March 31, 2016- Press Releases -
Ibero-American Film Showcase Takes Center Stage at Colombian Embassy
For more information on the Showcase, including the screening schedule, showtimes and tickets, as well as to RSVP, click here
» Read More
February 23, 2016- Press Releases -
Media Note: Ambassador Pinzón in Global Symposium on Combatting Terrorism
Washington, DC – This morning, Colombian Ambassador to the United States Juan Carlos Pinzón kicked off the second Global SOF Symposium, a forum focused on the international fight against terrorism and the role of Special Operations Forces (SOF). The theme of this year’s symposium is “Achieving SOF Interoperability” and the Ambassador’s address focused on the evolution and transformation of the Special Forces of Colombia when he served as Minister of Defense.
“It is very important for Colombia to show the world that the transformation of our military forces and police are today being studied worldwide as an example of how to increase military capabilities. The men and women of our Armed Forces are being recognized for all the sacrifices they have made and work they have done in Colombia’s search for peace. They are the soldiers and police who now have the world’s oldest guerrilla group sitting at a negotiating table to bring an end to a more than 50-year conflict,” said Ambassador Pinzón.
The symposium, being held today through Thursday in Tampa Bay, FL, includes leaders and international speakers who are a part of the global special operations community. The purpose of the Global SOF Foundation is to take a look into the future, collecting the expertise and experiences of governments, military, industry, academia and media.
In addition to the Ambassador, participants include U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict Michael Lumpkin; Deputy Minister of Defence for Lithuania Marijus Velička; Peter Bergen, CNN National Security Analyst; and Catherine Herridge, FOX News Intelligence and Counter-terrorism Correspondent; among others.
Represented at the symposium are 26 countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Yemen and Nigeria, as well as NATO allies Lithuania, the United Kingdom and France. The symposium includes working sessions covering various topics – “War Next Generation,” “Fight Night” and the current problems of safety at sea in southern and eastern China.
To learn more about the symposium, please visit: www.globalsofsymposium.org.
» Read More
February 10, 2016- Press Releases -
Media Note: President Santos Welcomes Formation of CEO Advisory Board
U.S. Business Leaders to Bring Expertise to Colombia’s Post-conflict Economy
Washington, DC — Meeting with a group of American business leaders yesterday, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced that a CEO Advisory Board has been formed to help Colombia take full advantage of its post-conflict economy. The announcement came as part of a wider discussion about the business and economic outlook for Colombia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“The U.S. business community has helped Colombia become the fastest-growing economy in South America, so I am particularly honored to welcome continued U.S. business support for our country as part of my visit to thank the United States for all the support it has given Colombia,” said President Santos. “We look forward to working with the members of this CEO Advisory Board to produce even greater economic growth and prosperity for Colombians in the post-conflict period.”
Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and former CEO of the Kellogg Company, Carlos Gutierrez, and former CIA Director and U.S. Central Command Commander, General David Petraeus, have accepted the invitation to be founding members of this Advisory Board. The first CEO Advisory Board visit to Colombia, set to take place in the second half of 2016, will focus on laying out the strategy for the government to develop the economy and private sector during the post-conflict years.
Following President Santos’s keynote address at the U.S. Chamber luncheon yesterday, visiting ministries met with U.S. business leaders to discuss a host of key bilateral and regional trade issues.
President Santos is in Washington, DC, this week for an official White House visit to celebrate the progress Colombia has made with U.S. support through Plan Colombia and the future of the Colombia-U.S. partnership. In addition to President Obama, President Santos will meet with other key Administration officials, including Vice President Joe Biden and U.S.
Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as with top congressional, international and U.S. business leaders in America’s capital today through Friday.
» Read More
February 3, 2016- Press Releases -
Media Note: President Santos Welcomes Formation of CEO Advisory Board
President Santos Welcomes Formation of CEO Advisory Board
U.S. Business Leaders to Bring Expertise to Colombia’s Post-conflict Economy
Washington, DC — Meeting with a group of American business leaders yesterday, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced that a CEO Advisory Board has been formed to help Colombia take full advantage of its post-conflict economy. The announcement came as part of a wider discussion about the business and economic outlook for Colombia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“The U.S. business community has helped Colombia become the fastest-growing economy in South America, so I am particularly honored to welcome continued U.S. business support for our country as part of my visit to thank the United States for all the support it has given Colombia,” said President Santos. “We look forward to working with the members of this CEO Advisory Board to produce even greater economic growth and prosperity for Colombians in the post-conflict period.”
Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and former CEO of the Kellogg Company, Carlos Gutierrez, and former CIA Director and U.S. Central Command Commander, General David Petraeus, have accepted the invitation to be founding members of this Advisory Board. The first CEO Advisory Board visit to Colombia, set to take place in the second half of 2016, will focus on laying out the strategy for the government to develop the economy and private sector during the post-conflict years.
Following President Santos’s keynote address at the U.S. Chamber luncheon yesterday, visiting ministries met with U.S. business leaders to discuss a host of key bilateral and regional trade issues.
President Santos is in Washington, DC, this week for an official White House visit to celebrate the progress Colombia has made with U.S. support through Plan Colombia and the future of the Colombia-U.S. partnership. In addition to President Obama, President Santos will meet with other key Administration officials, including Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as with top congressional, international and U.S. business leaders in America’s capital today through Friday.
» Read More
December 9, 2015- Press Releases -
Embajador Pinzón lanza “Alrededor de un Café”
Una nueva serie de eventos para conversar sobre la relación de Colombia y Estados Unidos alrededor de un café Washington, DC – Anoche en la Residencia de la Embajada de Colombia, el Embajador Juan Carlos Pinzón lanzó ‘Alrededor de un Café’ - una serie de eventos patrocinados por la Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, de degustación de café y conversaciones sobre Colombia y la alianza estratégica con Estados Unidos. El primer conversatorio se centró en las formas en que el café colombiano no es sólo el principal producto de exportación a los Estados Unidos y los mercados de todo el mundo sino que además ha apoyado la creación de empleo y el crecimiento económico y se ha convertido en un agente de transformación. “El café y Colombia son casi sinónimos, y desde 1927, cuando los cafeteros colombianos se organizaron por primera vez, el café ha jugado un papel importante en nuestra competitividad económica. Pero más que eso, la tradición del cultivo del café es una forma de vida y un camino a la prosperidad para muchas familias colombianas en nuestras regiones cafeteras ", dijo el Embajador Pinzón. "El café está arraigado en la cultura colombiana, y hoy en día es un agente de nuestra transformación." "El café seguirá siendo vital para nuestro país en el futuro. Luego de la firma del acuerdo de paz, el sector cafetero seguirá apoyando el crecimiento y el empleo, promoviendo el desarrollo social y haciendo de Colombia un lugar aún más atractivo para la inversión ", dijo el Embajador Pinzón. "A medida que continuemos creciendo, esperamos profundizar la amistad que tenemos con los Estados Unidos. Nuestra transformación no sería posible sin el apoyo incondicional y bipartidista de Estados Unidos y como uno de sus aliados más importantes en América Latina, Estados Unidos puede contar con Colombia también. " En Colombia, los temas del día se discuten alrededor de una taza de café, invitar a alguien a tomar un café es un gesto de amistad", el Embajador continuó. "El café es lo que nos une, y de eso es se trata ‘Alrededor de un Café’.” Los eventos ‘Alrededor de un Café’ se llevarán a cabo en la Residencia de la Embajada de Colombia en Washington y se discutirán temas varios, incluyendo el comercio bilateral, la inversión, la relación comercial y en seguridad, el buen gobierno, la justicia, la democracia, y la cooperación bilateral para la educación, la innovación y la tecnología. Los cafés que se degustaron durante el evento de anoche provienen de las regiones de Antioquia, Huila, Cauca, Caldas, Nariño y Sierra Nevada. Cada región estuvo representada por un caficultor que viajo a Washington a contarles a los asistentes de la relación del café con su respectiva región. Los invitados al evento incluyeron miembros y personal del Congreso de los Estados Unidos, líderes empresariales colombianos, representantes de los centros de pensamiento y miembros de los medios de comunicación.
» Read More
December 2, 2015- Press Releases -
Screening of ‘Gabo: The Creation of Gabriel García Márquez’
Washington, DC – On Wednesday, December 2, the Embassy of Colombia, in collaboration with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and Caracol Televisión, will present the movie, “Gabo: The Creation of Gabriel García Márquez.” Directed by Justin Webster, the film is a documentary about the life and work of Colombian Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel García Márquez.
