Brief on India-Colombia Bilateral Relations
Colombia and India established diplomatic relations on 19 January 1959 and celebrated 60 years of establishment of diplomatic ties in 2019. In March 1972, Colombia opened its Embassy in New Delhi. India opened its Embassy in Colombia in 1973. Mr. Juan Miguel Yacamán Farah is Honorary Consul of India (appointed in February 2017) in Barranquilla (Atlantico province). Colombia has appointed Honorary Consuls in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kolkata.
Political relations
2. India and Colombia enjoy friendly and cordial bilateral relations. Over the years, relations have strengthened and diversified in all areas of mutual interest encompassing political, commercial and cultural fields. Foreign Office Consultations mechanism was established in 1995. The last (9th round) Foreign Office Consultations took place on 7 May 2021 through video conference.
3. President Ram Nath Kovind sent a message of felicitation to President Ivan Duque, after the latter was sworn in as the new President of Colombia on 7 August 2018. Then External Affairs Minister had also sent a message of felicitation to Mr. Carlos Holmes Trujillo, the then Foreign Minister of Colombia. She later met him on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2018. During his visit to Colombia, Gen. V.K. Singh, MOS (EA) met Colombian Foreign Minister Mr. Carlos Holmes Trujillo in October 2018. During the UN General Assembly in 2019, a pull aside meeting was held between our Prime Minister and Colombian President Ivan Duque. A list of bilateral visits is at Annexure I.
4. On 29 April 2020, EAM and then Colombian Foreign Minister, Ms. Claudia Blum de Barberi held a telephonic conversation and discussed cooperation in areas of trade, energy and ITEC.
5. High level bilateral engagements between India and Colombia witnessed an upswing in 2021. Minister of State for External Affairs MOS (EA), Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi paid an official visit to Colombia from 4-6 September 2021. During the visit, she met the Vice President and Foreign Minister of Colombia, Ms. Marta Lucia Ramirez, and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Colombia, Mr. Tito José Crissien Borrero and held detailed discussions on issues of mutual interest. External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar met with Vice President and Foreign Minister of Colombia Ms. Marta Lucía Ramírez on 25 September 2021 on the sidelines of the 76th UN General Assembly.
6. A health, science and technology delegation led by Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Ms. Marta Lucía Ramírez and including Minister of Health and Social Protection of Colombia, Dr. Luiz Fernando Ruiz visited India from 27 September 2021. Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Ms. Marta Lucía Ramírez arrived in India on 30 September 2021 and met Vice President of India Shri Venkaiah Naidu on 1 October 2021 and exchanged views on strengthening bilateral cooperation. On 2 October 2021, Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar held detailed discussions with Ms. Ramirez. Minister of State for External Affairs, Ms. Meenakashi Lekhi met Ms. Ramirez on 3 October 2021.
Bilateral Agreements/Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs)
7. Over the years, several MoUs / Agreements have been concluded between India and Colombia in diverse areas including defence cooperation, trade promotion, cooperation in science and technology, IT, tourism, etc. The list of MoUs concluded between India and Colombia is at Annexure II.
Economic and Commercial Relations
8. Bilateral trade between India and Colombia had been steadily growing until 2014 and reached approximately USD 4 billion (largely because of oil imports by India from Colombia). However, following the global slump in oil prices, that affected Colombian exports of oil, bilateral trade registered a decline in 2015 and 2016. From 2017, bilateral trade has once again started growing. In the FY 2019-20, bilateral trade was approximately USD 1.85 billion. Bilateral trade in 2020-21 stood at USD 2.27 billion, growing by approx. 22% over 2019-20. From April 2021-January 2022, bilateral trade stands at USD 3.56 billion. India’s imports from Colombia mainly comprise gold, mineral fuels, coal, precious stones led by emeralds, aluminum, zinc, wood (teak), plastic etc. India’s main items of exports to Colombia include vehicles (motorcycles etc.), engineering goods, chemicals, cotton, pharmaceuticals, iron & steel products, etc.
9. A snapshot of bilateral trade data from 2015-16 onwards is at Annexure III.
Bilateral Investment
10. Colombian investment in India is estimated to be approximately USD 5 million and Indian investment in Colombia is estimated to be USD 300 million (excluding OVL´s investment including in its joint venture with Mansarovar). Indian investment in Colombia is mainly in the oil, automobile, agro-chemicals, IT and pharmaceuticals sectors.
