A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia at 7:34 a.m. local time on August 10, with an epicenter about 3 miles (5 kilometers) east of San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó, roughly 150 miles (241 kilometers) from Bogotá, according to the US Geological Survey and Colombia’s Servicio Geológico Colombiano (Colombian Geological Survey). The quake originated at a depth of more than 100 kilometers, classifying it as a deep intraslab event tied to the Nazca Plate’s subduction beneath the South American Plate. Tremors were felt as far away as Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru.

As of August 12, Colombian authorities had confirmed more than 188 deaths, over 1,600 injuries, 222 people missing, and 260 people still trapped in debris, according to the Unidad Nacional de Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (National Disaster Risk Management Unit, UNGRD) and figures reported by El Tiempo; earlier tallies from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) put damaged homes at close to 5,000, with 61 buildings collapsed and more than 550 schools and 24 health facilities affected across roughly 16 departments. Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío sustained the heaviest damage. President Abelardo De La Espriella declared a national disaster, invoked an economic emergency, and decreed three days of national mourning.

Colombia’s Foreign Ministry, the Cancillería, installed an international cooperation command post led by Foreign Minister Omar Bula to field and coordinate offers of assistance from foreign governments and multilateral organizations. Vice President José Manuel Restrepo said more than 12 countries had formally pledged humanitarian aid or rescue personnel, and that multilateral institutions alone had presented cooperation proposals totaling $1.3 billion USD in assistance of various kinds. “We have already received proposals worth $1.3 billion USD in cooperation of various kinds from multilateral organizations in the midst of this tragedy,” Restrepo said.

“We have already received proposals worth $1.3 billion USD in cooperation of various kinds from multilateral organizations in the midst of this tragedy.” — José Manuel Restrepo, Vice President of Colombia

United States

The US Department of State said it mobilized an initial $15.5 million USD in emergency shelter, food, and protection assistance, along with post-earthquake structural assessments, according to an August 11 media note from the department’s Office of the Spokesperson. The funding is being channeled through five partner organizations: Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Miyamoto International, the UN World Food Programme, and World Vision. Of the total, $3 million USD routed through CRS draws on funding already committed under a separate, previously announced global assistance award to that organization, meaning it does not represent new incremental spending beyond what State had already budgeted for CRS programming.

The department also activated a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), a standing mechanism of humanitarian specialists drawn from across the State Department, with members arriving in Colombia the day of the earthquake to coordinate needs assessments and the broader US government response alongside embassy personnel in Bogotá.

Separately from the new $15.5 million USD package, the State Department noted that as part of its existing $3.8 billion USD contribution to OCHA, the United States had previously provided $200 million USD to the Colombia Pooled Fund, a standing mechanism OCHA can draw on for earthquake-related needs as well as humanitarian programming in Colombia that predates the earthquake. That $200 million USD figure reflects prior funding availability rather than a new pledge tied specifically to the August 10 disaster.

On consular matters, the US Embassy in Bogotá remained open and continued providing emergency and routine passport, notarial, and consular services; its consular agency in Barranquilla also remained open. The embassy advised American citizens in Colombia to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov and to follow [@USEmbassyBogota](profile/USEmbassyBogota) and [@TravelGov](profile/TravelGov) on social media for security updates. US citizens seeking assistance can reach the Bureau of Consular Affairs at 888-407-4747 from within the United States, or +1-202-501-4444 from other locations.

Multilateral development banks

The World Bank disposed $200,000 USD in a non-reimbursable grant, without an associated credit line, to fund post-earthquake damage assessments. Susana Cordeiro Guerra, the World Bank’s vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean, offered technical expertise drawn from the institution’s experience responding to disasters elsewhere, in addition to the grant.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved $500,000 USD in non-reimbursable technical cooperation funding, of which $350,000 USD was made immediately available to the Colombian Red Cross and $150,000 USD earmarked for technical support, Restrepo said. Separately, IDB Group President Ilan Goldfajn said the institution has up to $300 million USD in contingent emergency financing available to Colombia should the government request it; wire reports including CNBC and CBC cited a related figure of $50 million USD as immediately available for reconstruction support, reflecting different tranches or reporting of the same contingent facility.

CAF, the Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean), pledged $500,000 USD in humanitarian donations to be channeled through its Social and Human Development Funds, CAF executive president Sergio Díaz-Granados said.

European Union

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced €2.1 million EUR in humanitarian funding for health, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter, food, protection, and cash assistance in the hardest-hit areas, according to the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO). The European Union activated its Civil Protection Mechanism, which pools resources among the bloc’s 27 member states, and deployed its Copernicus satellite mapping service to support damage assessment. A further €100,000 EUR was reallocated from an existing EU-funded project implemented by the German Red Cross to meet immediate needs of roughly 2,500 families in Chocó and Valle del Cauca.

Switzerland

The Swiss government approved 1 million CHF (about $1.23 million USD) in aid, with half directed to the UN World Food Programme and local nongovernmental organizations for emergency assistance and the remainder allocated to restoring living conditions in destroyed areas, according to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Swiss President Guy Parmelin offered solidarity with Colombia the day of the earthquake.

Spain

Spain’s Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development, AECID) mobilized an initial €1 million EUR package covering shelter materials, water and sanitation kits, medication, and support for deployed health personnel, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said. Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported no confirmed Spanish fatalities as of August 12, though it had not yet located 75 Spanish nationals believed to have been in the affected region.

El Salvador

El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, dispatched two aircraft carrying 100 tons of humanitarian aid along with medical and rescue teams, according to the Presidencia de la República de El Salvador (Presidency of the Republic of El Salvador).

Ecuador

Ecuador’s Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility) sent 47 rescuers with canine units and equipment provisioned for seven days of operations.

Mexico

Mexico deployed 255 specialized military search-and-rescue personnel, including canine handlers and medical staff, along with 4 tons of medications, 8.4 tons of food, satellite phones, radios, generators, and tents, according to Mexico’s Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Peru

Peru sent a plane carrying 12.5 tons of supplies and 62 rescuers through its Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Chile

Chilean President José Antonio Kast offered his government’s civil and technical resources through Chile’s Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), without publicly specifying the scope.

