President Iván Duque’s New Year’s message

The Colombian President, Iván Duque, celebrated this Friday the “collective achievement” of the National Vaccination Plan that has allowed 75% of the country’s population to have at least one dose against covid-19, which has allowed the reactivation of the economy.

(The Christmas message from President Iván Duque and his family).

“Among health personnel, citizens and the Government we have turned it into a collective achievement, which has managed to apply more than 64 million doses, achieving that more than 75% of Colombians already have one of them”, said the head of state in his New Year’s message.

Duque stressed that “It is not time to lower our guard against covid-19” due to the increase in infections due to the omicron variant, and warned that biosecurity measures must be followed, especially “complying with the moral duty to be vaccinated.”

This immunization allowed the face-to-face return this year to schools and universities, cultural, artistic and sports shows, which contributed to invigorate the country’s economy, affected by the restrictions that were taken to face the pandemic.

The Ministry of Health reported that as of Wednesday, 64,449,062 vaccines had been applied, and that there are already 28,213,115 people with the complete scheme and 3,240,030 the reinforcement doses given.

ECONOMIC REACTIVATION

When delving into the reactivation of the economy, Duque explained the progress of the “Compromiso por Colombia” strategy, focused on investments to create jobs, implement peace and favor those most in need.

He pointed out that infrastructure works were accelerated, such as the Thessaly Tunnel, the Central Mountain Range Crossing and the five fourth-generation roads that have already been put into service.

(‘This year Colombia will achieve the highest growth of this century’).

He also highlighted that the agricultural sector was strengthened, reaching markets such as China and the United Arab Emirates, and “An export record of more than $ 7.6 billion, the highest agricultural exports in our history.”

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY GROWTH

The president also highlighted that the 9.7% economic growth expected for this year is sustainable and fits within the environmental agenda developed by his government at the Glasgow Summit (Scotland).

He recalled that this agenda advances on the path of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 to also reach “carbon neutrality” by 2050.

Duque also stressed that in the year that his government ended, he developed social programs that reached all the “corners of the country” to preserve jobs and give free to the lower strata.

“It is with actions that we reactivate our country and create equity. It is time, today, and more than ever, to work together for Colombia in this next 2022 “, the president concluded his New Year’s message.

See his intervention below:

EFE