11. The Embassy has been taking several initiatives for promoting bilateral trade and investment. The trade facilitation activities include responding to trade queries, resolving trade disputes, assisting visiting export promotion councils/industry associations in organizing their events [Buyer Seller Meets (BSMs), Reverse BSMs, Roadshows, India Forums, etc.], advising and facilitating meetings for visiting Indian businessmen, encouraging participation of Colombian buyers/importers to major trade events organized in India and vice-versa. Regular contact is maintained with Colombian stakeholders to facilitate and boost bilateral trade and investment between India and Colombia.
12. On 24 April 2020, under the MoU for cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, India and Colombia organised a virtual Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of the Government of India and the Ministry of Mines and Energy of the Government of Colombia to strengthen cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector. Ecopetrol, the Colombian public sector oil company, supplies crude oil to Indian oil companies and 20 per cent of their exports are destined for India.
13. Under the Make-in-India initiative, trade promotion events have been organized in all major cities of Colombia, including Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Pereira and Armenia. A mega trade and investment promotion event, “Commercial and Economic Alliance for Future” to mark the 60th anniversary of India-Colombia diplomatic ties was organized on 14 May 2019 at Bogota.
14. To promote tourism and investment, the Mission has organized Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Odisha, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh States’ promotion days, under the state facilitation activities. Other tourism promotion activities of the Mission included organizing presentations, networking sessions for Colombian tour operators in collaboration with Tourism Office, New York, Paryatan parv, setting up of India Pavilions in various fairs, India Weeks and International Weeks, organized by universities, municipalities, etc.
15. From 2020-21 and 2021-22, more than 50 virtual B2B meets between Indian Export Promotion Councils/chambers of commerce such as AEPC, Pharmexcil, CAPEXIL, SEPC, GJEPC, FIEO, ESEPC, EEPC Indian Chamber of Commerce, Chemxcil, among others, and Colombian chambers of commerce and buyers/ importers were organized in the sector of pharmaceuticals, textiles, gems and jewellery, renewable energy, steel, ceramics, printing and publishing, information technology, services, etc. Delegation of Indian textile companies led by SRTEPC and Texprocil regularly participate in the flagship textile event of Colombia, Colombiatex.
Indian Companies in Colombia
16. Indian companies in Colombia are mainly concentrated in the oil, IT, pharmaceutical, agrochemicals, and infrastructure and two-wheeler sectors. ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), the only Indian public sector enterprise in Colombia, has both independent operations and joint venture with Sinopec, called Mansarovar Energy Colombia Ltd (MECL). Other Indian companies with operations in Colombia include the following:
-
Technology/ IT/ ITES: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Tech Mahindra, Mahindra Comviva, Infosys, Wipro, IGT Services and Technologies Colombia SAS, Quadratyx, TraQIQ, etc.
-
Pharmaceuticals: IPCA, CIPLA, Aurobindo Pharma, Dr. Reddy´s, MSN Labs, Emcure, Hetero, Seven Pharma, Seta Pharma
-
Agrochemicals: United Phosphorus Limited, Sharda Cropchem Ltd
-
Automobiles and tractors: TVS, Bajaj, Hero, Sonalika, Mahindra, Uno Minda, Royal Enfield
-
Plastics and Packing: Essel Propack
-
Infrastructure: Shapoorji Pallonji, Jindal Steel
-
LEDs: Lighting Havell’s Sylvania
17. OVL started operations in 2008 and MECL in 2006. While OVL continues both exploration and production of oil in Colombia, MECL operations in Nare contract association terminated in November 2021. Praj industries has constructed ethanol plants in Colombia in the Valle del Cauca region. Thermax Limited has installed biomass boiler for Nestle Colombia in Bugalagrande in Valle de Cauca and supplied pollution control equipment to Ingenio Incauca. It has ongoing projects for supplies of equipment to various Colombian companies. Hero Moto Corp inaugurated its motorcycle plant in Villa Rica (Cauca), near Cali in 2015. Essel Propack set up its packaging factory in the same region in 2016. Bajaj has its main assembly unit in the city of Medellin. UPL also has agrochemicals manufacturing plants in the cities of Barranquilla and Madrid, Cundinamarca. In August 2021, Royal Enfield announced opening of an assembly plant in Envigado, Antioquia, its second such plant outside India.
Technical and Economic Cooperation
18. Under the ITEC programme, 25 schoolteachers have been trained in teaching of English language every year since 2015. The first ITEC festival to promote awareness of ITEC scholarships was held in the Embassy in May 2018. In 2018-19, 91 ITEC slots were utilized by Colombia. In 2019-20, the number of ITEC slots for Colombia was increased to 100, out of which 77 slots were utilized. The last ITEC day was celebrated at the Embassy on 23 September 2021 over the virtual platform.