Venezuela

Venezuela’s government, through Vice President and Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez and the Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores (Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs), said it would send rescue brigades, an announcement that drew domestic criticism within Colombia given the state of bilateral relations.

Brazil

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pledged solidarity and said logistical and technical teams were on standby through Brazil’s Ministério das Relações Exteriores (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Argentina

Argentina’s Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship) offered material assistance, civil protection assets, and logistics support.

Additional Latin American and Caribbean support

Several other countries in the region conveyed solidarity or more limited offers of support:

• Panama — President José Raúl Mulino offered collaboration “within our capacity” through the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Panamá (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama).
• Costa Rica — The government conveyed solidarity through its Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship).
• Dominican Republic — President Luis Abinader said his country stood ready to provide assistance, coordinated through the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de República Dominicana (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic).
• Guatemala — The disaster-response agency, the Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres (National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction, Conred), remained in contact with Colombian counterparts to determine whether a formal request for assistance would follow, President Bernardo Arévalo de León’s government said.
• Cuba — Expressed willingness to help without publicly detailing specific commitments.
• Bolivia — Expressed willingness to help without publicly detailing specific commitments.

Other countries

Vice President Restrepo named Japan, Sweden, and Turkey among the more than 12 governments that formally offered humanitarian aid or rescue support, though itemized figures for their pledges were not publicly available as of this writing. Israel, France, Germany, Italy, and Ukraine also expressed readiness to coordinate assistance, according to Colombian media reporting, without confirmed dollar figures attached to those offers.

Red Cross and Red Crescent movement

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched an emergency appeal for 11.7 million CHF to support the Colombian Red Cross, which activated its National Crisis Room and deployed a 30-member urban search-and-rescue team from its Antioquia branch to Chocó, alongside volunteers from its Quindío and Caldas branches. The Colombian Red Cross also activated its Restoring Family Links service to help reunite people separated from missing relatives.

Private sector

Among corporate contributions, Spanish bank BBVA (BME: BBVA) (NYSE: BBVA) said it would provide 3,500 food and hygiene kits, including nonperishable staples and personal care items, distributed through Colombia’s regional food bank network.

How to contribute

Colombian donors and members of the international community seeking a vetted local channel for contributions can direct support through somosone.com.co, the Colombian strategic-philanthropy platform operated by ONE Inversión Social. The organization has partnered with Sankofa Danzafro, La Pascasia, and Presentes Corporación on a Chocó-focused relief campaign, with a donation page linked from the platform’s homepage.

At the 2025 Colombia Gold Summit, Finance Colombia Executive Editor Loren Moss spoke with Daniel Giraldo, a Managing Director at FTI Consulting (NYSE: FCN), a global business advisory firm specializing in cross-border investment and corporate finance. Giraldo offered his perspective on the geopolitical chessboard, examining what Colombia’s recent decision to join the Belt and Road Initiative means for its future relationship with its largest long-standing ally, the United States.

Finance Colombia: I’m here with Daniel Giraldo of FTI Consulting. So we’re here at the 2025 CGS, Colombia Gold Summit, where we also talk about other precious metals, we talk about silver, we also talk about metals like copper, molybdenum, things like that. You gave an interesting talk yesterday, I don’t want to steal your thunder. Why don’t you summarize your discussion?

Daniel Giraldo: Well, if I could summarize my lecture yesterday, I think there’s a chessboard, a giant global chessboard right now. And there are two main players: US and China. And Colombia is one key figure, a key part of this chessboard. Right now, Colombia is in a key position with lots of opportunities between Chinese investment and the US investment. However, which decisions Colombia takes right now will shift the entire game for the coming years.

Finance Colombia: So we are in the last few months of a government that has been relatively friendly or biased towards China. And hostile might be too strong of a word, but relatively cold towards the United States, talking about the Petro government. Colombia, under Petro, just signed up for the Belt and Road Initiative. What is the significance of that for Colombia, not just in its relationship with the United States, but what does that do or change for Colombia?

Daniel Giraldo: Well, what we are seeing right now is that Colombia signed formally the Belt and Road Initiative earlier this year. And there’s been a lot of tensions with the Trump government. At the same time, the US is the main investor in Colombia. And what we’re seeing is how China, through different initiatives, wants to have a bigger long-term influence in the region. And Colombia is, in a soft way, saying, “We want that for us.” However, that’s not a shift that can be made automatically. That’s not made in a single signature by one president. It takes years and years to forge a relationship. And although the government of Petro, President Petro is showing how they’re very interested in the Chinese investment, and to have a strong relationship with the Chinese government, it’s not the way, to just step out of their major alliances throughout years with the US

Finance Colombia: The way that investment is done in China is fundamentally different than the way investment is done from places like the US or Canada or many European countries. In the US, if you’re going to attract investment in Colombia, it’s going to be with some company. And that company is going to do what it wants to do within the law but not really giving a damn about what Washington says or what Washington wants or what Ottawa says or wants. Whereas in China, it’s very much a government-to-government thing. You have state-owned enterprises, and Xi Jinping or the Communist Party says, “we’re going to invest in this,” whether it’s profitable or not, for whatever kind of geopolitical reasons that they want to do things. So it’s a fundamentally different thing.

If you do a deal with a company in the US, you’re doing a deal with that company. Now, yes, you have to make sure that regulatory things go through. Trump is a little bit more of a patronage type of president where he wants to get involved with things so he can find benefit for himself or his administration. But generally speaking, even still, if we look at investors, if you’re going to bring in someone to invest in one of these mining companies here or exploration, it’s a company. In China, it’s going to be a state-backed company. Now, what does that imply, then, for the way business would be done going forward, number one? And number two, Petro’s on his way out, and maybe there will be another left-wing government to continue his project, it doesn’t look like it at this point. But do you see continuity in that affinity or that participation in the Belt and Road Initiative? Like you mentioned, it’s not a treaty, it’s more of like a memorandum of understanding, like the diplomats like to call it. But what do you foresee over the next two or three years?

Daniel Giraldo: Yeah, I believe every tactic has been launched in a very moderate way somehow. So, of course, Belt and Road is just a framework, and every project that could be contemplated by Chinese government, depending on the feasibility of each one of these projects. So they’re not basically getting married yet, they’re just dating.

