Market indications: International Strength vs. Domestic Contraction

We are beginning to see a marked difference between international and domestic market segments:

International markets: Demonstrated a growth of 5.6% year-over-year, with capacity expansion of 4.5% in February 2025.

Domestic markets: Contracted by 1.9% against February 2024, with a corresponding 1.7% reduction in capacity

This divergence suggests potential structural shifts in travel patterns that warrant attention from institutional investors with exposure to airline equities, particularly those with differentiated domestic and international revenue streams.

Regional Economic Performance Indicators

The following regional performance metrics (all percentages refer to RPKs), provide valuable insights into broader economic conditions:

North American market: A 3.2% contraction in this mature market correlates with recent Federal Reserve consumer sentiment data showing weakening discretionary spending amid persistent inflationary pressures. This represents a potential leading indicator for Q2 retail performance. The increased US tariffs are the sword of Damocles that hangs over Tourism North America.

Latin American market: 4.6% growth despite regional economic challenges demonstrates resilience in travel demand despite economic challenges in the region. This suggests that travel demand remains strong, even in the face of potential financial instability or slow economic growth. The fact that more people are flying indicates a level of consumer confidence and business activity that supports airline growth.

For Colombian investors, the 8.0% expansion in Brazil’s domestic market is particularly noteworthy, suggesting robust intra-regional business activity that may benefit Colombian export sectors. The significant increase suggests that travel within Brazil is expanding rapidly, driven by strong business activity, tourism, or economic resilience. This could signal increased trade and investment opportunities within Brazil, benefiting Colombian exporters who rely on intra-regional trade.

Asia-Pacific market: 4.2% growth continues to underperform its historical average, indicating that the region’s economic momentum may level off, with implications for global supply chains and commodity demand.

European market: 4.3% growth despite economic headwinds in the region suggesting continued strength in tourism and business travel, potentially providing support for the Euro against the dollar. Here, any North American loss could potentially become Europe’s gain. Watch this space: the tariffs will impact Travel into the USA.

Yield Implications and Revenue Management

The divergence between RPK growth (2.6%) and ASK expansion (2.0%) suggests the potential for yield improvement, a critical metric for airline profitability. It goes without saying     that in capacity-constrained environments, pricing power typically accrues to carriers with dominant market positions.

Market-Specific Analysis: United States

The 4.2% contraction in domestic U.S. air travel represents a significant deviation from historical patterns and merits close scrutiny. Possible contributing factors include:

• Softening consumer confidence amid continued inflationary pressures
• Potential shift in corporate travel policies favoring virtual meetings
• Price elasticity thresholds being tested following multiple fare increases

These indicators align with recent retail sales data suggesting consumers are becoming increasingly selective with discretionary expenditures. For financial institutions, this may presage broader pullbacks in consumer spending in Q2 2025.

Market-Specific Analysis: Colombia and Latin American Context

For Colombia’s financial sector, several data points warrant attention:

1. The 6.7% growth in Latin American international traffic indicates strengthening regional business connectivity
2. Brazil’s domestic market strength (8.0% growth) suggests regional economic resilience
3. The relatively high load factors (81.6%) indicate effective capacity management by Latin American carriers

These metrics suggest the potential for a continued strong performance from Colombian carriers with significant international operations, particularly those serving business routes connecting major regional financial centers.

Investment Implications

There are many forces that have investment implications. Here, however, is a broad overview for institutional investors and financial professionals:

Airline equities: Consider overweighting carriers with strong international exposure while underweighting those heavily dependent on North American domestic markets

Airport operators: Companies managing international hub airports may outperform those primarily serving domestic markets

Aircraft lessors: The continued growth in international ASKs suggests stable demand for wide-body aircraft

Foreign exchange: Continued strength in international travel may provide support for currencies of tourism-dependent economies

Economic Indicator Correlation

The divergence between international and domestic air travel correlates with broader economic indicators:

• International business travel often leads capital investment by 3-6 months
• Domestic leisure travel typically correlates with consumer discretionary spending
• Air cargo demand (not covered in this data) often serves as a leading indicator for trade volumes

Financial professionals should integrate these aviation metrics into their broader economic analysis frameworks for improved forecasting precision.

Forward Outlook

While February’s data established volume records, the deceleration in growth rates and negative performance in key markets like North America may indicate the early stages of a broader cooling in the global transportation sector. This aligns with central bank projections of economic moderation in late 2025, suggesting that aviation metrics are functioning as effective leading indicators for broader economic activity.