19. Past assistance to Colombia includes gifting of a USD 200,000 solar lighting system to Tayrona National Park, Santa Marta, Colombia in December 2002 and deputation of two Indian IT experts, under the ITEC program, from May to July 2002 to advise the local government on IT related policy issues under Colombian Presidency’s ‘Agenda for Connectivity’ programme. India donated USD 1 million to Colombia in the wake of country-wide floods and damage to infrastructure in 2010.
20. In 2020, the Mission with the intervention of the Ministry with DGFT facilitated the approval of two commercial orders of 9,00,000 Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) tablets from IPCA Laboratories and 1 MT HCQ API from SRINI Pharmaceuticals Ltd. for Colombia. Mission also facilitated approval for multiple orders of Paracetamol for Colombian companies due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
21. Colombia has annually offered 8 – 9 scholarships for Language Assistants from 2017 – 2020. Another 8 scholarships to tourist guides to learn Spanish in Colombia were offered in 2017 and 2018.
22. Colombian health professionals participated in the e-ITEC programme ‘Managing COVID-19 Pandemic- Experiences and Best Practices of India’ from 11-15 May 2020 and in a related course on 18 April 2020, both of which were organized by PGI Chandigarh.
ICCR Scholarships
23. Colombian students have pursued Indian dance and music studies under the ICCR scholarship scheme in the past. Six Colombian students have so far availed the ICCR scholarship since 2009.
Science and Technology Cooperation
24. An MoU on cooperation in Science and Technology between India and Colombia was signed on 11 June 2005. A delegation from Department of Science and Technology comprising scientist Jagdish Chander and Prof. Ramesh Chandra participated in the first meeting of Joint Committee in Colombia in March 2017. During this meeting, a Programme of Cooperation was signed. The Indian delegation visited the Los Andes University of Bogota, where they were shown the research facilities and laboratories. The delegation also visited a bamboo preservation and drying plant in the city of Pereira, a bamboo-boards production factory and the Pereira University of Technology.
25. On 14 April 2021, the second meeting of the JWG on Science and Technology was held through a video conference between Department of Science and Technology (GoI) and Colombia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. Bilateral technical cooperation in areas of frontier technologies including training under the ITEC programme was discussed. Exchange of information on the composition of the delegation of the two sides for organizing the next Joint Committee meeting was also agreed.
26. An MoU on Bamboo Applications and R&D was signed between India and Colombia in November 2009. Under the MoU, Department of Science and Technology - the nodal agency from the Indian side - designated the National Mission of Bamboo Applications (NMBA) as the partner institute. A Colombian delegation visited India in October 2015 to pursue the implementation of the MOU on bamboo applications. A representative from TERI participated in a workshop on use of Bamboo waste for energy production from 1-5 October 2016.
27. Colombia is one of the founder members of the NAM S&T Centre in New Delhi. Colombia signed the Centre’s Statute on 4 February 1985 in New York. COLCIENCIAS (the predecessor of Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation) has been representing Colombia as the Focal Point of the NAM S&T Centre. More than 15 scientists from Colombia have participated in the activities organised by the NAM S&T Centre with full financial support of the GOI. The NAM S&T Centre also has active cooperation with the Maloka Science Centre, Bogotá and had organized second International Forum and Workshop for Culture of Science, Technology and Innovation in Society and the first Knowledge Fest from 24-26 March 2004 in Bogotá.
Health Cooperation
28. India and Colombia signed an MoU for cooperation in Health in 2010. The first Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting in health cooperation was held between India and Colombia on 15 February 2022.
29. An Indian delegation comprising, Shri Rajneesh Tingal, Joint Secretary, and Shri Sumit Garg, Deputy Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals visited Cartagena to attend the Annual Health Forum held from 8-10 June 2022. During the Forum, they presented India’s success story pin pharmaceuticals sector and marketed Indian pharma industry to the Colombian pharma industry. On 11 June, the Embassy also organized meeting between the Indian delegation and Department of Pharmaceuticals of the National University of Colombia to explore potential areas of cooperation with NIPER, Hyderabad in areas of pharmaceuticals education and research.
30. During the visit of the health, science and technology Mission from Colombia to India, two Letters of Intent for cooperation in the fields of biotechnology and medical research were signed by the Department of Biotechnology and Indian Council of Medical Research with their Colombian counterparts.
