President Juan Manuel Santos proposed eight stimuli to encourage floriculture, In an effort to strengthen an industry that produces140,000 direct jobs.
The head of state made his announcement from Bogota on Thursday at the General Assembly of the association of Colombian flower exporters, Asocolflores.
“We know that well beyond the production and exports, the flower industry over many years has been a model of innovation, ecology and social responsibility,” said Santos to the Assembly.
The eight initiatives proposed include eliminating an import tax on agricultural chemicals and fertilizers (which is currently at 5%), a suspension of a decree that obligates flower companies to hire apprentices and the allocation of over $6 million to the industry by The Colombian Agricultural Research Corportation (Corpoica) in order to accomplish technological innovations and transfers.
In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture, which has already directed nearly $520,000 to flower producers affected by the harsh rainy season, will continue their support to rebuild the industry
The president wrapped up his speech saying, “All these initiatives point to a message that I have said but now I want to reiterate: The flower producers have had, have, and will continue to have the support of the national government. It is a sector that we admire for its contribution to formal employment, for their dynamism in foreign trade, and because it shows the world the best image of Colombia.”