Achieve trade agreements for non-mining exports with expectations of US$59.6 milliongenerating new bilateral alliances and expanding foreign investment opportunities with a potential of US$600 million in the infrastructure, agri-food, renewable energy and tourism sectors, is the result of the country’s participation in the Expo 2020 Dubai, which took place between October 1, 2021 and March 23, 2022.
(Access to the Persian market, the key to the FTA with the UAE).
In this ‘Pavilion of Opportunities’with an interactive experience that evoked the diversity of Colombia, the delegations representing the regions of the country, through ProColombia, they met with members of the main funds of the United Arab Emirates to talk about exports, investment and tourism.
There opportunities were consolidated. Among which is the new Bogota-Dubai direct cargo route, within the framework of the implementation of the World Logistics Passport in Colombia of the Dubai government through Emirates Sky Cargo, with the aim of creating commercial and logistics hubs.
(Dubai Airport continues to be the busiest in the world.)
The first FTA negotiation meetings were also held between the two countries, which seeks to give Colombia access to a fast-growing market, with the United Arab Emirates being a country that imports US$5 billion in food from the world.
Even as a result of the Expo, Visa applications from the Middle Eastern country to Colombia have increased by 125%, compared to 2019and increased the frequency of commercial flights from the United Arab Emirates to Bogotá, going from 3 weekly flights to 1 daily.
“Being on a global stage with 192 countries allowed us to consolidate with the countries of the Pacific Alliance an entire agenda of permanent collaboration with Mexico, Peru, Chile. During the 6 months we worked as a team to be able to strengthen opportunities as a region,” he said. Mauricio Prada, manager of the Colombian pavilion at Expo Dubai.
In addition, the 2,000 square meter pavilion, produced by Colombian talent chosen through an open call, where the winning proposals were those of Dirty Kitchen, Pulsa and Inmov; he was recognized as one of the best in thematic interpretation. This led him to take third place in the overall award of the organization of Expo 2020 Dubai and the Bureau Internationale des Expositions in that category.
The pavilion was attended by 258 public and private entities from Colombia and the presence of more than 2,371 international businessmen, for a total of 394 bilateral meetings, more than 60 commercial and promotional actions. 1.6 million people attended, including visitors and investors.
PORTFOLIO