Space cooperation
31. On 29 November 2018, ISRO successfully launched FACSAT 1 satellite of Colombian Air Force on PSLV-C43/HysIS mission. It was the first ever Colombian Air Force Nanosatellite. This was a historic occasion in India-Colombia relations and received excellent publicity for India’s prowess in the field of space sciences. Two Colombian officers attended training at ISRO facilities in India from October-December 2019 under UNNATI (UNispace Nanosatellite Assembly & Training by ISRO).
32. During the visit of Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi, MOS (EA) to Colombia in September 2021, an MoU on cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes was signed between the Department of Space (GOI) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Government of Colombia. The first India - Colombia JWG Meeting was held on 7 April 2022. On 16 June, experts from ISRO participated virtually in Geomatic Week, which is organized by Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Colombia and Colombia’s Agustin Codazzi Geographical institute, to showcase India’s prowess in spatial and geospatial technologies and research and offered areas of cooperation to the Colombian authorities.
Defence Cooperation
33. Defence Attaché in Embassy of India, Chile is concurrently accredited to Colombia.
34. Mr. Juan Manuel Santos, Defence Minister of Colombia, [who was later the President of Colombia (2010-18) and Nobel Peace Prize winner], visited India from 25-29 November 2007. He met Raksha Mantri, Home Minister, Raksha Udpadan Mantri and Minister of State for External Affairs. He also visited BEL facilities in Hyderabad and HAL and Infosys campus in Bengaluru. Our three service Chiefs also met the Colombian Defence Minister in New Delhi.
35. India and Colombia signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement in February 2009. Under the Agreement, a Joint Defence Committee (JDC) was established. The first meeting of the JDC was held in Bogota from 7-9 September 2009.
36. In September 2008, four officers of the Colombian artillery visited the Gun Carriage Factory at Jabalpur to learn about the fabrication of 105 mm Howitzer guns. In 2009, the Deputy Chief of the Colombian Air Force, General Fernando Soler Torres participated in AEROINDIA 2009. NDC delegations from India visited Colombia in May 2012 and May 2017.
Cultural Relations
37. There is growing interest among Colombians about India’s culture and heritage. The International Day of Yoga (IDY) events have given a further fillip to the popularity of Indian culture. Indian festivals, dances, music, gastronomy, spirituality are of increasing interest to Colombians. Some Colombians, who earlier learnt Indian classical and folk dances in India, are now professional performers.
38. Festivals, performances, exhibitions, and film shows are regularly organized by the Embassy for enhancing awareness about India’s cultural heritage among Colombian audiences. The Embassy in collaboration with local talent has organized dance performances at various universities during the course of the International weeks organised by them. Several visits of troupes from India to Colombia and vice versa have also taken place. A festival of India was celebrated in 2019-20, which was well received by local audiences.
39. In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mission has also been holding online Kathak, Bharatanatyam and Odissi dance classes over the Facebook Live Page in collaboration with local instructors.
40. On 7 May 2020, the Mission organised Tagore Jayanti to mark the occasion of the birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. On 14 September 2020, an online Hindi poetry recital-cum-elocution contest and an essay competition on the occasion of Hindi Diwas. Under the rubric of celebrations of 70th anniversary of Constitution Day, the Embassy publicised the values enshrined in and ethos of India’s Constitution through regular posts and tweets.
41. Several cultural performances and events to mark Gandhi@150 were organized by the Mission. The celebration of 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi began on 2 October 2018 with the launch of a digital commemorative stamp on Mahatma Gandhi. Other activities organised by the Embassy included lectures/seminars, conferences, screenings of Gandhi documentary, donation of copies of “My Experiments with Truth” in Spanish and tree plantation.
42. To commemorate Gandhi Jayanti celebrations in 2020, the Government of the Municipality of the city of Medellin (capital of Colombian province of Antioquia) in collaboration with the Mission celebrated the International Day of Non-violence. The event saw participation from the Secretary of Non-Violence of the city of Medellin, former Ambassador of Colombia to India, Mr. Alfredo Pinto and noted Gandhian scholar and researcher, Dr. Jasbir Chawla. The Mission and city of Medellin also launched a non-violence unit in the Medellin municipality to mark the occasion. A panel discussion on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, his relevance in contemporary times and particularly, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic was also organised. On 29 September 2020, the Mission organised Gandhi Katha on its Facebook Live platform. The virtual narration was rendered by noted Gandhian Ms. Shobhana Radhakrishna. Brahma Kumari chapter of Colombia organised a meditation session on the occasion of Gandhi@150.
