The British Minister for Universities and Science will visit Colombia to strengthen trade relations and to explain further opportunities for the United Kingdom and Colombia to collaborate on innovation, science and education.
As a follow-up to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’ Guest of Government visit to London in 2011, David Willets, MP and minister for universities and science will be in Colombia April 21-23 to help launch “UK Colombia Trade,” a business entity housed in the British Embassy geared to support British companies doing business in Colombia. The new entity will be part of Prime Minister David Cameron’s initiative to double annual U.K. exports to $1.5 trillion (£ 1 trillion) by 2020.
Colombia is the fifth largest importer of British goods in South America, bringing in an average of $202.8 million (£133 million) annually, according to the British and Colombian Chamber of Commerce.
Willets’ visit to Colombia’s capital, Bogota, and second city, Medellin, will also focus on increasing collaboration between the two nations in the fields of education, science and innovation.
He will meet with President Santos, Antioquia Governor Sergio Fajardo, Medellin Mayor Anibal Gaviria, Minister of Education Maria Fernanda Campo, and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (COLCIENCIAS).
During his visit, Willets will also sign three agreements with Colombia tipped to push business innovation, education and increase research between the two nations.
On April 23, the Minister will speak at a forum in Bogota along with Colombia’s Vice-Minister of Education, Roxana de Los Angeles, at Externado University to explain opportunities to increase collaboration between the two countries on science, innovation and education and announce a U.K.- Colombia science prize to encourage research links between the two nations.
The forum “UK and Colombia: Partners for Education and Innovation” will be held on April 23 at Externado University in the La Candelaria district of Bogota at 9:30 AM.
Sources
- Press Release from British Embassy
- Trading from UK to Colombia (British & Colombian Chamber of Commerce)