For financial institutions with exposure to travel sector debt instruments, enhanced credit monitoring may be prudent, particularly for carriers with high operating leverage and significant exposure to underperforming regional markets.

Notes: RPK is calculated by multiplying the number of paying passengers by the distance they traveled in kilometers and ASK by multiplying the number of seats available by the distance flown.

Source – Airline data: International Air Transport Association (IATA)

Photo: Loren Moss

In view of the recent unilateral decision of the Government of the United States to impose a base tariff of 10% or higher, on all imports into its country, the Government of Colombia informs the country about the scope of this measure on our exports and about the actions that are being taken in response to it, with the aim of protecting the interests of our producers.

The United States has historically been a strategic trading partner for Colombia. In 2024, exports to that country reached US$14,336 million, which represented 28.9% of total Colombian exports worldwide.

Since the entry into force of the Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) in 2012, these exports have consolidated a solid and constantly developing trade relationship that continues to benefit thousands of Colombian producers with preferential access to the U.S. market.

2024 exports to the United States, its largest trading partner reached $14.336 billion USD, 28.9% of total Colombia’s global exports.

In this sense, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and Foreign Affairs, together with other entities of the National Government, are leading a comprehensive strategy to expand and consolidate new destinations for our exports.

Thanks to the articulated work with the unions, the producers and our diplomatic representations, Colombian products have achieved a growing presence in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, thus strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of the export sector.

The recent imposition of a base tariff of 10% should be taken as an opportunity to accelerate this internationalization strategy and consolidate the presence of Colombian products in more markets around the world.

“This unilateral measure reiterates the importance of continuing to strengthen our export capacity and reinforces the momentum with which we have been advancing in the market diversification strategy. Together with Colombian entrepreneurs, we will continue to expand destinations and products with technical, sustainable and value-added criteria that guarantee stability, competitiveness and well-being for Colombian producers,” said the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (e), Cielo Rusinque Urrego (at podium, above).

However, work will continue in coordination with the U.S. Government and the private sector to maintain and project the country’s exports into the future, identifying paths of dialogue and cooperation that contribute to mitigating the impacts on Colombian producers.

The Government of Colombia reiterates its commitment to international trade based on principles of openness and mutual benefit. Likewise, it will continue to strengthen internal capacities, together with producers, guilds and State entities, to expand the presence of Colombian products in the main international markets, promoting rural development, decent employment and the well-being of the regions.

Above photo: Colombia’s Minister of Commerce, Industry & Tourism Cielo Rusnique (left) with Colombia’s Ambassador to the US, Daniel García-Peña Jaramillo. Photo & video courtesy of the Colombian government.

Executive Editor Loren Moss sat down for a few minutes with Alma Air CEO Rupert Stebbings at Vitrina Turistica, the travel industry’s main event held every year in Bogotá’s Corferias convention center to understand the nascent air carrier’s progress:

Finance Colombia: I’m here with Rupert Stebbings at ANATO Vitrina Turística here in Bogotá. Rupert, aside from being a colleague, a contributor to Finance Colombia, and a friend, is doing something very exciting. And that is, you’re the CEO of Alma Air. And if I understand correctly, Alma is the first seaplane airline service in Colombia. Maybe you could tell us about the concept of Alma and what you guys have in store.

Rupert Stebbings: Sure. Loren, good to see you, man. Not the first, we’re a hundred years late. So, 1919 was the first ever. In the Magdalena and Barranquilla is where Avianca came from.

But, before 1950, all these planes had gone. So, since then, we’ve seen no seaplanes anywhere. Or amphibious, as they say. So, what has Alma looked at? Before the pandemic, we were here, under a code name, looking for information, and speaking to Aerocivil about the prospects. Why? Because the owners of the project had already seen seaplanes and traveled on seaplanes, such as the Maldives, Bahamas, and Alaska, they’re everywhere. And Colombia’s got everything for that. What’s it got? It’s got 20,000 kilometers of river, 3,000 lakes, and two coastlines. So, it’s got everything for seaplanes. It’s had seaplanes before, and we’re back. We’re in the process of bringing seaplanes back in.