43. On 1-2 October 2021, 152nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was celebrated in with floral offerings at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Bogota. A virtual narration of Mahatma Gandhi’s global pursuit of truth, non-violence and peace by Dr. Shobhana Radhakrishna was organized by the Embassy on this occasion.
44. On 13 November 2020, the Embassy celebrated the 5th Ayurveda Day and organised a virtual programme comprising a conference on Ayurveda by Dr. Jeffin Kakkaserry and an Ayurvedic cooking workshop by Dr. Paula Diez. Earlier in April 2020, an Ayurveda Workshop was organised by the Mission which saw participation from local Ayurveda experts and practitioners.
45. The Embassy organized an event to mark Guru Nanak Jayanti on 23 November 2018 at Pereira City in Colombia as part of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji. Mission organized 551st Guru Nanak Jayanti in the Embassy on 12 November 2019. As part of celebrations of 552nd anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji in November 2020, a lecture presentation on life and teachings of Guru Nanak Devji by Dr. Jasbir Chawla was organized over the virtual platform by the Embassy.
Yoga
46. Yoga is very popular in Colombia and several Yoga institutes are engaged in organizing regular yoga classes. Yoga Teacher (TIC) deputed by ICCR had been on the strength of the Embassy from January 2016 till June 2020. Using the availability of TIC, the Embassy was able to organize lectures/conferences/presentation on Yoga and Indian Culture, yoga classes for general public, diplomatic corps, corporate sector and Embassy officials. The Embassy also organized Yoga Instructor Diploma Courses in Externado University and Piloto University. In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mission has been conducting regular online Yoga classes through its Facebook Live Page.
47. The Mission has been organizing International Day of Yoga (IDY) in several cities of Colombia. Some of these events are organized by the Mission and the remaining in association with yoga institutes and municipalities. Over 10,000 Yoga enthusiasts participate in these events. In 2018, there were 22 Yoga events and in 2019, 15 events were organized to mark the IDY in all major cities of Colombia (Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena etc.).
48. From 8-21 June 2020, two-week long celebrations of the sixth IDY were organized in collaboration with the Sports and Recreation Agency of the City of Bogota (IDRD) and other local organisations and yoga schools. Eleven (11) conferences, 2 Workshops and 15 Yoga practices sessions were organised by 35 institutions to mark the IDY celebrations. In light of mandatory isolation arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, IDY celebrations utilised social media platforms of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. The Embassy also developed a digital platform for dissemination of information about Yoga and transmit live and recorded content of the events organised during the IDY celebrations. Celebrated Yoga guru of India, Swami Chidanand Saraswati addressed the citizens of Colombia on the occasion of IDY 2020. Ms. Diana Chacon of Colombia won the third prize globally in the “My Life My Yoga Video” blogging competition organised by the Ministry of AYUSH.
49. From 1-21 June 2021, the 7th International Day of Yoga was celebrated over the virtual platform a total of 27 events were organised. These included yoga/meditation practices and lecture/conferences on Yoga. These events were conducted by recognized Yoga instructors, Yoga alumni of the ITEC program and Yoga academies/schools/associations in Colombia. Art of Living, Brahma Kumari, and School of Divine Values of Ecuador, among others, collaborated with the Embassy in the IDY celebrations.
50. The 8th International Day of Yoga (IDY2022) was celebrated on 21 June 2022 at Bicentenario Park, Bogota. A unique element of IDY celebrations in 2022 was the “Guardian Ring of Yoga”, in which Colombia was also included among other countries. More than 20 other events were held in collaboration with the local municipal authorities in 9 other cities, from 16 – 21 June, in Colombia. These cities included Barranquilla, Cartagena, Cali, Funza, Medellin, Neiva, Palmira, Villa de leyva and Yopal. More than 5000 Yoga enthusiasts participated the IDY related events in Colombia in 2022.
Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (India@75)
51. The Embassy launched the year long celebrations of India@75, Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) in April 2021 with a curtain raiser. Mission has been organising social media campaigns on India’s freedom fighters and the state of Rajasthan, a photo exhibition titled ‘Sacred India’ by Amit Pasricha in Alfonso López Pumarejo House Museum in Honda (Tolima), a Gandhi Exhibition in Quito, food exhibition in collaboration with Indian community, media interactions with media houses, briefings, University outreach, Indian community outreach, among others, to spread the message of India’s growth story. Mission has also organized Ambassador’s lectures on India and relations with Colombia in Externado University, about AKAM events in local media houses including radio and TV channels and interviews with local publications.
