Rodrigo Malmierca

Bogota, Feb 20 (RHC) Cuba's Minister of Foreign Trade, Rodrigo Malmierca, will hold an official meeting today with Colombia's Minister of Trade, Industry, and Tourism, Germán Umaña, to strengthen bilateral ties.

Other authorities of that portfolio and the National Institute for the Surveillance of Medicines and Food (Invima) will participate in the meeting.

The Cuban official, who arrived this Sunday in the South American country on an official visit to strengthen trade, cooperation, and brotherhood ties between the two countries, will meet with Carmen Caballero, president of Procolombia, and will be accompanied by Umaña.

Procolombia is the agency in charge of promoting Colombian exports, international tourism, and foreign investment in this South American country.

According to the program of his visit, which will last until next Wednesday, the head of Foreign Trade of Cuba will also hold a meeting with the authorities of Bancóldex, the development bank for business growth in Colombia.

Later, he will participate in a discussion with businessmen, Umaña and Caballero on the topic Perspectives of trade relations between Colombia and Cuba and a look from Colombia to the Caribbean.

The two nations established diplomatic relations in 1902, after achieving their definitive independence, and are based on mutual respect and observance of international law.

In trade matters, they have an Economic Complementation Agreement, in force since July 2001, which covers some 1,500 products with tariff preferences in favor of Colombia and almost 1,000 in favor of Cuba.

Last November, the island and Colombia re-launched from Havana the XII Joint Economic and Scientific-Technical Commission, which includes 20 initiatives on climate change, gender, inclusion, innovation, and risk management. At the end of last year, as a result of an audit carried out by Cuba's National Center for Animal Health, Colombia obtained authorization to export beef, pork, poultry, dairy products, and meat derivatives, following recognition of the Colombian official inspection system as equivalent to the Cuban one.

According to Minister Umaña, this authorization "will make it possible to promote economic and trade relations based on the existing strengths and opportunities identified between the two countries and will undoubtedly benefit our peoples". (Source: Prensa Latina).