The screening of the film will take place at the MPAA, hosted by Colombian Ambassador to the United States Juan Carlos Pinzón and former U.S. Senator and now CEO of MPAA, Chris Dodd.
Jon Lee Anderson, writer, biographer and famous journalist from The New Yorker will deliver opening remarks. Anderson was raised and educated in many countries, including Colombia. He is the author of the article “The Power of García Márquez” and has been an advisor to the Peace Corps and USAID.
The film presents the life of Gabriel García Márquez, a boy who was born in a small town on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, Aracataca (Magdalena), who won the hearts of millions of people, and with his imagination, changed the perspective of reality for his readers.
The documentary includes interviews with former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who discusses the novel “100 Years of Solitude,” and former President of Colombia César Gaviria, who discusses the importance of Gabo’s legacy to the country.
Acclaim for the film:
"Explores the ways in which the creative imagination can transform the raw material of life-time, memory, history, even the stone and soil of the earth itself-into illuminating works of art." – The Boston Globe
"Webster has amassed an impressive collection of voices for his investigation into the life of the man behind the Nobel Prize-winning myth.” – Remezcla
» Read More
December 2, 2015- Press Releases -
Presentación de la película Gabo: La creación de Gabriel García Márquez
Washington, DC — El miércoles 2 de diciembre, la Embajada de Colombia, en conjunto con la Asociación Cinematográfica de Estados Unidos (MPAA - Motion Picture Association of America), presentará la película Gabo: La creación de Gabriel García Márquez, un documental del director Justin Webster sobre la vida y obras del Nobel colombiano Gabriel García Márquez.
La proyección de la película se llevará a cabo en las salas de la MPAA y contará con la presencia del Embajador Juan Carlos Pinzón y del ex Senador y ahora Director del MPAA, Chris Dodd. Las palabras de apertura estarán a cargo de Jon Lee Anderson, escritor biógrafo y afamado periodista de la revista The New Yorker. Anderson creció y estudió en varios países, entre esos Colombia, es el autor del artículo “El Poder de García Marquez” y ha sido asesor de Cuerpos de Paz y USAID.
La película presenta la vida de Gabriel García Marquez, un niño nacido en un pequeño pueblo de la costa caribe colombiana, Aracataca (Magdalena), quien se ganó el corazón de millones de personas y con su imaginación cambió la percepción de la realidad de sus lectores.
Dentro de los entrevistados para el documental se encuentran el ex Presidente de los Estados Unidos Bill Clinton, quien habla de la maravillosa obra “Cien años de soledad”, escrita por el colombiano, y el ex presidente de Colombia César Gaviria, que discute la importancia del legado de Gabo para el país.
“Explora las formas en las que la imaginación creativa puede transformar la materia prima de la vida, la memoria, la historia, incluso la piedra y el suelo de la tierra en iluminadas obras de arte” – The Boston Globe
“Webster ha acumulado una impresionante colección de voces para su investigación, sobre la vida del hombre del mito ganador del Premio Nobel” – Remezcla
(Fin).
» Read More
December 1, 2015- Press Releases -
Ambassador Highlights Colombia’s Transformation, Economic and Investment Opportunities in New York
Washington, DC – Today, in a pair of keynote remarks in New York before U.S. business leaders and members of the investment community, Colombian Ambassador to the United States Juan Carlos Pinzón discussed the nation’s remarkable transformation over the past 15 years and the economic, political and social outlook for the year ahead.
This morning, in a speech before the Colombian American Association (CAA), Ambassador Pinzón detailed how Colombia transformed over the past 15 years, restoring security and stability, strengthening democratic institutions and advancing policies that have led to significant social progress and economic growth. Ambassador Pinzón highlighted that today’s Colombia is a strong and prosperous nation thanks to the commitment of the Colombian government and Armed Forces to increasing security across the country, and because of unwavering bipartisan U.S. support.
“Colombia is a nation transformed. Our bilateral partnership – from Plan Colombia to the free trade agreement – has paved the way for Colombia to become an economic leader, closer than ever to achieving lasting peace and a model for the region and the world,” said the Ambassador before the CAA, an organization founded in 1927 to facilitate commerce and trade between the Colombia and the United States, among its other missions. “The realities of today’s Colombia are possible because of strong support from leaders like you who deeply value our partnership.”