52. Under AKAM, the 6th Ayurveda Day was inaugurated on 2 November 2021 and Ayurveda related events were organized throughout the month of November 2021. The events saw participation from Ayurveda Doctor and expert, Dr. Jeffin F. Kakkassery, and Ms. Barbara Flores of the Divine Values School, Ecuador, Ms. Maria Fernanda Bueno from WAH, Ecuador, Dr. Aswathy from Ecuador, Dr. Divya from India and Mrs. Archana Nistala, President of Indian Association, Colombia.
53. Under AKAM, as part of ‘Communal Harmony Campaign Week’ from 19-25 November 2021, a painting competition was organised by the Embassy for the Indian Diaspora on Communal Harmony and Development. Members of Indian Diaspora participated in the competition. A video on Bihar was screened on social media platforms of the Mission on 12 November 2021, to promote tourism, handicraft and culture of the state. Social media campaign was carried out during the week of 15-19 November 2021, about the Freedom Fighter, Unsung Heroes from the State of Bihar.
54. Under AKAM, on the occasion of the Constitution Day of India held on 26 November 2021, a film titled "Making of Indian Constitution" was screened on the Mission's social media platforms. A short video clip of Mr. Juan Alfredo Pinto, former Ambassador of Colombia to India speaking about the Constitution of India was also screened on Mission's social media platforms.
55. Mission has also donated books to several Universities in Colombia under the Bharat Ek Parichay initiative.
56. Under AKAM celebrations, Ambassador Shri Sanjiv Ranjan held a video conference with leaders of Indian companies in IT, healthcare, pharma, agrochemicals, automotive and energy, in Colombia, to discuss deeper engagement with the Embassy for furthering India’s interests in Colombia and intensifying the latter’s contribution to nation-building in the 75th year of India’s independence. TCS, OVL, MSN, Cipla, Aurobindo, UPL, Hero, TVS-Auteco, IGT Solutions, among others, participated in the interaction with Ambassador.
57. Under AKAM celebrations, the Embassy of India celebrated the National Tourism Day by organising a virtual webinar on India’s Tourism. Promotion of North-eastern India Tourism with Arunachal Pradesh as Focus State was the theme of the event. Ambassador of India, Shri Sanjiv Ranjan delivered the keynote address. The event saw participation from Shri Abu Tayeng, Director, Arunachal Pradesh State Tourism, and Shri V.Senthur Kumaran, Assistant Director, India Tourism, New York, who made key presentations on Arunachal Pradesh Tourism and Tourism promotion schemes of the Indian Government, respectively.
58. On 6 December 2021, Ambassador Shri Sanjiv Ranjan and officers of the Embassy celebrated Mahaparinirvana Diwas and offered floral tribute to Bharat Ratna and Father of Indian Constitution, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. A documentary film about Dr. Ambedkar titled 'Mooknayak' and a video of Professor Soraya Caro, Director of the Centre for Studies and Services on Contemporary India and South Asia (CESICAM) at the Externado University, Bogota, Colombia sharing her thoughts about Dr. Ambedkar was shown on the social media platform of the Embassy.
Busts Installed
59. There are two busts of Mahatma Gandhi installed in Bogota. Another bust of Mahatma Gandhi is installed in Medellin. A bust of Rabindranath Tagore has been installed at the Caro y Cuervo Institute in Bogota.
60. Under AKAM celebrations, a bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled on 7 February 2022 in the city of Baranquilla.
Indian Community
61. The Indian Community comprises of approximately 450 members (350 NRIs and 100 PIOs). A majority of them are professionals, employed with IT firms like TCS, Tech Mahindra, etc. Indian Association, Amigos de la India and Somos Indios are Indian associations, which organize Indian festivals and other cultural activities in which both Indians and Colombians participate.
62. The Mission has taken several measures for the repatriation and welfare of stranded Indian nationals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
63. The number of visitors from Colombia to India has been rising over the years., especially for Yoga, Ayurveda, cultural and spiritual tourism. However, there was a decline in the number of visitors from Colombia to India due to the pandemic.
