Victor Hugo Echeverri Jaramillo, Colombia’s Ambassador to India, emphasized on Thursday the growing potential for stronger trade and investment links between the two nations. Amid rapid geopolitical changes, he underscored the value of “trustworthy partners,” a role that both India and Colombia are fulfilling effectively.
In an interview with IANS, Jaramillo described the two capitals, New Delhi and Bogota, as “reliable partners” and expressed optimism about expanding bilateral ties not only in commerce and politics but also in cultural exchanges. He highlighted that in the current era of global trade tensions and tariffs, collaboration with dependable partners is crucial. Currently, annual trade between India and Colombia stands at approximately $4.7 billion, with significant potential for growth.
Colombia exports goods worth over $3 billion to India, while India’s shipments to Colombia are around $1.4 billion. Indian companies have established a presence in Colombia, particularly in pharmaceuticals, three-wheelers, IT services, and technology sectors. Conversely, Colombia primarily supplies India with energy products, including oil and thermal coal, demonstrating the complementary nature of their economies. Jaramillo noted that several major Indian firms are actively investing in Colombia, further strengthening economic ties.
The Ambassador also highlighted Colombia’s extensive network of free trade agreements, offering access to over 1.5 billion consumers globally, presenting lucrative opportunities for Indian businesses to expand operations in Colombia. High-level political engagements have reinforced this cooperation. In April 2023, India’s Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar made the first-ever visit to Colombia by an Indian Foreign Minister, establishing a constructive agenda for bilateral relations.
Recent visits, such as that of P. Kumaran, Secretary (East) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, have opened additional avenues for collaboration. In recent years, the two nations have signed multiple Memorandums of Understanding and welcomed visits from Colombian vice ministers to India.
Cultural and educational cooperation has also seen growth, particularly through India’s ITEC program. The audiovisual sector is emerging as a promising area, highlighted by a recent agreement to promote joint film and media productions between Indian and Colombian companies.
Ambassador Jaramillo concluded by affirming that bilateral relations are deepening across political, commercial, and cultural dimensions, offering a wide range of opportunities for both countries to engage more closely in the coming years.
