Bogota 2013 Blog: Panel – Free-Trade Agreements and Competitiveness
Panelists analyzed the advances made in foreign trade agreements and competitiveness.
At AS/COA's 2013 Latin American Cities Conference: Bogota, a panel on free-trade agreements and competitiveness discussed ways for Colombia to improve the ease of doing business and expand trade.
Juan Camilo Nariño, vice president of foreign trade at the National Business Association of Colombia, presented an agenda for Colombia to boost competitiveness. He talked about the need to reduce costs and improve infrastructure, as well as tax and regulatory reforms.
National Association of Foreign Trade President Javier Díaz pointed to high costs to export from Colombia as a barrier to competitiveness, and focused on potential improvements in logistics. He noted Colombia's geographical position as strategic to expand activities to the Asia-Pacific region.
Laura Lochman, economic advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, also discussed Colombia's trade ties to the Pacific. She said the Pacific Alliance—a new trade bloc encompassing Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru—"is an example for the world." In addition, she spoke about the one-year anniversary of the U.S.-Colombia free-trade agreement going into effect, and efforts to boost Colombian imports at American ports while respecting health and safety guidelines.
Watch the video of the panel moderated by Sergio Clavijo, President of ANIF (in Spanish):
Speakers:
- Juan Camilo Nariño, Vice President of Foreign Trade, National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI) (Download his presentation)
- Javier Díaz, President, National Association of Foreign Trade (ANALDEX) (Download his presentation)
- Laura Lochman, Economic Advisor, Embassy of the United States, Colombia
- Moderated by Sergio Clavijo, President, ANIF