64. Website and social media platforms of the Mission (URLs):
https://www.eoibogota.gov.in/
https://www.facebook.com/IndiaInColombia
https://www.twitter.com/IndiaEmbBogota
https://www.instagram.com/indiaincolombia/
* * * * *
July 2022
Annexure I
High level visits from India to Colombia
|
S. No.
|
Visit
|
Month
|
Year
|
|
1.
|
Late Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi’s State visit
|
October
|
1968
|
|
2.
|
Late Prime Minister Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao to attend NAM Summit in Cartagena
|
October
|
1995
|
|
3.
|
Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, MOS (EA)
|
September
|
2004
|
|
4.
|
Shri Shashi Tharoor, MOS (EA)
|
January
|
2010
|
|
5.
|
Prof. Saugata Roy, MOS for Urban Development
|
Sept - Oct
|
2010
|
|
6.
|
Shri Dinsha Patel, MOS for Mines
|
May
|
2011
|
|
7.
|
Shri Vivek Katju, Secretary (West) for Foreign Office Consultations (FOC)
|
July
|
2011
|
|
8.
|
Dr. Rahul Khullar, Commerce Secretary
|
August
|
2011
|
|
9.
|
Shri Sachin Pilot, MOS (C&IT)
|
April
|
2012
|
|
10.
|
Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, MOS (C&I)
|
June
|
2012
|
|
11.
|
Shri Parvez Dewan, Secretary (Tourism)
|
October
|
2014
|
|
12.
|
Shri R. Swaminathan, Special Secretary (AMS&CPV) for FOC
|
November
|
2014
|
|
13.
|
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, MOS (IC) (P&NG)
|
May
|
2015
|
|
14.
|
Smt. Rita Teaotia, Commerce Secretary
|
May
|
2017
|
|
15.
|
Gen (Retd) V.K. Singh, MOS (External Affairs)
|
October
|
2018
|
|
16.
|
Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi, MOS (External Affairs)
|
September
|
2021
|
High level visits from Colombia to India
|
S. No.
|
Visit
|
Month
|
Year
|
|
1.
|
Foreign Minister Dr Rodrigo Pardo Garcia-Peña attended NAM Ministerial Meeting
|
April
|
1997
|
|
2.
|
President Andres Pastrana Arango for the first State Visit from Colombia
|
March
|
2001
|
|
3.
|
Foreign Minister Carolina Barco Isakson
|
February
|
2003
|
|
4.
|
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Camilo Reyes
|
May
|
2004
|
|
5.
|
Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos
|
November
|
2007
|
|
6.
|
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Mr. Luis Guillermo Plata
|
April
|
2008
|
|
7.
|
Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr Hernan Martinez Torres
|
September
|
2008
|
|
8.
|
General Fernando Soler Torre, Deputy Chief of Colombian Air Force attended the Aero India
|
February
|
2009
|
|
9.
|
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Clemencia Forero Ucros
|
April
|
2009
|
|
10.
|
Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez accompanied by Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister
|
November
|
2009
|
|
11.
|
Vice President Francisco Santos
|
April
|
2010
|
|
12.
|
Vice Foreign Minister Monica Lanzetta
|
November
|
2011
|
|
13.
|
Vice Foreign Minister Patti Londoño
|
March
|
2012
|
|
14.
|
Vice Minister of Business Development, Carlos de Hart
|
February
|
2013
|
|
15.
|
Minister of Information Technology, Mr. Diego Molano
|
August
|
2013
|
|
16.
|
Vice Foreign Minister Patti Londoño
|
March
|
2017
|
|
17.
|
Foreign Minister Ms. Maria Angela Holguin, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Ms. Maria Lorena Gutierrez and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Patti Londoño
|
November
|
2017
|
|
18.
|
Vice President and Foreign Minister, Ms. Marta Lucia Remirez de Rincon; Minister of Health and Social Protection, Mr. Fernando Ruiz Gomez and Vice Minister of Knowledge, Innovation and Productivity (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation), Mr.Sergio Cristancho
|
September-October
|
2021
|
Annexure II
List of MoUs signed between India and Colombia
|
Sl No.