Finance Colombia: Tell me about the… Have you gotten good cooperation from not just the national government, but you have to have the regional governments involved? We’re right here in the space that the Department of Bolivar loaned to us. So, there’s some cooperation there. Do you see excitement, or what has been the attitude from the regions and the departments and the localities to the project?

Rupert Stebbings: So, when I first got into this, what was my job? As some say, it’s counting chimney tops. “What’s out there? What’s going on?” So, I went around all the regions, six or seven governors, 10, 15 mayor’s offices. When we went to Aerocivil, we presented 34 letters of support for this project. Everyone, but everyone, loves it. Public, private, hotels, agencies, everyone wants it. Colombia is still completely disconnected.

You can’t get to half the places in this country. Even on a small, normal plane, you can’t get there. In terms of water, some places are just completely isolated. So, the feedback, and I’ve been around here for the whole day, sat down with seven or eight governors’ offices. They’re desperate. And their question is, “When, when, when?” They want it, they see the value, not just for high-end tourism, but there are medical issues.

By using seaplanes that can land on both runways and water, Alma Air will be able to reach every destination in Colombia, including remote airstrips and almost all major rivers.

There are also communities where… I was at the UN event in Cartagena, and the UN is supporting this process hard, they say the fastest way out of poverty is tourism. And if you’ve got the right place, you can do it. And Colombia has thousands of these towns and villages. All you’ve got to do is take the people with the money, to the people without the money, give them a great experience, and everyone’s a winner. So the enthusiasm is everywhere.

Finance Colombia: That’s great to hear because as you know, one of the great things to see in Colombia in the last decade or so is that the Colombians have a hobby that they call “puebleando,” where they like to go and visit the different small towns around. And it’s great when you’re in the coffee country, or when you’re in Antioquia, or here in Cundinamarca, it’s not that hard to do. But there are beautiful places. I was in Bahía Solano last year; Nuqui; we’ve talked about La Guajira and the natural beauty up there, but it’s so isolated. You can’t just get in a car and drive up that way. I would imagine that this is a great development opportunity for these regions.

Rupert Stebbings: The sweet spot for us is places that are like two, two and a half hours by boat, or five or six hours by car. Because normally, in our flight planning, we’ve done, it’s a 20-minute hop in a plane.

So, if you take San Bernardo, the islands, they’re two hours in a fast boat out of Cartagena. More than 40,000 people a year make that trip. It’s 35 minutes on a plane. When you’re on a boat, it’s open water. It’s rough. There are a bunch of places like that. And that’s our sweet spot. That’s where we fit in. And it’s where it’s worked around the world. It’s in Asia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

A lot of people have found routes like this. And that is a sweet spot. That’s why it works. And that’s why there’s demand. Because, as you say, it’s places like Ayapel. Ayapel is a UN-protected lake. The largest freshwater lake here. You can’t get there. It’s got no tourism. Or it takes so long to get there, especially for foreigners. I’ve got a two-week vacation, right? I can’t be doing five hours in a car. Take me in 20 minutes. I’ll pay the extra. And it’s high-end. But it’s also for everybody. Everyone says, well, you know, it’s X money. It’s X money, but you spend X money on a special event every year.

You take your wife away for the weekend, or your partner for the weekend. Take a seaplane. Go somewhere different. Go to a community. Go to an indigenous set-up. There are tons of places, and you’re correct. Either too far away, too uncomfortable, or completely disconnected.

Finance Colombia: Another advantage is that you all, you and the backers, this isn’t your first dance in Colombia. You guys have been through this before. You guys know what it’s like to take things through Aerocivil, to take things through the Ministry of Transportation. So I would imagine that that’s an advantage, because you already have the relationships, and you already know what needs to be done. What’s been the response from, and I don’t want to be political like one government or another, but what’s been the responsiveness when it comes to getting the regulatory process done?

Rupert Stebbings: Well, to put it in your vernacular, not our first rodeo. I think that’s more your style! But what’s the response been? Obviously, with the backers, we’ve been through this, we had a couple of decades here in total, working with the low-cost airline. We know it’s tough. And what makes it tough? Same with the low-cost airline. It’s a new concept. Low cost is a new concept here.

Seaplanes are a new concept. So there’s fear. Fear of the change, fear of the unknown, fear of writing something off and saying, “Yeah, you can do that,” but something goes wrong. It’s natural. It’s an educational process. We’ve got to educate people. It’s not a plane landing on the water. It’s the cleanest object you can have on the water. It’s cleaner than a motorboat. It’s education. No one’s seen these planes, so they can’t opine on it. They can’t say, “Yeah, I love it.” They don’t understand it. So basically, we’re working with the same people.

