State Visit to Colombia - Day 2

Their Excellencies visited kiosks presented by key Canadian rural economic development partners (International Development Research Centre, Cooperative Association, SOCODEVI, Développement International Desjardins, McGill University, and the National University of Colombia).

Gustavo Petro, Mayor of Bogotá, Humberto de la Calle Lombana, Chief Government Negotiator for talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Camilo Gonzalez, Director of the Centre for Memory, Peace and Reconciliation, and key Colombian leaders involved in peace and reconciliation initiatives were among the participants.

These initiatives help small-scale farmers in Colombia strengthen their cooperatives, increase their production, and facilitate their access to financing and new markets.

Their Excellencies tasted great food and had the opportunity to speak with project beneficiaries.

Joined by Anibal Fernandez de Soto, Colombian Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and by the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification), Their Excellencies attended the launch of three Canada-funded rural economic development projects. Canadian delegate Jean Lebel, President of International Development Research Centre (right), explains the potato project in which his organization is involved in Colombia.

Canadian delegate John Baker, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, D2L Corporation, also took part to the discussion.

Canadian delegate Denise Amyot, President and Chief Executive Officer, Colleges and Institutes Canada, spoke on this occasion.

The inauguration was followed by a round table on education with representatives from Colombia Challenge Your Knowledge and Colciencias. Colombia Challenge Your Knowledge is a campaign supported by the network of accredited universities of Colombia, the Ministry of Education and other strategic local allies to promote Colombia as a destination for academic and scientific collaboration.

Their Excellencies, joined by Gina Parody, Minister of Education in Colombia, and Claude Marchand, President of LaSalle College International Education, inaugurated the new LaSalle College campus in Bogotá, the only private Canadian educational institution with direct investment in Colombia.

The discussion took place at the Centre for Memory, Peace and Reconciliation, in Bogotá. The Museum recounts the armed conflict between the Colombian government, paramilitary groups, crime syndicates and left-wing guerrillas (such as FARC), and the National Liberation Army, who have been fighting each other to increase their respective influence over Colombian territory.

As a symbol of peace and in honour of his visit, the Governor General planted a tree on the grounds of the Museum.

Following the discussion, Their Excellencies and Canadian delegates participated in a tour of the Museum for Historical Memory during which they had the opportunity to meet with victims of the armed conflict.

The Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification), took part in the discussion. Since 2006, the Government of Canada has contributed $34 million in support of Colombia’s flagship peacebuilding initiatives such as victims reparations, land restitution, humanitarian demining and demobilization verification.

The Governor General participated in a round table with Colombian Leaders on Peace and Reconciliation Initiatives.

The Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification), signed the agreements totalling $45 million in assistance, on behalf of the Canadian Government.