They’re just on their first dates. However, we’re married to the US We’ve had a long-standing marriage, and what we are seeing right now is that how investment works for both countries is different. However, for both countries, there are more and more, basically, things they require to be approved.

So in order to achieve this, the US is not being indirect about it. They require trusted partners. They require trusted allies, which get what’s at stake right now. So, Petro’s government has one year left. We are expecting a shift. However, even if Colombia gets a left-wing government or a right-wing government, it doesn’t change the fact that investment in the latest years has been in a rough place.

So Colombia requires this investment, and the country requires a very stable policy framework, regulatory framework, legal framework, in order to get investors feeling safer, with more appeal. And, yes, of course, it’s not the same as an SOE (State Owned Enterprise) Chinese company that wants to invest, that needs the approval of Beijing and all this. In contrast, we have the US. Of course, Washington can say whatever they want. They can say Petro is now on the Clinton list, and they can sanction him personally. But a company, a US company, can still invest here; it changes how they see Colombia in the long run.

Finance Colombia: I think one of the things that is very notable is that the Trump government sanctioned Petro, his son, his wife, and his interior minister personally, rather than imposing sanctions on the country or doing, like, I don’t know, tariff things. Actually, by the time we publish the video, we might know what happens, but right before the Supreme Court right now, actually as we speak, there is a challenge to Trump’s ability to circumvent congressional law. And so if we have a trade pact, like free trade agreement or something like that, a lot of businesses in the US have challenged Trump’s ability to just… you can’t just cancel a law. Congress passed a law, and it’s in effect, and you can’t just cancel it. Well, that’s what they’re arguing. And all of these kind of unilateral, discretionary tariff moves that affect entire economies and entire industries, there’s some uncertainty that is going to be settled there.

“However, we’re married to the US We’ve had a long-standing marriage, and what we are seeing right now is that how investment works for both countries is different.” – Daniel Giraldo

But it’s interesting because it seems that with them sanctioning Petro and Benedetti directly as individuals, they’re saying that they want to maintain some predictability and constancy in the bilateral economic relationship with Colombia. And I think that there have been a lot of missions. Fico, the mayor here in Medellin, some of the other mayors and Colombian congressional people have visited Washington and met with senators and met with people in the State Department and said, “Look, you know, we disagree with what the president’s doing. Wait a few months.” And it seems like Washington has heard that and is not acting too rashly towards Colombia as a country but rather decided to take their ire out directly on the president and his consigliere Armando Benedetti.

Daniel Giraldo: What I believe of this is that Trump’s government can say like, “We’re not afraid. We are not afraid of imposing sanctions. We’re not afraid of not conducting business in the way we used to do it anymore.” And it’s been shown, for example, in the relationship with China, for example, with the Chinese government, with Xi Jinping. And there’s been like an escalation of tariffs, for example, I think up to 130%. I can’t remember the exact number. And then last week they say, “let’s stop this. Let’s trade the sequels.” And it’s also their way of showing the carrot and then showing the mace or bat, this metaphor.

Finance Colombia: Yeah, the stick.

Daniel Giraldo: And with Colombia, I believe it is the same. It’s like we could, if we wanted, to give some sanctions and they will have great consequences in terms of our bilateral trade. However, they’re aware of their position. They’re our main investor. We have a very good relationship in bilateral trade. There’s been years and there’s been decades of both countries benefiting from each other. We have a great position in one of the closest countries to enter South America. And they know this government is just ending. So why would they give us, like give the left-wing parties an opportunity to just bash them and say, “Oh, Trump’s government can’t be trusted.” Whereas if you take another position and say, “Look, this is personal, this is just these individuals, not the whole country.” You still have ground to negotiate, to renegotiate, to benefit. So I believe it is quite tactical.

Finance Colombia: Another thing that you mentioned is the difference on the ground. When you look at, for example, if we talk about the mining sector, not just on the ground, but literally in the ground, the US right now, the Trump administration, and really just the US more broadly, is very concerned about rare earths. And Colombia, even though there’s not yet a lot of mining activity, Colombia does have rare earth potential. There’s already been illegal coltan, cobalt ore mining taking place down in the Amazon, things like that. But it would seem that further damaging relationships with Colombia right now would contravene the political strategy in the US to strengthen its rare earth mineral supply chain.

Daniel Giraldo: Yes, it is completely true. The US has shown how important it is for them to be less dependent on the supply chains of the Chinese government, specifically in terms of their rare earths and critical minerals refining processes. So the US has been in recent weeks signing lots of memorandums of understanding and bilateral agreements with Australia, with Japan, with Malaysia, with Thailand. And they already have very good deals with Argentina, with the Mineral Security Partnership, for example, Mexico, Peru, Argentina. And the Dominican Republic. And Colombia could be in the radar as well. And what Colombia requires to be here and to benefit with the US as well is just to be patient, to get the best and the highest standards of ESG, and to reassure the different governments that it is safe to trade minerals with Colombia. That if they purchase Colombian minerals, they explore the region and they trade with us, they will find quality, they will find high standards of minerals, without assuming lots of risks that these markets don’t want to assess anymore.

Finance Colombia: So longer term, looking out three to five years, are you optimistic or pessimistic about the bilateral relationship between the US and Colombia?

Daniel Giraldo: I feel optimistic, not only because it’s the most comfortable answer, but I do feel optimistic because I believe there is a lot of potential. And right now, the sector is not in its best place. But I believe that sometimes you just have to grit your teeth, take the punch, and then stand up again and do everything that’s in your power to just become better. And Colombia has a history of learning, and the sector will learn as well how to be more competent, how to attract investors, and how to get to the highest standard and quality of their bilateral trade with different countries.

Finance Colombia: Great. Well, Daniel Giraldo from FTI Consulting, you guys are one of the leading strategic consulting firms globally, especially when you look at things like cross-border investment. That seems to be your strong suit, even though you guys are a large firm and you guys do a lot of different things. Always great to see your presence here at CGS, at Colombia Gold Summit. And thanks for your insights.

Daniel Giraldo: It’s a pleasure, thanks for having me.

The therapy is used to treat various cancers, including colorectal and lung cancer.

