed in 2026.

WHAT’S NEXT? As outlined in its 2020 Nationally Determined Contribution, Colombia hopes to cut emissions by 51 percent by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050.

Given the recent election of Colombia’s first leftist president, Gustavo Petro, more environmentallyfriendly legislation is likely to come in the next four years. “In our government, the generation of renewable energies will be accelerated, and technologies that allow the development of the potential of wind and solar energy will be promoted,” said Petro.

With hope, the country’s participation in DETI will provide the government with the necessary tools to carry out its green transition smoothly.

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STAUNCH PORK SUPPORT SINCE STARTING A COLLABORATION WITH THE DANISH PORCINE INDUSTRY IN 2016, COLOMBIA’S PIG PRODUCTION HAS DOUBLED

By BENEDICTE WAGNER Dense jungle, lush grassland, snow-covered mountains, and tropical beaches. They can all be found in Colombia – along with some of the most fertile farmland on Earth.

Add in the country’s diverse but temperate climate, and Colombia’s productive potential is as high as any nation in the region.

Colombian farmers are taking advantage. In recent years, the country’s food and agricultural industry has experienced tremendous growth. From coffee to cocoa to corn, Colombia’s exports are on the rise.

In addition to its traditional crops, however, Colombia is today turning its attention to a more ‘live’ product: pigs. And, in the development of its porcine industry, its collaboration with Denmark has played a key role.

PORK ON THE RISE Denmark is known for producing and exporting highquality food and agricultural products, and pork is one of its most lucrative agrarian endeavours. The country produces 28 million pigs annually and, in 2020, it exported 3.2 billion dollars’ worth of pork.

With Colombia’s intake of pork nearly doubling in the last eight years, Denmark is the perfect partner to help Colombia invest in the development of its own pork industry.

In the past, Colombians have been discouraged from eating pork – mainly due to fears of diseases and parasites – but improved quality and safety standards have helped propel per capita consumption of the meat from 4.8 kg in 2010 to a projected 14 kg in 2022.

With the rise, pork consumption has overtaken that of beef – an impressive feat considering Colombia’s cattle herd is the fourth largest in South America, not to mention the country is known for its distinct brand of cowboys, Llaneros, who oversee these herds on vast ranges of land.

PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP Co-operation between Denmark and Colombia is one

key factor explaining the remarkable growth of the Latin American country’s pork industry. The partnership, which began in 2016 and is managed on the Danish side by the Danish Veterinary and Food Agency, has focused largely on improving health and safety.

Collaboration efforts have involved both direct technical assistance and scientific technical exchange, helping both countries farm pigs more sustainably, as well as offer higher quality products to their citizens.

In Colombia, where the safety of the products and the environmental impacts of the production methods have been the biggest barriers to the growth of this agricultural sector, improvements made thanks to Danish-Colombian co-operation are poised to continue the expansion of Colombian pork in the global market.

NOT JUST PIGS According to Food Nation Denmark, a public-private partnership between the Danish government and leading food companies, “the ability to innovate and collaborate across companies, academia and public institutions have defined Denmark’s agriculture and food sector.”

Innovation and collaboration are now defining Colombia’s agriculture and food sector as well.

Separate from the national pig farming partnership, for example, Food Nation has worked with Colombia to develop the Colombia Shopping Line – an initiative to build bridges between Danish exporters and Colombian companies.

Focusing on the meat industry, the project also involved co-operation with the Confederation of Danish Industry, the Danish Agriculture and Food Council, Denmark’s Export Agency and the Embassy of Denmark in Colombia.

Building on the success of the pig farming partnership, this continued co-operation between the two countries in the agricultural sphere has shown the immense value and potential of Danish-Colombian relations.

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REACHING FOR THE SKY FROM THE MOUNTAIN PASSES THAT FAR EXCEED THOSE CYCLED IN THE TOUR DE FRANCE, TO THE QUARTER-FINALS OF THE 2014 WORLD CUP, COLOMBIA HAS REALLY MADE A NAME FOR ITSELF IN SPORTING ARENAS IN RECENT YEARS

By JARED PAOLINO Sport is a crucial source of strength to the Colombian people – an unfailing point of pride.

How did you find the experience of coming to Denmark for the first time?

As in Denmark, football is far and away the most popular sport in Colombia. However, the country is also home to passionate fans of cycling, boxing, baseball, basketball and skating – to name but a few (see below).

I felt calm but already eager to contribute to the team that believed in me.

FEMALE SUCCESS In line with the emergence of a modern Colombia, increasing numbers of young women are also making their mark in the sporting world.

One such example is BMX racer Mariana Pajón, a two-time Olympic gold medallist at the 2012 and 2016 games. She has won the world championship an amazing 14 times. Another is Leydi Solís, a silver medallist at the 2008 games in the 69 kilo category.

DANISH DEBUT IN TOUR Danes tend to associate Colombian sport with the silky skills of their footballers or the enviable staying power of their mountain-climbing cyclists.

In late June, for the majority of Colombia’s top cycling stars, it was their first visit to Denmark when they arrived to prepare for the Grant Depart of the Tour de France from July 1-3.

ALREADY HERE However, one of their countrymen has already been here six months, since being loaned out by América de Cali to Danish Superliga club FC Midtjylland in February.

Name: Pablo Ortíz Age: 22 Hometown: Tumaco Favorite player: Antonio Rüdiger

WORLD’S TOP LEAGUE During ‘El Dorado’ (1949-54) Colombia had the world’s most lucrative league. High wages enabled each club to focus on one country, to the extent that each team was almost a national eleven. But it did not translate into success for Colombia until 1990 when it participated in the first of three successive World Cups, climaxing with their first Copa América tille in 2001. A new generation then made it to the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup – their best ever showing.

