A NEW CONTINENTAL ORDER
TBY talks to Ernesto Samper Pizano, Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), on working with regional powers to bolster the peace process, boosting citizen participation at home and in the region, and forging a new concept of hemispheric security.
BIOGRAPHY
Ernesto Samper Pizano was President of Colombia from 1994 to 1998. He began his career as a congressman in Cundinamarca from 1982 to 1984, was Councilor of Bogotá from 1982 to 1986, and a member of the senate from 1986 to 1990. He has also held various executive positions, including ambassador to the assembly of the UN in 1983; Ambassador of Colombia to Spain from 1991 to 1992; Minister of Economic Development from 1990 to 1991, and coordinator of the meetings of ex-Presidents of Latin America in the Global Agenda from 2000 to 2005.In what ways will UNASUR continue to support the ongoing peace process in Colombia, both with FARC and the newly opened negotiations with the ELN?
Some UNASUR countries, such as Venezuela, Ecuador, Chile, and Brazil, are actively participating in this process. As Secretary General, I have been collaborating in Havana and, as agreed upon in the accord, I am responsible for contributing to citizen participation and democracy. Likewise with Uruguay we participated in defining the criteria for military de-escalation for the ceasefire, demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration. We are fully committed to the peace process.
Through UNASUR and its South American Defense Council (CDS), what role can Colombia play in promoting and maintaining regional security?
For UNASUR, hemispheric security no longer has to do with the strategic defense that for many years and during the Cold War defined the defensive criteria of the region against possible external interventions. At UNASUR, we are working through the South American Council of Defense, which brings together all the Ministers, the Center for Strategic Defense Studies in Buenos Aires, and the Defense College in Quito to forge a new concept of hemispheric security that is based on confidence and combating transnational crimes and citizen insecurity. It also includes protection from natural disasters and the sovereign defense of natural resources. We are working on a new articulation of concepts of defense, security, and justice as a part of our integral answer to new challenges. South America is the most peaceful regions in the world in terms of intra-state violence.
How is UNASUR working with Colombia and other Andean Community countries to better promote development and cooperation between the two organizations?
For two years now, UNASUR has been promoting a “convergence" process between the two mechanisms of sub-regional integration. In the past five months of convergence, we have found the Organization of Amazonia Pact with the Andean Community, Mercosur, ALBA, and the Pacific Alliance to increase our efforts to eliminate duplicities and specialize each process, all from the convergence blueprint that we built for the task. The results have been so positive that in the sixth convergence meeting we are extending CARICOM and SICA to include the Caribbean and Central America.
A NEW CONTINENTAL ORDER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Focus: Nobel Prize
Eyes on the Prize
Juan Manuel Santos' Nobel Prize demonstrated the international community's recognition of his efforts toward forging permanent peace with the FARC, but the process of ratifying the treaty reveals that the issue remains as complicated as ever for Colombians.
read articleGuest Speaker
Luís Guillermo Solís Rivera, President, Costa Rica
TBY talks to Luís Guillermo Solís Rivera, President of Costa Rica, on respecting the sovereign power of the Colombian people, the critical areas of Caribbean security where both countries can work together, and the importance of burgeoning industrial ties between Colombia and Costa Rica.
read articleInterview
Ernesto Samper Pizano, Secretary-General, Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)
TBY talks to Ernesto Samper Pizano, Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), on working with regional powers to bolster the peace process, boosting citizen participation at home and in the region, and forging a new concept of hemispheric security.
read articleInterview
María Claudia Lacouture, Minister, Commerce, Industry, and Tourism
TBY talks to María Claudia Lacouture, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, on integrating Colombia's markets with natural regional partners, boosting underserved areas, and making sure that areas like bird-watching flourish.
read articleInterview
Patricia Tovar, Executive Director, Colombian British Chamber of Commerce (BRITCHAM)
TBY talks to Patricia Tovar, Executive Director of Colombian British Chamber of Commerce (BRITCHAM), on standing behind the UK despite Brexit, the opportunities offered by 4G, and why Colombia is one of the UK's best long-term bets in Latin America.
read articleInterview
Ricardo Ávila, Editor-in-Chief, Portafolio
TBY talks to Ricardo Ávila, Editor-in-Chief of Portafolio, on the biggest social, political, and structural changes Colombia must make to reap a full peace dividend, maximizing its huge agricultural potential, and the cornucopia of sustainable energy possibilities.