The shipment to Colombia was dispatched approximately two months after receiving the regulatory authorization. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a factor involved in blood vessel formation. The therapy is used in the treatment of various cancers, including metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and metastatic or recurrent non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (nsNSCLC). Industry estimates indicate that global sales for bevacizumab injection reached $8.5 billion USD in 2023.

The arrival of the initial shipment in Colombia marks the execution of the companies’ commercial strategy for the region. The Colombian cancer burden is characterized by patterns aligning with bevacizumab’s indications, with 11,163 colorectal cases and 7,196 lung cases reported out of 117,620 new cancer cases in 2022, according to IARC GLOBOCAN 2022.

Manufacturing and Global Strategy

BioDlink’s manufacturing facilities, spanning 50,000 square meters, have undergone five audits by an EU Qualified Person (QP) for antibody drugs and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) over the past four years without any critical defects being reported. The company states that its quality system has supported over 100 clinical projects, providing development, clinical filings, and manufacturing services in global markets including Europe and the US.

The partnership operates under an international commercialization agreement signed in early 2022, establishing a framework where BioDlink focuses on manufacturing and supply chain management while Kexing BioPharm leverages its distribution network for market access in emerging regions. Kexing BioPharm, which holds the global license for the bevacizumab injection in emerging markets, has achieved Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification for the product in China, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Thailand. In collaboration with BioDlink, Kexing BioPharm has initiated regulatory filings in 35 countries. GMP certification in Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina covers South America’s three most populous countries.

BioDlink reports that its international focus remains on emerging markets, including South America, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

Above photo courtesy Kexing Biopharm

Colombia’s rejection rate is now comparable to China’s, which stood at 25.37% for the same period. Within South America, Colombia’s rate was exceeded only by Bolivia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, each reporting denial rates above 35%. In contrast, Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil reported significantly lower refusal rates, ranging from approximately 5% to 15%.

The adjusted refusal rate accounts for multiple applications by the same individual and excludes cases where initial refusals were later overcome through additional documentation or appeals.

From Visa Waiver Talks to Rejection Spike

The current visa rejection rate stands in stark contrast to the diplomatic trajectory under former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. In 2014, Santos publicly stated that the United States had initiated a process to eliminate visa requirements for Colombian citizens traveling for tourism and short-term business. The announcement was made during a press conference in New York, where Santos said, “We are working with the US government to remove the visa requirement for Colombians.”

That process has since collapsed. No formal visa waiver agreement was reached, and under subsequent administrations, visa conditions have deteriorated significantly.

The increase in Colombia’s visa rejection rate coincides with a series of diplomatic incidents between Bogotá and Washington. In January 2025, Colombian President Gustavo Petro revoked authorization for US repatriation flights carrying deported Colombian nationals. The reversal came hours after Petro initially welcomed the flights via social media, only to later delete the post and issue a statement denying entry to the aircraft. Petro cited concerns over the treatment of deportees, stating, “The United States cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals.”

The US government responded by suspending visa services at its embassy in Bogotá, effective January 27, 2025 until Petro backed down, which he did immediately. According to Finance Colombia, the suspension was part of a broader set of retaliatory measures announced by then-President Donald Trump, which included:

• 50% tariffs on Colombian exports.
• Visa revocations for government officials.
• Travel bans targeting Petro administration affiliates.
• Enhanced customs inspections of Colombian cargo and nationals.

The diplomatic rift drew criticism from Colombian regional leaders. Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez and Antioquia Governor Andrés Julián Rendón publicly denounced Petro’s actions, warning of economic repercussions and calling for direct engagement with US counterparts.

In May 2024, the US imposed visa restrictions on executives of Colombian transportation companies accused of facilitating unauthorized migration by sea. The State Department stated that these companies “prey on vulnerable irregular migrants” and operate services “designed primarily to facilitate irregular migration to the United States.”

While the US government has not officially linked the rise in visa denials to these diplomatic and migration-related events, the timing and scale of the increase suggest that political tensions are influencing consular decisions.

Outlook

The elevated rejection rate could impact Colombian tourism, business travel, and bilateral cooperation. With visa services only recently reinstated following Petro’s capitulation to US demands, it remains unclear whether the rate will stabilize or continue to rise amid ongoing political volatility and economic uncertainty.

US Department of State. Photo credit: US Department of State/Facebook.

Doris Chingate, project manager of Agroexpo, highlighted that “This fair not only exceeded attendance expectations, but also confirmed that the heart of Colombian agriculture beats stronger than ever. Behind this historic fair, hundreds of hands made it possible: the logistics team, the producers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, engineers, technicians, veterinarians, designers, assemblers, commercial team, communications, service personnel, registration, security, box office, and all the collaborators of Corferias and allied unions. Each one left their soul so that the countryside would shine in the city. Today, more than 290,000 visitors can say that they lived an unforgettable Agroexpo.”

The Agroexpo 2025 Business Roundtable closed with more than 600 appointments between 214 exhibitors and 44 buyers from Latin America and the Caribbean. Photo credit: Agroexpo.

According to Daniel Espinosa, president of UNAGA, “Agroexpo 2025 has been an unprecedented celebration. This edition consolidates our fair as the most important meeting point between producers, entrepreneurs, guilds, and rural families from all over the country. Seeing thousands of people touring the pavilions, connecting with the land, learning, and dreaming of a stronger and modern future, is proof of the commitment we have to rural development. From the 27 livestock associations that belong to UNAGA, we celebrate the effort of all those who made it possible and reaffirm our pride in representing the productive heart of Colombia.”

A successful business roundtable

The Agroexpo 2025 Business Roundtable was also a resounding success, with total expected revenues exceeding $4.1 million USD (more than $16.700 million COP at the value of the current TRM). During July 15 and 16, more than 600 appointments were held between 214 exhibitors and 44 international buyers from 10 countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.

During the event, spot deals were made for $1.4 million USD, and commercial agreements for $2.78 million USD were projected to be carried out in the next 12 months. This balance demonstrates the export potential of Colombian agriculture and Agroexpo’s ability to promote the countryside with international markets.