We understand bureaucracy. But that’s…when I was in congress; recently in Miami, the world, the whole world has the same problems with regulation and understanding of what a seaplane does and doesn’t do. And we’re working with it, and the experience helps us to be patient. But we believe in the project 100% or more is possible, and we’re going to stick with it.

Finance Colombia: My last question for you is probably the hardest. And I know how people in the airline industry hate this because it’s almost like a jinx or something.

Rupert Stebbings: Go on.

Finance Colombia: And you know what’s coming is, when do you project to be taking passengers?

Rupert Stebbings: Right, so I could give the easy answer, is after we hear from Aerocivil, I have five months on.

Finance Colombia: Okay.

Rupert Stebbings: That gives me an infinite number.

Finance Colombia: Right, right.

Rupert Stebbings: Now, we hope to hear back from Aerocivil next month. The second, we had a first feedback, we had to give them more information. We should hear back from them by March 17, and then we’ll take it from there. Once we get through the first phase with them, a lot of the work is done. It’s going to take us to the autumn in the US, so September or October is a guesstimate. Hopefully sooner, but we want to be… The thing is with this kind of project, it’s not seasonal.

Finance Colombia: Right, right.

Rupert Stebbings: This is year-round travel. It’s not the low-cost where you’ve got to put 180 people in a plane every single day, 10 times. It’s more hands-off. And for that, we’re not that worried…

Finance Colombia: Great, great. Well, I know that you’ve got a quality group of people. Alma Air, you already have a website up and operating, right?

Rupert Stebbings: Yep, flyalma.com.

Finance Colombia: Flyalma.com. OK, great.  You know that I’m going to be watching you guys like a hawk. Looking forward to seeing this. Super excited for you guys. You already know that. And keep us abreast of any good news.

Rupert Stebbings: Of course, naturally. Great seeing you, man. Thank you very much.

Throughout his career, Gergye has served in multiple capacities across global airlines. His previous positions include Director of Revenue at Thai Airways, Vice President of Consulting Services at Sabre, Sales and Commercial Manager for Asia at Qantas, and Chief Commercial Officer at Fiji Airways. Additionally, he has held commercial roles at Air Berlin, British Airways, Amadeus, and KLM. Gergye holds an MBA from the Open University Business School in the United Kingdom.

Avianca’s CEO, Frederico Pedreira, commented on the appointment, stating, “We are pleased to have Otto’s expertise and professional background to continue enhancing our commercial strategy, ensuring that our customers remain central to our products and services.”

Gergye expressed his perspective on joining Avianca, noting, “I am proud to join Avianca to strengthen the company’s strategy across various areas with a dedicated team, ensuring we fulfill our value proposition to all customers by offering options aligned with industry trends and tailored to their preferences.”

In his role as CCO, Gergye, along with his team, will focus on advancing Avianca’s growth, enhancing customer experience, and evolving contact channels to provide passengers with comprehensive control over their travel from start to finish.

Headline Image: Otto Gergye, Avianca Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Photo credit: Avianca.

Reyes, accompanied by Acting Deputy Minister of Business Development Lorenzo Castillo Barvo, held meetings with Chinese investors and visited key industrial sites including the headquarters of technology giant Huawei, the automotive company SAIC, and the electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, which has a notable presence in Colombia’s electric bus sector. The trip also included a tour of Yangshan Port, the world’s largest port, renowned for its state-of-the-art automation and zero-emissions operations, which Colombia hopes to emulate to improve its own logistics infrastructure.

These meetings coincide with Colombia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its participation in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has sparked both interest and concern across the region. China’s BRI is a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure and investment strategy aimed at enhancing global trade links. For Colombia, formal participation could mean increased investment in critical sectors such as energy and transportation. However, the initiative has also raised concerns about increasing Chinese influence in Latin America and the long-term geopolitical implications of deepening ties with the Asian power.

Colombia’s government is focusing on collaboration with Chinese entities in infrastructure, renewable energy, and technology, areas that align with global trends towards sustainable development. At Huawei’s Shanghai facility, Reyes explored advances in artificial intelligence, fiber optics, 3D modelling, and 5G technologies, while discussions with companies like Alibaba, ZTE, and Jinkosolar underscored Colombia’s push to boost its digital and green economy.