read articleInterview
Juan José Echavarría, Governor, Banco de la República (Central Bank of Colombia),
TBY talks to Juan José Echavarría, Governor of Banco de la República (Central Bank of Colombia), on the bank's cultural role in securing a broader peace, the importance of saving, and why the economy must still open up even more.
read articleInterview
Marcela Vaca Torres, Colombia General Director , GeoPark
TBY talks to Marcela Vaca Torres, Colombia General Director of GeoPark, on GeoPark's assertive moves in exploration investments, regulatory opportunities to encourage exploration, and new opportunities in shale gas and offshore resources.
read articleInterview
Francisco José Lloreda, Executive President, The Colombian Oil & Gas Association (ACP)
TBY talks to Francisco José Lloreda, Executive President of The Colombian Oil & Gas Association (ACP), on expectations for the year, increasing the feasibility of hydrocarbon projects, and the state of the offshore sector.
read articleFocus: Gold
The Road to El Dorado
2016 has been a mixed and sometimes challenging year for the mining industry in Colombia, especially for gold, due to legal issues, competitiveness, and high volatility in international markets. While gold exports rose 40.5% in 2016 to USD1.5 billion, the Colombian Mining Association estimates that up to 80% of gold production is done illegally.
read articleInterview
Guilherme Franklin, Managing Director , Tetra Pak Andina
TBY talks to Guilherme Franklin, Managing Director of Tetra Pak Andina, on the decision to locate the regional headquarters in Bogotá, the plan for double-digit growth, and its efforts on digital innovations and sustainable operations.<span></span>
read articleInterview
Ricardo Bribiesca, President & Director General of the Andean Region , PPG Industries
TBY talks to Ricardo Bribiesca, President & Director General of the Andean Region of PPG Industries, on strategic areas of growth, product segmentation, and raising the bar for industry sophistication.
read articleInterview
Zully Salazar Fuentes, President, The Cartagena Tourism Corporation (Corpoturismo)
TBY talks to Zully Salazar Fuentes, President of The Cartagena Tourism Corporation (Corpoturismo), on the successes of the past year, becoming a model for other regions, and focusing on sustainability.
read articleFocus: Buenaventura Port
Good Fortune
Colombia is blessed with being the only country in South America with direct access to the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean, but its Pacific ports have long been overshadowed by their flashier Caribbean counterparts. With an ambitious investment initiative from the public and private sector, that is about to change.
read articleReview: DOING BUSINESS
Doing Business in Colombia
The first year of Colombia's extensive fiscal reform has made doing business slightly more difficult in the immediate short term. Yet, if the state achieves even half of its goals in doing so, it will significantly improve the long-term corporate outlook for the country.
read articleInterview
Michelantonio Bosso, Regional Manager & Director of Operations of Latin America, Grupo Menarini
TBY talks to Michelantonio Bosso, Regional Manager & Director of Operations of Latin America of Grupo Menarini, on the importance of Colombia to the company and its goals for the local office.
read articleFocus: Zika VIrus
Ending the Epidemic
The Zika virus posed a special threat to the 26 million Colombians living in 900 municipalities below 2,200m. Nevertheless, due to proper surveillance, international cooperation, and an immediate government response, Colombia was the first country in the Americas to announce the end of the Zika epidemic.
read articleInterview
Alfonso Prada Gil, Director General, The National Service of Learning (SENA)
TBY talks to Alfonso Prada Gil, Director General of The National Service of Learning (SENA), on its key role post conflict, upcoming development projects, and its focus on technical and technological training.
read articleInterview
Cecilia María Vélez White, Rector, Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano
TBY talks to Cecilia María Vélez White, Rector of Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano, on the impact of its new university building, developing agricultural management programs, and becoming an innovative university.
read articleInterview
Fr. Juan Ubaldo López Salamanca, O.P., General Rector, Universidad Santo Tomas Colombia (USTA)
TBY talks to Fr. Juan Ubaldo López Salamanca, O.P., General Rector of Universidad Santo Tomas Colombia (USTA), on its growth plans across the country and its contributions to society.
read articleFocus: EDUCATION INVESTMENT
Striking A Deal
Teachers went on strike for the second time in two years in May 2017, fighting for increased wages, improved infrastructure, and more teacher development programs. Will the government's offer be more broken promises or will Colombia write a new chapter for the textbooks?
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