|
MOUs Agreements
|
Signed
|
|
1
|
Trade Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Colombia
(Validity 3 years/continuation for successive periods of one year at a time)
|
1970
|
|
2
|
Cultural Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Colombia
(Validity 5 years/automatic renewal)
|
1974
|
|
3
|
MoU on Annual Foreign Office Consultations
|
1995
|
|
4
|
Agreement between the Foreign Service Institute of India and the San Carlos Diplomatic Academy of the Republic of Colombia for Academic Cooperation
(Valid for 3 years/automatic renewal)
|
2001
|
|
5
|
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Colombia on Visa exemption for Diplomatic and Official Passport holders
(Valid till denounced by either party)
|
2001
|
|
6
|
MoU between the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and the Ministry of Environment Government of Colombia to execute the Project on ‘Provision of Solar Energy Equipment for Tayrona National Natural Park’
(Was valid till completion of the project)
|
2002
|
|
7
|
MoU between the Ministry of Communications of the Republic of Colombia and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of the Republic of India on Bilateral Cooperation in the field of Information Technology
(Valid indefinitely)
|
2002
|
|
8
|
MoU between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Colombia on Cooperation in Science & Technology
(Valid for 5 years/automatic renewal)
|
2005
|
|
9
|
MoU between the Government of India and the Government of Colombia on Cooperation in the field of Urban Public Transport Systems and Urban Transport Planning
(Validity 3 years)
|
2007
|
|
10
|
MoU between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Mines & Energy, Government of the Republic of Colombia on Cooperation in Hydrocarbon sector
(Valid indefinitely)
|
2008
|
|
11
|
MoU between the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Colombia and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of India on Defence Cooperation
(Validity 5 years/automatic renewal)
|
2009
|
|
12
|
MoU on Cooperation in Bamboo Applications and Research and Development between the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Government of the Republic of Colombia
(Validity 5 years/automatic renewal)
|
2009
|
|
13
|
Agreement on Bilateral Promotion and Protection of Investment between India and Colombia
(Validity 10 years/automatic renewal)
|
|
|
14
|
Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Health between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Social Protection of the Republic of Colombia
(Validity 4 years/automatic renewal)
|
2010
|
|
15
|
MoU on Business Development Cooperation between the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Department of Commerce of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Tourism of the Republic of Colombia
(Validity 5 years/automatic renewal)
|
2010
|
|
16
|
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Republic of Colombia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income
(Valid indefinitely)
|
2011
|
|
17
|
MoU between the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Colombia and the Ministry of Mines of India for Cooperation in the field of Geology and Mineral Resources
(Validity 5 years/automatic renewal)
|
2011
|
|
18
|
MoU between the Colombian Federation of Software Industry and Related Technologies – FEDESOFT and National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM)
(Valid till termination/automatic renewal)
|
2013
|
|
19
|
MoU between the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, the Government of the Republic of India and the Administrative Department of Sports, Entertainment, Fitness and Leisure (COLDEPORTES) of the Government of the Republic of Colombia
(Validity 3 years/renewal by mutual consent)
|
2014
|
|
20
|
Agreement on Free Exercise of Gainful Occupation of Dependent Family Members of the Diplomatic, Consular and Administrative Personnel of Diplomatic Missions
(Valid till denounced by either party)
|
2016
|
|
21
|
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Trade Industry and Tourism of the Republic of Colombia on Cooperation in Tourism Development
(Validity 5 years/automatic renewal)
|
2018
|
|
22
|
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy of the Republic of India, and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Colombia, regarding Cooperation on Traditional Systems of Medicine of India
(Validity 4 years/automatic renewal)
|
2018
|
|
23
|
Joint Interpretative Declaration between the Republic of India and the Republic of Colombia regarding the agreement for the promotion and protection of investments between India and Colombia
|
2009
|
|
24
|
MoU between Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), India and Colombian Federation of Software and IT Industry (FEDESOFT)
(Valid till termination)
|
2018
|
|
25
|
MoU between Department of Space (GOI) and Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Government of Colombia on Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes
|
2021
|
|
26
|
Letter of Intent for collaboration in various areas of health and biomedical research between Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Health Research (DHR), New Delhi, India and Ministry of Health & Social Protection, Bogota, Colombia & Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation, Bogota, Colombia
|
2 October 2021
|
|
27
|
Letter of Intent for cooperation in the field of Biotechnology between Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of Ministry of Science and Technology (GOI) and Ministry of Health & Social Protection of Colombia / Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Colombia
|
2 October 2021
|
Annexure III
Bilateral Trade Figures
(in million USD)
|
Year
|
2015-16
|
2016-17
|
2017-18
|
2018-19
|
2019-20
|
2020-21
|
2021-22 (April- January)
|
|
EXPORT OF INDIA
|
886.89
|
784.50
|
939.14
|
1,116.85
|
1,043.41
|
870
|
1,115.21
|
|
IMPORT OF INDIA
|
807.79
|
593.96
|
592.80
|
1,054.98
|
810.95
|
1,400
|
2,441.02
|
|
TOTAL BILATERAL TRADE
|
1,694.68
|
1,378.47
|
1,531.94
|
2,171.83
|
1,854.37
|
2,270
|
3,556.23
|
|
TRADE BALANCE
|
79.10
|
190.54
|
346.34
|
61.87
|
232.46
|
(-)530
|
(-)1,325.81
|
