Colombian Embassy Celebrates 2 Centuries Of US Relations

Last week, a diplomatic delegation from Colombia held a gala event at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts attended by the Colombian president Iván Duque, and the Ambassador of Colombia to the United States, Juan Carlos Pinzón, accompanied by cast members from the Disney film Encanto, the American singers Patti LaBelle and Billy Gilman, and the Colombian musical groups Herencia de Timbiquí and PISO 21 and other guests to celebrate 200 years of bilateral diplomacy with the United States.

“It has been an incredible honor to witness so many important milestones that mark the recent history of this alliance and to play a part in the strengthening of the cooperation between Colombia and the United States,” said Ambassador Pinzón. “May this celebration of the last two centuries of our special relationship informs and inspires the next two hundred years, so this bilateral partnership continues to be fruitful and mutually beneficial for Colombians and Americans alike.”

Flavia Santoro, president of ProColombia, Colombia’s national investment promotion agency. acknowledged the increasing importance of the American market for Colombia.

“The United States is Colombia’s most important partner: it’s the leading destination for Colombian non-mining exports such as flowers, fruit, coffee, software and IT services, beachwear, among others. It is also our main investor with investments that last year worth over $1.7 billion USD. Plus, the United States is our major issuer of travelers to Colombia, and we have unparalleled air connectivity between our two nations with over 53,000 seats available per week bringing Colombian and Americans together,” she said.

“This year is exceptional. Besides commemorating 200 years of bilateral relations, we celebrate 10 years of the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, and the 30^th Anniversary of ProColombia. We are ready to keep building trust and position Colombia as an ideal destination for business and leisure in the in the next 200 years to come,” added Santoro.