During his visit, Reyes also participated in the China International Import Expo (CIIE), a major trade event that draws global participants. Colombian companies including LOK Foods, Madremonte, and Minerva showcased their products to Chinese buyers, hoping to capitalize on the growing demand for Colombian goods in China. Reyes emphasized the importance of international trade for Colombia’s economy but stressed that the benefits should reach all sectors of society, particularly rural communities involved in agriculture.

While the Colombian government appears eager to capitalize on China’s economic potential, critics of the BRI are concerned about its broader geopolitical impact. The initiative, which has been expanding across Latin America and other developing regions, often involves Chinese loans for large-scale infrastructure projects. Critics argue that these loans can increase the indebtedness of participating countries, making them more susceptible to China’s economic and political influence.

In a parallel development, discussions about Colombia’s official participation in the BRI were revisited during a trade event between Colombia and China’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in October. Luis Diego Monsalve, former Colombian ambassador to China, indicated that efforts were underway to formalize Colombia’s involvement in the BRI, highlighting the economic benefits but also noting potential risks of growing dependence on Chinese investments.

China’s BRI has sparked concerns about the environmental and financial risks posed by massive infrastructure projects in developing nations. However, Colombia’s government remains focused on harnessing the economic potential of Chinese investment to support its transition to a sustainable economy. This balancing act will be critical as Colombia continues to navigate its relations with China, while ensuring that the long-term benefits of these investments are not overshadowed by the geopolitical risks associated with the Belt and Road Initiative.

As Colombia and China strengthen their commercial relationship, the implications for regional geopolitics and the future of the Belt and Road Initiative will remain a central issue. The growing influence of China in Latin America and the Caribbean is set to redefine trade dynamics and the balance of power in the region in the years to come.

For more details on the BRI and its implications for Latin America, see Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission and Huawei’s Technology Solutions.

Above photo: Luis Carlos Reyes Hernández, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism (courtesy MinCIT)

Click above to watch video

In addition to JetSmart’s domestic operations, starting with three Airbus A320neo aircraft, the airline has already been flying international routes between Medellín, Lima Peru, and Santiago, Chile.

Travelers will be able to take advantage of exclusive discounts on domestic routes with tickets starting at $47,800 Colombian pesos (including fees and taxes) or about $13 US Dollars.

Jetsmart also announced Thursday that the airline’s Colombian base of operations will be at the José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro, Colombia; a suburb of Medellín.  CEO Estuardo Ortíz (above photo, left) credited the work of the mayoral administrations of Medellín, Rionegro, the Governor of Antioquia, and Airport operations contractor Airplan.

“We believe, trust and invest in Colombia, and especially today we are committed to the region of Antioquia and its more than six and a half million inhabitants, to contribute to tourism, development and connectivity of all communities, just as we have already done with the 25 million people who have already flown with us throughout South America. We want the region to go out into the world, and for Antioquia, Medellín and the region to connect from the airport in Rionegro to more destinations and frequencies, both domestic and international. Our new operation in Colombia is an important step in our vision of 100 million passengers and 100 aircraft by 2028,” said Ortíz.

JetSmart launched a total of eight direct routes from Medellín to Santa Marta, Cartagena and Bogotá; and from Bogota, to Cartagena, Pereira, Santa Marta and Medellín, as well as from Cartagena to Pereira and Cali. These domestic routes are in addition to the seven international routes that JetSmart flies from Medellín to Chile and Peru, with connections to Argentina and Uruguay. Codeshare agreements will provide connectivity north to the United States through American Airlines, and JetSmart has announced coming participation to American Airlines’ AAdvantage loyalty program.

JetSmart is part of the airline portfolio of U.S. investment fund Indigo Partners, along with airlines Frontier in the United States, WizzAir in Europe, Volaris in Mexico and Cebu Pacific in Asia.

Indigo Partners Principal Brian Franke (above photo, right) said that “We are looking forward to the start of JetSMART’s domestic operations in Colombia and continue to invest in the region to develop the ultra-low-cost model. We see tremendous growth potential in Colombia, and as we expand JetSmart we continue to provide affordable air travel to more people and communities.”