The Ambassador later took his message to a luncheon at J.P. Morgan with investment bankers and officials from key rating agencies. Speaking before a group of approximately 30 to 40 representatives from J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, as well as Standard & Poors, Moody’s and Fitch, and other firms, Ambassador Pinzón provided an economic look ahead for 2016, and discussed Colombian industries ripe for investment. While in New York, the Ambassador met yesterday with private equity and investment firms at Allen & Company, where he talked about new opportunities to invest in Colombia.
“Even in the face of falling oil prices and the global economic slowdown, our economic outlook is promising. Colombia’s economy is one of the few in Latin America with expected GDP growth above 3 percent for this year and next,” said Ambassador Pinzón. “Colombia has been invited to become a member of the OECD, and we expect to accede between 2016 and 2017.”
» Read More
December 1, 2015- Press Releases -
Embajador de Colombia viajó a Nueva York para compartir oportunidades económicas y de inversión
Washington, DC – El Embajador de Colombia Juan Carlos Pinzón presentó la notable transformación del país en los últimos 15 años y el panorama económico, político y social para el próximo año durante dos eventos en Nueva York que reunieron empresarios e inversionistas prestigiosas de esa ciudad.
Esta mañana, durante su discurso ante la Asociación Americana de Colombia (CAA), el Embajador Pinzón explicó cómo Colombia se ha transformado en los últimos 15 años a través de la restauración de seguridad y estabilidad, el fortalecimiento de las instituciones democráticas y las Fuerzas Armadas, la promoción de políticas que han conducido al progreso social significativo y el crecimiento económico. El Embajador Pinzón destacó que Colombia es hoy una nación fuerte y próspera gracias al compromiso del gobierno colombiano y de las Fuerzas Armadas para aumentar la seguridad en todo el país y al inquebrantable apoyo bipartidista de Estados Unidos.
“Colombia es una nación transformada. Nuestra relación bilateral – desde el Plan Colombia hasta el Tratado de libre Comercio – ha construido el camino para que Colombia se convierta en un líder económico, más cerca que nunca de lograr la paz duradera y de ser un modelo para la región y el mundo”, dijo el Embajador ante la CCA, una organización fundada en 1927 para facilitar el comercio y el intercambio entre Colombia y Estados Unidos. “La realidad de Colombia hoy es posible gracias al fuerte apoyo de líderes como ustedes que valoran profundamente nuestra relación.”
El Embajador también realizó una presentación en un evento organizado por J.P. Morgan con miembros de las principales bancas de inversión y de los principales organismos de calificación. Frente a un grupo de representantes de J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs y Bank of America, así como Standard & Poors, Moody’s y Fitch, el Embajador Pinzón presentó las perspectivas económicas del país para el 2016. Durante su viaje a Nueva York, el Embajador también se reunió con fondos de capital privado en un evento organizado por Allen & Company, para presentar las oportunidades para invertir y hacer negocios en Colombia.
“Incluso de cara a la caída de los precios del petróleo y la desaceleración económica mundial, nuestro punto de vista económico es prometedor. La economía de Colombia es uno de las pocas en América Latina con un crecimiento del PIB por encima de la media latinoamericana en este año y el próximo”, dijo el Embajador Pinzón.” Colombia ha sido invitado a ser en mimbro de la OCDE, y esperamos a que este proceso concluya entre 2016 y 2017”.
(Fin).
» Read More
October 29, 2015- News Clips -
Ambassador Seeks to Bring Impressions About Colombia into the Present
What’s the number one misconception about Colombia? “People think it’s written with a ‘u’,” laughed Juan Carlos Pinzón, Ambassador of Colombia to the United States, during his visit to Utah earlier this month.
October 1, 2015- News Clips -
Colombian Artist Doris Salcedo Receives Inaugural Nasher Prize for Sculpture
The world of sculpture has carved out a new figurehead. On Wednesday, the Nasher Sculpture Center named Colombian artist Doris Salcedo the winner of the inaugural Nasher Prize, an award that will henceforth be presented annually to a living artist who has made an indelible impact on the field of sculpture.
Bogotá is popping up more and more on travelers’ radar these days, thanks to its increased safety, an explosion of culinary creativity and a rapidly increasing cool quotient.
October 13, 2015- News Clips -
Colombian Ambassador Promotes Changed Country in Visit to Salt Lake City
The Colombian Ambassador to the United States is in Utah participating in Congressman Chris Stewart’s conference on America’s Role in the World. The ambassador is on a mission to change perceptions of his fast growing country.
