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WATCH TODAY: President Clinton delivers keynote remarks at the Colombia Investment Summit 2020


WATCH TODAY: President Clinton delivers keynote remarks at the Colombia Investment Summit 2020

Remarks broadcast today are available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uN14XIr7QY

 

NEW YORK, NY – Today, President Clinton delivered the keynote address at the Colombia Investment Summit (CIS) 2020, discussing the progress the country has made in the last two decades; the urgency of critical situations in the region, from the Venezuelan refugee crisis to the COVID-19 pandemic; and the importance of investment in Colombia to secure the nation’s future. 

 

Watch President Clinton’s remarks at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uN14XIr7QY

For more information about CIS 2020, please visit: http://colombiainvestmentsummit.co

 

While in office, President Clinton provided critical support to Colombia, increasing aid and economic cooperation while helping the country stop drug trafficking and human rights abuses. In 2000, President Clinton helped fund Plan Colombia, which provided $1.3 billion in assistance to support Colombia’s work to stop drug trafficking, in addition to the Administration’s previous allocation of $895 million in aid to support these anti-narcotic trafficking efforts. From 1992 to 2000, U.S. trade with Colombia increased from $6.1 billion to $10.6 billion. In addition, the Clinton Administration allocated $230 million in an effort to help Colombia develop alternative sources of economic development and promote economic and judicial reforms.

 

Since leaving office, President Clinton has remained committed to supporting Colombia’s progress, having visited the country nine times since 2002. The Clinton Foundation operated several programs in Colombia that promoted job training and raised the incomes of farmers and small business owners. Most recently, Clinton Foundation partners have worked to help Venezuelan migrants and their host communities in Colombia:

 

  • World Central Kitchen has been working in Colombia to feed migrants since February 2019, providing more than 1 million nutritious meals to date;
  • Acceso Colombia (formerly part of the Clinton Giustra Enterprise Partnership, a program of the Clinton Foundation) has been supplying critically-needed, locally-sourced fruits and vegetables to 90 community kitchens in Colombia and Venezuela. This work has helped provide 6.8 million healthy meals to Venezuelans, while creating income for Acceso Colombia’s network of 500 local, small farmers;
  • Direct Relief, working with Fundacion Banco Medicamentos and local partners, has delivered more than 7,000 pounds of medical supplies to 20 hospitals and health outposts along the border, and is currently preparing a third shipment that will contain PPE and other COVID-related supplies and medicines for people across Colombia;
  • The Wayuu Taya Foundation is working across the border to distribute meals, medical and hygiene supplies, and clean water to indigenous communities that face food and water insecurity alongside the threats of COVID-19.

 

The Colombia Investment Summit, a virtual event that is taking place from October 7-9, aims to attract foreign direct investment into the country and showcase Colombia’s progress, stability, and resiliency. The summit is focused on driving investment across many sectors including infrastructure, energy, technology, hospitality and tourism, agriculture, and many others.

 

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