German Umana is the new Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of the Petro Government. Under his management is the responsibility of stringing together and executing key issues on the presidential agenda, such as the diversification of exports, attraction of social investment, productivity, among others.
(Read: Armando Benedetti is the new ambassador of Colombia in Venezuela).
What has President Petro told you about the Venezuela issue?
Several things have happened there, such as the opening of dialogue between the military of the two countries, which is definitive for security and peace; the advances that have been made between the governments at the borders and at the national level in all matters of infrastructure, customs, logistics.
Everything is ready for the opening of Norte de Santander – Táchira, but further progress has been made on consular and diplomatic issues. It is possible that the opening of the border for transport vehicles and others will be delayed a “little bit”, but we are sacrificing an opening in the short term for a positive integrality in the medium term. But it will be a more comprehensive, more institutional and much more secure and permanent solution.
The issue of Venezuela is going to improve and the integration between the two countries is one of the priorities of the Ministry, but as President Petro has also said, there are also wonderful priorities in our continent.
When will relations be restored?
Progress is being made for the short term.
Germán Umaña, executive director of the Colombo-Venezuelan Chamber (CCV).
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How will that integration with Latin America be?
Priorities are being raised with the Andean Community and also with Latin America and the Caribbean, priorities in the face of common institutions and challenges, especially at a time of global crisis, when in terms of trade and investment there is going to be a significant closure of developed economies. If they are closed, what a beautiful opportunity to strengthen our integrity.
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We will seek to strengthen economic and social integration where we have immense complementarity for development. Topics such as intellectual property, employment and pension recognition, university degrees, and the movement of people, among others, will be strengthened.
What will be the role of ProColombia?
It will play a fundamental role in attracting investments that allow access to knowledge capital, human capital development and small and medium-sized enterprises. This means that the negotiation of investments must include the creation of a company, transfer and adaptation of technology, it must have all the virtuosity of development. That does allow us to insert ourselves into globalization in a very intelligent way, and that is what President Petro is talking about, about the energy transition towards sustainable development.
Basically it is a differentiation. From now on, our heads of offices have this fundamental mandate and, secondly, that of promoting our exports precisely because they are the result of this added value and this competitiveness that we want to create.
What will happen to the FTAs?
These conditions must be reviewed, an evaluation must be made, sensitive points identified, balance restored in approaches and therefore, if necessary, treaties between friends, between partners, revised. We are going to propose in order to achieve balance because we already know the results of the treaties. But it is not about entering into confrontations of any kind, complaints or things like that, but rather that we have to be very rational because we are convinced that when we analyze the results for them and for us, we can reach very important agreements.
Will the trade balance be revised?
On the issue of development and productivity, which have to do with different sectors, we are going to balance the national production of goods and services against imports because now it is unbalanced in favor of foreign purchases and not National Production.
There is no protectionist proposal, there is a proposal for balance and fair trade and we are going to protect our productive sectors.
From the joint it was suggested to create a new Ministry of Industry, what will happen finally?
That’s not going to end up happening. A modification will simply be made to replace the Vice Ministry of Business Development with that of Industry, which clearly indicates an industrial development policy and not just projects to promote industry and services.
They prioritized other aspects on the Congress agenda, but that is still President Petro’s idea and surely from the end of the second year we will have an important presentation on this aspect.
(Read: The reasons why the designated MinTIC has not taken office).
How will sustainable tourism develop?
That is the most exciting topic. Basically we have to build a virtuous process of development and peace. Once development is achieved, the theme of ancestral tourism, of sustainable tourism, is fundamental. In the medium term it could become the new oil, but a green crude, and tied to us being kind to nature and its inhabitants.
Roberto Casas-Lugo