A protected and guarded fair that takes care of each animal

Carlos Augusto Ríos Martínez, Cundinamarca sectional manager of the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), highlighted, “As responsible for the country’s agricultural health, the ICA has had a decisive participation in Agroexpo 2025, as it does every year, guaranteeing the inspection, surveillance, and control of the entry and stay of animals and plants. At the close of the fair, we can give a piece of peace of mind: there was no risk situation.”

Ríos underscored the effort of the technical and veterinary team that operated in shifts from July 6 to 21, and stressed that a fair with the volume of entry and exit of animals, such as Agroexpo, requires intense logistical work.

He also highlighted the work of the team for the issuance of mobilization and plant health guides, especially in controls such as the prevention of the entry of restricted products, such as non-certified potatoes, due to diseases such as purple tip. “We still have lessons learned, but the balance is highly positive. From now on, we are working with the organizers to strengthen processes towards the next edition.”

Agroexpo 2025. Photo credit: Agroexpo.

On the other hand, the District Institute for Animal Protection and Welfare – IDPYBA carried out inspections throughout the fair to verify how the five fundamental freedoms of the animals present at Agroexpo 2025 were guaranteed.

These inspections focused on validating that all specimens were:

• Free of hunger and thirst;
• Free of discomfort;
• Free from pain, injury, or disease;
• Free to express natural behavior; and
• Free from fear and anguish. This rigorous monitoring was key to ensuring a dignified and respectful stay with animal welfare throughout the fair.

Auctions by Asocebú, UNAGA, and Fedegán

In total, the four auctions held during Agroexpo 2025 reached sales of $2.479 million COP, with a total of 163 lots offered. “These auctions reaffirm the solidity and projection of the Colombian livestock business, as well as the genetic quality of the specimens presented,” said Espinosa. They were carried out as follows:

Asocebú began on July 11, 2025, with “La Gran Reserva”, an auction where 50 lots were offered, focused on pasture specimens as breeders, levante females, and belly females, with the participation of breeders from all over the country. The day closed with more than $1 billion COP in sales.

On July 12, it was the turn for the “Great Auction of Specimens of Cabezal”, with 35 lots made up of animals that had been judged during the first week of the fair, many of them awarded, and that reached sales close to $700 million.

For its part, Fedegán, located in pavilion 4 and which had more than 60 commercial allies and an academic agenda dedicated to animal health, international markets, sustainability, and promotion of consumption, advanced in its auctions with the participation of cattle ranches such as Acres Farm, Hacienda la Ponderosa, and Hacienda Cuba, reaching high sales numbers.

On July 18, the “UNAGA – TVGAN Diamond Auction” was held in the Main Auditorium of Corferias, where more than 40 lots focused on meat specimens were offered. And the day closed with $337 million in sales. On Saturday, the 19th, it was the turn of the “Remate Estrellas de Fedegan,” where 38 batches focused on milk were offered, and the day closed with $442 million in sales.

A tour in numbers through the most historic version of the fair

The 25th edition had several exhibition areas, located throughout the fairgrounds: in pavilion 8, level 2, there were about 250 sheep of different breeds: hair, milk, materna, and meat breeds. In this space, 27 associated breeders participated, 10 pens with more than 50 producers.

Compared to the four auctions carried out by ASOCEBÚ, UNAGA, and Fedegán, it reached sales close to $2.479 million USD, with a total of 163 lots offered. Photo credit: Agroexpo.

Another of the places that captured the attention of the attending public was the stalls, which received in the first week horses from countries such as Switzerland and Holland, where the breeds specialized in heavy draft took the limelight. While for the second week of the Fair, trot horses and Paso Fino were the protagonists.

One of the events with the highest influx of the public was the “Copa Colombia Agroexpo 2025”, held from July 17 to 20, in which 532 specimens participated and four gaits were judged. The winners in each category were:

Track and gallop:

• Grand Champion: Neptune of Montesa
• Grand Champion: 2M Star
• Reserved Champion: Rancho San Juanito Furor
• Reserve Champion: Perennial Victory of the Ceiba
• Young Champion: Cantador de Mis Potrillos
• Young Champion: Malagueña from Rancho La Luna
• Grand Champion: Chaotic Diamond of Salem
• Grand Champion: Mission Accomplished by Carolina de Los Mellis
• Reserved Champion: Kronos of Two Steps
• Reserved Champion: Welcome from La Cristalina
• Young Champion: Corso de Nuevo Amanecer
• Young Champion: Antioqueñita from Rancho La Milagrosa

Colombian Paso Fino:

• Grand Champion: Bandit Lover
• Grand Champion: 3C Pepper
• Reserved Champion: Ponderosa Chapala Show
• Reserved Champion: Queen of Hacienda Heisen
• Young Champion: Splendid Arizona from Villa Natalia

This was the experience of the exhibitors

Diego Villanueva, national commercial manager of Global Motors:

“Agroexpo 2025 was a great fair for us. We closed deals for approximately $700 million COP, and we managed to get many visitors, who were expecting to physically see our tractors, to check their quality and robustness. This fair allowed us to better position ourselves in the market, and we will undoubtedly participate again in the next edition.”

Juan Fernando Mejía Isaza, manager of Premex:

“Agroexpo 2025 was a total success for us. It had been years since we had participated with our stand and returning with our lines of animal nutrition and health for horses, beef and dairy farming, and pig farming was a wise decision. We made direct sales for more than 25 million pesos, but the most valuable thing was the commercial reach: more than 100 contacts between end customers, distributors, and suppliers from all over the country and abroad.”

Marco Tulio Pérez, representative of the Ministry of Agriculture of Huila:

“The balance of Agroexpo 2025 for the department of Huila is highly positive. Our entrepreneurs, who presented production lines such as coffee, cocoa, panela, fruit, and derivatives, achieved important commercial contacts, especially with markets in Bogotá. We highlight strategic alliances, such as the one reached between cocoa producers and the Mayor’s Office of Tenjo. In addition, export opportunities were created that open a new panorama for regional agriculture: 5,000 tons of cocoa to Russia and organic powdered panela destined for Spain.”