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CONTINENT’S BEST CYCLING At this year’s Tour de France, Colombia is the only South American country represented.

Over the years, it has produced several world-class cyclists – most notably Egan Bernal, the 2019 Tour de France and 2021 Giro d'Italia winner. In total it has five Grand Tour titles, placing it eighth on the all-time list. The gruelling Vuelta a Colombia is considered one of the world’s toughest cycling races, and Bogotá – the capital – is ranked the 12th best cycling city in the world.

CPH POST caught up with centre back Pablo Ortíz to find out more about his experience in Denmark thus far.

#1 ON ROLLER-SKATES Colombia is the world’s leading nation at speed roller skating.

In fact, there is no sport that Colombia dominates as much as this one. The national team is a perennial juggernaut at the World Roller Speed Skating Championships and has won the overall title nine times in the past 12 years. At the 2021 World Championships, the team took home 31 medals overall, including 15 golds. The next best performing team, France, came away with 13 medals in total.

Now that you've been here for a few months, how are you enjoying life in Denmark?

The lifestyle is very different: more modern.

Colombia is known for having some of the most passionate football fans in the world. How do Danish fans compare?

I don't see much difference. I like how the Danish fans feel about football: they’re passionate like the Colombians.

Colombia is known for its success in other sports as well – cycling, skating, boxing etc – are you a fan of any other sports?

I like tennis.

Do you feel Danish fans are knowledgeable about Colombian football?

Yes, they know the Colombian football players.

They know what qualities they have, but also what they’re lacking.

What's your favourite thing about living in Denmark?

The security and tranquillity.

What role did football play in your life growing up?

I have been practising it since I was five years old, but there I only saw it as a hobby. As I grew older I began to see it as a lifestyle.

What do you think sport means to the Colombian people?

Sport in Colombia is a way to get ahead and help your family.

USEFUL IN THE RING The Colombians have in recent times become well known for their electrifying performances in the ring. Antonio ‘Kid Pambele’ Cervantes opened the floodgates when he became a light welterweight world champ in 1972, and boxers like Prudencio Cardona, Rodrigo Valdéz and Fidel Bassa followed admirably in his footsteps. More recent successes include Yuberjen Martinez winning silver in the light flyweight division at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

SECRET NATIONAL SPORT The official national sport of Colombia doesn’t take place in a stadium or a ring – and you probably haven’t heard of it. It’s called tejo, a simple game in which players hurl weighted steel discs called ‘tejos’ toward a metal ring rigged with gunpowderstuffed pouches that explode on impact. Nowadays, it’s most oſten played informally – and aſter a few beers – but it’s also played by amateur and professional teams from the major cities and some smaller towns.

VISIT COLOMBIA! WITH ITS BEAUTIFUL BEACHES, RESPLENDENT RAINFORESTS AND LIVELY CITIES, THE COUNTRY IS AS DIVERSE AS THEY COME

By LARA BODGER Visit Colombia and you will be bowled over by the incredible diversity that the country has to offer.

From tropical beaches and more than 50 national parks, to the Amazon Rainforest and the lively cities of Cartagena and Medellin, it caters to both adventurous travellers and beachwear pleasure-seekers.

SANTA MARTA Santa Marta is the gateway to Tayrona National Park’s tropical beaches and lush vegetation ideal for hiking. If you fancy catching the sunrise, there are hammock and camping options aplenty, or you could opt to visit for the day and stay at one of the many hostels within Santa Marta, where the Dreamer Hostel is a great choice. Visit La Ciudad Perdida, an indigenous sacred site older than Machu Picchu, via a five-day hike into the heart of the jungle.

FRIENDLY PEOPLE Colombians are known for their hospitable nature, and visits to the country are oſten lifeaffirming. Knowing a few words of Spanish is always a bonus!

The country is vast, so whilst it’s near impossible to experience everything on offer, here are our top five recommendations for a taste of Colombia’s rich beauty and history.

Barranquilla Carnival

BOGOTÁ The vibrant capital has great nightlife and a thriving food scene, along with a cooler climate compared to other parts of the country. Soak up culture at Museo del Oro, the gold museum, and the signature style work of the country’s most celebrated artist, Fernando Botero, at the museum that bears his name.

Sample Colombian craſt beer at Bogota Beer Company and, if you’re visiting on a Sunday, head to the Usaquen flea market for souvenirs.

SALENTO Salento is a small town in the heart of Colombia’s coffee region: the ideal base to explore the nearby Cocoro Valley, the home of the tallest palm trees in the world. Stay at La Serrana, an idyllic hilltop farm outside of Salento, for beautiful views across the valley. And take a tour to a local coffee farm and learn, from bean to cup, how coffee is made.

CARTAGENA Rich with Afro-Colombian culture and brightly painted ornate houses that make the Old Town a Unesco World Heritage Site, Cartagena is one of Colombia’s most beautiful cities. Eat at La Cevicheria, a tucked-away dinner spot that is well worth the hype.

In the morning, head to Epoca Espresso Bar for the best brunch and artisanal coffee in town.

Cartagena

Caño Cristales

Plaza Botero

MEDELLIN Take the Metrocable car to Parque Avi for breathtaking views across this thriving and modern city, and then take a free walking tour courtesy of the Real City Tour Company. Cool off with a cold brew coffee at Pergamino Cafe in the trendy neighbourhood of El Poblado.

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Experience a world under the seven seas and enjoy a close encounter with majestic hammerhead sharks and elegant rays at Northern Europe’s largest and most modern aquarium.

Get your tickets at www.denblaaplanet.dk 8

COLOMBIA 2022 SUPPLEMENT