Álvaro Ernesto Palacio, executive president of Asohofrucol:

“From Asohofrucol and the National Fund for Horticultural Development, we celebrate that fruit and vegetable producers have made real sales within the framework of Agroexpo 2025. This fair not only allowed us to make visible the potential of our fruits and vegetables, but also showed that the Colombian countryside does sell, it does grow, and it does have a market. Events like this are essential to continue strengthening commercial chains, opening new marketing channels, and positioning our products on the national and international stage.”

Carlos Fernando Mayorga, general manager of Fedepanela:

During the days of the fair, we estimate that more than 18,000 people visited our stand, thanks to a constant programming, a multisensory experience, and a strategic location. We managed to consolidate key institutional alliances, make new panela ventures visible, and offer innovative content that connected with audiences of all ages. From regional gastronomic shows and tastings, to activations with allied characters and brands, we show that life tastes like panela and we leave a clear message: panela is identity, flavor, and future for Colombia.”

Agroexpo 2025 highlighted the ongoing strength and connectivity of the Colombian countryside through its focus on tradition, innovation, and rural communities. The event, held at Corferias, brought together producers, entrepreneurs, and guilds for its 25th edition, continuing a tradition spanning over 50 years. Planning for the next Agroexpo has already begun.

Photo credit: Agroexpo.

The 2025 event is set to feature more than 350 companies, trade associations, and producers, with a program that includes business matchmaking, specialized training, and networking. Expoagrofuturo is scheduled to run concurrently with the broader Week of the Agro, an initiative that coordinates multiple events and forums across the sector.

According to Doris Chingaté, project manager for Expoagrofuturo, the event connects industry professionals with emerging technologies, business models, and market trends.

Academic Agenda and Thematic Focus

A central component of the three-day event is its academic agenda, which will feature 75 specialized talks. This year’s program includes the sixth edition of the Summit of Asobiocol, an association for the Colombian bio-input sector.

The FIXA (Agrofuturo Innovation Forum), a key academic event within the trade show, will be held on September 10 and 11. It will host international speakers from Brazil, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia. Confirmed speakers include:

• Jaime Elizondo (Mexico): A specialist in regenerative farming and the use of animals for soil regeneration.
• André Aguiar (Brazil): An agricultural engineer with a focus on production efficiency and sustainability.
• Alex Foessel (United States): A PhD in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University and an expert in applied agricultural innovation.
• Camilo Manrique (Colombia): An agribusiness entrepreneur leading sustainable palm oil and livestock production.

Attendees of the FIXA forum will receive an official certification from Universidad Zamorano of Honduras, a recognized agricultural education institution in Latin America.

Event Zones and Business Matchmaking

Expoagrofuturo will be organized into five thematic pavilions and specialized zones:

• Red Pavilion: A new area dedicated to the livestock sector, featuring auctions of genetics.
• Blue Pavilion: Focused on inputs and productivity, including seeds, fertilizers, bio-inputs, and plant genetics.
• White and Green Pavilion: This space will host international delegations and address topics related to irrigation, water management, biotechnology, and Agriculture 4.0.
• Yellow Pavilion: Divided into sections for Productive Territory (housing trade associations, government entities, and chambers of commerce) and Machinery and Technification (showcasing agricultural tools, machinery, and vehicles). A Livestock section will feature products for animal nutrition, genetics, and veterinary services.
• Experimental Zone: An interactive area with live demonstrations.

The event will also facilitate business and networking through two platforms. Agstar is designed for connecting with innovation leaders and will include a live podcast on mental health in the agricultural sector. Agromatch will serve as the business matchmaking forum, which this year will feature a second session supported by the Cámara de Comercio de Medellín, Comfama, and Procolombia, and will host more than 20 international buyers.

Expoagrofuturo. Photo credit: Corferias.

The 2025 event is set to feature more than 350 companies, trade associations, and producers, with a program that includes business matchmaking, specialized training, and networking. Expoagrofuturo is scheduled to run concurrently with the broader Week of the Agro, an initiative that coordinates multiple events and forums across the sector.

According to Doris Chingaté, project manager for Expoagrofuturo, the event connects industry professionals with emerging technologies, business models, and market trends.

Academic Agenda and Thematic Focus

A central component of the three-day event is its academic agenda, which will feature 75 specialized talks. This year’s program includes the sixth edition of the Summit of Asobiocol, an association for the Colombian bio-input sector.

The FIXA (Agrofuturo Innovation Forum), a key academic event within the trade show, will be held on September 10 and 11. It will host international speakers from Brazil, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia. Confirmed speakers include:

• Jaime Elizondo (Mexico): A specialist in regenerative farming and the use of animals for soil regeneration.
• André Aguiar (Brazil): An agricultural engineer with a focus on production efficiency and sustainability.
• Alex Foessel (United States): A PhD in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University and an expert in applied agricultural innovation.
• Camilo Manrique (Colombia): An agribusiness entrepreneur leading sustainable palm oil and livestock production.

Attendees of the FIXA forum will receive an official certification from Universidad Zamorano of Honduras, a recognized agricultural education institution in Latin America.

Event Zones and Business Matchmaking

Expoagrofuturo will be organized into five thematic pavilions and specialized zones:

• Red Pavilion: A new area dedicated to the livestock sector, featuring auctions of genetics.
• Blue Pavilion: Focused on inputs and productivity, including seeds, fertilizers, bio-inputs, and plant genetics.
• White and Green Pavilion: This space will host international delegations and address topics related to irrigation, water management, biotechnology, and Agriculture 4.0.
• Yellow Pavilion: Divided into sections for Productive Territory (housing trade associations, government entities, and chambers of commerce) and Machinery and Technification (showcasing agricultural tools, machinery, and vehicles). A Livestock section will feature products for animal nutrition, genetics, and veterinary services.
• Experimental Zone: An interactive area with live demonstrations.

The event will also facilitate business and networking through two platforms. Agstar is designed for connecting with innovation leaders and will include a live podcast on mental health in the agricultural sector. Agromatch will serve as the business matchmaking forum, which this year will feature a second session supported by the Cámara de Comercio de Medellín, Comfama, and Procolombia, and will host more than 20 international buyers.

Expoagrofuturo. Photo credit: Corferias.

This balance was presented during the Medellín 2025 Investment Roundtable, a meeting led by ACI Medellín and the Medellín Chamber of Commerce for Antioquia, with the support of ProColombia, Ruta N, ANDI del Futuro, and the Government of Antioquia. In this space, 27 local and regional companies held one-on-one meetings with national and international investment funds in search of capital that allows them to grow, innovate, and consolidate their expansion. Beyond attracting new companies, this strategy strengthens the brownfield model by connecting companies already established in the territory with sources of financing to scale their operations and generate a sustainable impact.

The city has reported 18 new foreign direct investment projects and more than 8,000 jobs projected in 2025. Photo credit: ACI Medellín.

In the most recent Investment Roundtable organized by ACI Medellín and the Medellín Chamber of Commerce for Antioquia, 27 businessmen and 19 investors participated, generating 127 business appointments. As a result of this connection exercise.

“The results of this semester ratify that Medellín is a reliable partner for investment and cooperation. We managed more than USD 168 million and nearly 8,000 jobs, connecting international capital and development finance with high-impact public and private projects in our region. From ACI Medellín, we are carrying out a determined work of global positioning so that the city continues to be on the map of international investment. Cases such as those of Accenture, Recurly, or Health Prime, and projects such as Primavera Norte, which received technical assistance from the C40 program, are proof that internationalization transforms territories, strengthens trust among all actors in society, and is reflected in a better quality of life for our people. Our commitment is clear: to work in an articulated way so that Medellín is increasingly competitive, generates sustainable social development, and multiplies opportunities for those who inhabit it,” said Cristina Zambrano, executive director of ICA Medellín.

Ruta N, a strategic ally of ACI Medellín, has been key in strengthening the city’s science, technology, and innovation ecosystem. In coordination with ProColombia and the ACI, it facilitated the establishment of 10 new companies in the STi sector from the United States, Ukraine, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia, consolidating Medellín as a competitive destination for technology-based companies.

At the Investment Roundtable, more than 27 local and regional companies met with 19 national and international investors to raise capital to boost their growth. Photo credit: Loren Moss.

Through the Medellín Venture Capital program, Ruta N builds local and foreign investment capacities, mapping and attracting more than 200 regional funds interested in investing in the city, training more than 100 new venture capital investors, structuring new investment vehicles, and creating an active investment community with angel investors. Family offices, corporates, and funds. In addition, Ruta N, in alliance with Bancoldex, has invested $3.2 million USD in an investment fund in the city, which in total will make around $10 million USD available to 30 FinTech startups in the region.

Ruta N, in addition to supporting investment rounds with the ACI, also promotes the connection between investors and startups through Startia, the brain of the city’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, with more than 350 technology-based ventures mapped and more than 300 investors, where effective connections can be generated organically. From an international point of view, Ruta N has great allies such as the Royal Academy of Engineering and the government of the United Kingdom, with which in 2025 it allocated £200,000 GBP to the training and scaling of entrepreneurs in the city.

ACI Medellín also highlighted key advances in international cooperation. In this first half of the year alone, Medellín managed $2.58 million USD in technical and financial cooperation, with projects that address issues such as financial education with a gender approach, circular economy, data for public management, and strategies to combat hunger. The city was also selected for international programs such as the City Data Alliance and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Challenge 2025.

Photo credit: ACI Medellín.

Htwenty Capital is one of those early stage venture firms. During a recent event organized by the City of Medellín’s investment promotion agency, ACI Medellín, Loren Moss, executive editor of Finance Colombia and Cognitive Business News was able to spend some time with the investment fund’s Platform Lead, Jimena Cortés to discuss the unique challenges—and opportunities that Colombia presents when it comes to funding and growing high potential startups.

Finance Colombia: I’m here with Jimena Cortés, who works with HTwenty Capital. What’s your role with HTwenty Capital?

Jimena Cortés: Sure, thank you very much for the invitation. I’m an investor for Spanish-speaking LATAM in HTwenty, and I also lead the platform efforts, that is, all the efforts we do post-investment for the portfolio.

Finance Colombia: Great, so HTwenty, my understanding is that it’s an early stage –it focuses on early stage seed, pre-seed, maybe Series A investments, really gets in early in the game. And then, you know, I did a little bit of homework, and you guys specialize in working closely, actively, with investors. Kind of holding their hand, serving a little bit more, you know, almost along the incubator route. Is that correct?

Jimena Cortés: Yes, in part, we’re an active fund, we’re super hands-on with our portfolio. A big, important part of our investment thesis is how we can generate value for our portfolio. That’s correct, we also enter in super early stages, it includes pre-seed also; pre-seed, seed, and pre-Series A is our sweet spot. And yeah, we have a really important network of advisors, super specialized in product, or on B2B acquisition, or technology. And we also have a playbook of partnerships and different stakeholders to help our portfolio, but we also strategically work along with them super closely.

Finance Colombia: Now, one interesting thing I noticed is that you guys have offices here in Colombia, in Mexico City, and Miami. You guys chose that geography as opposed to, let’s say, the traditional Silicon Valley or Boston or New York. Why?

Jimena Cortés: Yes, I think there are two answers to that question. The first one is that our thesis is a cross-border thesis, so we are super focused on creating this cross-border network, so companies from Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico can go to find operations in the US, but also from Colombia and Argentina to Mexico. So that’s an important part. And second, the ecosystem in Miami it’s growing in a really interesting way; it’s not the traditional Silicon Valley ecosystem, but we have a lot of second-time or third-time founders creating companies in Miami. So the ecosystem is getting pretty interesting, so we are making a bet on the Miami ecosystem.

“We invest in early stages. So basically, our sweet spot is pre-seed, seed, and pre-Series A.” – Jimena Cortés

Finance Colombia: Great. So speaking of here in Colombia, you’re Colombian, right?

Jimena Cortés: Yes, I’m Colombian.

Finance Colombia: So this has to be, you know, a point of personal pride that international venture capital firms are taking notice. What are the unique challenges compared to other Latin American locations like Mexico or Brazil? What are the unique challenges that Colombia faces when it comes to attracting venture capital?

Jimena Cortés: Yes, I think Colombia has done a pretty good job because we have a really good talent, technical talent, that is aiming to build interesting things. I think what’s more challenging is the exit ecosystem. Colombia has a small public or IPO system, so we have to look for other types of exits that are more in the private sector, and that’s how we attract these exits. Like in the US, there is a huge market on the M&A side. So I think the challenge here in Colombia is how we are going to exit to make the returns we expect, and how we also get into reasonable valuations.

Finance Colombia: Good point. I think that when we look at, for example, Colombian-listed companies, they tend to list –You know, I remember Tecnoglass, for example, a Colombian company. Now they’re based in Miami. They went from BVC in Bogotá to NASDAQ, then from NASDAQ to the New York Stock Exchange. When we look at the multilatinos, like here in Medellín, we have Grupo SURA, Bancolombia, Ecopetrol, and they’re all listed on the New York Stock Exchange. A lot of them also list in the BVC, maybe more for patriotism, I think, than anything else. So, because of that, it kind of precludes, to a large degree, going to a traditional domestic IPO because the capital markets or the demand for the securities aren’t there. Have you seen any companies, aside from obvious ones like, let’s say, Rappi, have you seen companies that have done international IPOs, that maybe it might be a company with Colombian roots, or other companies in your portfolio, Mexico, or elsewhere, that have gone the IPO route? Or is it more of, let’s look and get a strategic acquisition or private equity, or some other type of exit?

Jimena Cortés: Yeah. In this instance, we have not yet had any company that has made an IPO, either on their local market or in the US. We are looking more for private, targeted acquisitions strategically.

Finance Colombia: Now, looking at it from the entrepreneur standpoint, what type of venture, what type of founder, what type of entrepreneur should consider approaching HTwenty, and at what stage in their project?

Jimena Cortés : Sure. I think in early-stage VC, the founder and the founding team are the most important thing. So we focus on founding and building long-term relationships with these founders. We look for founders who are super technical, who have a lot of experience in the segment of the market they are approaching; we also value a lot the networking they can generate on the problem they are solving, and the obsession and passion for that particular problem, so they want to solve it. That passion that they feel about it.

We invest in early stages. So basically, our sweet spot is pre-seed, seed, and pre-Series A. We normally make tickets between 500,000 and 1.2 million. That’s our strategy. We look for equity ownership between 8% to 12% in these companies to build our long-term equity ownership for the ramp-up and the exits.

We have three main sectors we like to invest in. The first one is FinTech infrastructure. In LATAM, we have been focusing a lot on FinTech infrastructure because we see there’s a lot of gap in the technological infrastructure we have. For example, we invest in acquiring processing, in cross-border payments, in remittances, in collections, and public services. So we are going deeper into the infrastructure on the FinTech side. We think that through this infrastructure, with technology in this infrastructure, we can permeate the technological ecosystem in the region.

Second, we invest in verticalized SaaS, super focused on a particular value generation, like we have in restaurants, we have in inventory management, and other types of SaaS.

And AI. I think AI, of course, is a trending topic, but we are trying to understand how AI works as a backbone in the products and operations of our companies to make it more efficient and more productive. So with 30 people, you can do what you did three years ago, five years ago, you did with a hundred people.

Finance Colombia: Absolutely. And, you know, you’ve been generous with your time. It’s starting to get hot, the sun’s coming up here, I see that. I don’t want us to melt. But you know, I was looking at your website… You guys have some success stories that you’re pretty proud of that are still, of course, in the developmental stages. You mentioned the restaurant company that has restaurant SaaS software. Just mention maybe two or three of the companies that you guys have in your portfolio that are doing interesting things.

Jimena Cortés: Sure. For example, we have Felix Pago. That is a company that has recently closed its Series B with QED as a lead investor. So they have been doing really interesting things, growing at a really interesting pace. So we’re super excited about Felix Pago. We have also, from the Colombian side, Supra, which is working on cross-border payments and was the first investment made by Citibank New York here in LATAM. And we also have Akua, who is a founder from Medellín. They are building really interesting things in acquiring processing, and they closed the biggest pre-seed round in the region. So we’re excited about all the companies.

Finance Colombia: Congratulations. Much continued success, not just for you guys at HTwenty, but obviously for the Colombian entrepreneurial ecosystem. And what’s your website?

Jimena Cortés: Our website is www.htwenty.vc.

Finance Colombia: Thanks so much.

Jimena Cortés: Thank you.

Authors, editors, booksellers, comic artists, poets, and literary critics will meet with numerous attendees to exchange ideas and insights during the 10-day event. This free-admission event will take place at the Joaquín Antonio Uribe Botanical Garden and the northern district of the city.

The invited international publishing house is Periférica (Spain), an independent publisher that has focused on disseminating Latin American literature globally for nearly two decades. Its founder, Paca Flores, will lead the delegation to Medellín, accompanied by already confirmed authors: poet and translator Munir Hachemi (Spain), writer and essayist Diamela Eltit (Chile), and writer Juan Cárdenas (Colombia). Additionally, Jorge Carrión, a Spanish author, critic, and essayist known for his deep reflections on the complex relationships between literature and technology, will also join us from Spain.

From Mexico, the confirmed writers to date include: Brenda Navarro, writer and editor; Fabio Morábito, poet, short story writer, and novelist; Dahlia de la Cerda, author and feminist activist; Sebastián Tonda, business consultant and writer; and Luis Felipe Fabre, poet and essayist.

Cuban writer Elaine Vilar will present her work and discuss her experience as a narrator and playwright. From the southern part of the continent, other voices enriching the literary landscape with their diversity will visit the Festival: Cecilia Fanti (Argentina), author, editor, and independent bookseller; Diamela Eltit (Chile), a renowned writer and teacher; and Begoña Ugalde (Chile), who will share her journey between poetry and short stories.

The field of comics and graphic novels, currently booming within the publishing world, will feature the presence of two award-winning artists: Ian Debiase (Argentina), an illustrator and graphic novelist, and Ana Galváñ (Spain), a recognized illustrator and comic author. They will be joined by prominent figures in children’s and young adult literature such as Ana Garralón (Spain) and Manuel Peña Muñoz (Chile).

The public is invited to read or rediscover the works of the authors participating in the Book and Culture Festival. Additionally, they are encouraged to explore the work of other writers who will be announced in the coming months and will be part of this literary and cultural celebration.

Photo credit: Fiesta del Libro y la Cultura/Facebook.