Operating Out Of Terminal 2 In Bogotá

Thursday morning, JetSmart celebrated its Colombian domestic launch with a press conference in the Puente Aereo, or Terminal 2 of Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport. Bogotá airport operator OPAIN renovated parts of Terminal 2 with new chairs and seating areas, installing Veripax technology for digital reading of boarding passes, and an exclusive area for VIP and official travelers. They also expanded the gate areas, remodeled the bathrooms, installed new floors and charging areas.

“We celebrate the start of JetSMART’s domestic operations in the country, as this strengthens the sector and boosts El Dorado’s position as the main hub for connection to the regions of Colombia. We have adapted Terminal 2 – the former Air Bridge, so that travelers can take their domestic flights in a more comfortable and agile way,”  said Natalí Leal, General Manager of OPAIN.

It is important that domestic passengers flying JetSmart from Bogotá keep in mind that flights leave from Terminal 2, while international flights still arrive and depart from the main terminal. There is a free shuttle that travels between the two airport terminals. Travelers must allow adequate time for transfers, and if necessary, immigration for international flights. Passengers arriving to El Dorado International Airport for domestic JetSmart flights should be explicit with transportation providers that they will be departing from Terminal 2 or “El Puente Aereo.”

By signing a memorandum of understanding last month, both countries formalized their interest in strengthening economic ties, eliminating trade barriers, and working with the private sector within each country to involve relevant companies and producer associations. 

Regarding the current challenges, Soraya Caro Vargas — vice minister of business development within the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism — highlighted some regulatory and logistical issues that will need to be ironed out.

“It is necessary for countries to share clear information on compliance with technical regulations and the understanding of sanitary and phytosanitary measures and procedures to eliminate the technical barriers that today prevent us from bringing new products to that market,” she said in a statement.

Vargas, who signed the memorandum along with Do Thang Hai, vice minister of industry and commerce of Vietnam, added that Colombia is seeking to establish more clear-cut trade goals and achieve a more balanced and diverse trade balance by 2029, which will mark 50 years of bilateral relations between the two countries.

This includes the establishment of a Colombia/Vietnam joint economic committee that will be tasked with identifying opportunities for trade, investments, and development of cooperation projects. Specifically, this will include prioritizing areas related to the industrialization of the agricultural sector, energy transition, and decarbonization of the economies.

Additionally, work will begin through planning and technical committees that will begin to operate in 2024.

Further bilateral cooperation will take the form of sharing technical assistance and information, conducting joint studies, and organizing training programs, seminars, conferences, and meetings.

(Photo credit: MinCIT)

Once again, hundreds of rum connoisseurs, collectors, judges and enthusiastic rum lovers will mingle with producers, master distillers, importers, distributors, retailers and members of the spirits trade at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club on Sunday, November 12 from 2 to 5pm. VIP entrance begins at 12:30.

Attendees will enjoy the vast number of rums on exhibit by award-winning producers, and frequent the Private Collection Rum Tasting Bar — with more than a hundred limited edition, vintage and prestigious luxury edition expressions for discriminating palates.

The Saturday, November 11 Seminars are presented by some of the very best rum producers and experts in the field.

“It’s such a pleasure to host so many great rum producers and to welcome back more than a thousand rum fans in South Florida for the Miami Rum Festival – 14th Anniversary Celebration,” said festival producer Robert Burr. “The category of rum continues to expand with an ever-growing variety of offerings, from every-day favorites and classics, to the most amazing examples offered by the legendary masters or rum. We are truly experiencing an era that can only be described as the Renaissance Of Rum.”

Savvy consumers come to the Rum Renaissance Festival to discover a truly remarkable range of fine rums from the Caribbean region, as well as Central and South America, Europe, Asia — and from the furthest reaches of the world. The best American rums, as well, are on display, with a chance to speak directly with the master distillers and blenders.

Miami Rum Renaissance Festival has always been a place where rum reputations are made, new products are released and the love of old favorites is rekindled.

Miami Rum Festival – 14th Anniversary Celebration tickets are available for $49 online. VIP tickets which include early entry at 12:30pm are $59. Couples can purchase discounted VIP tickets in pairs for $99. After November 1, and at the door, prices are slightly higher.

Special rates for attendees are available at area hotels, as well as free transportation to and from the tasting events.

Miami Rum Renaissance Seminars are presented at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Coral Gables on Saturday, November 11. The Rum Renaissance Grand Tasting event takes place at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club at 1001 East Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33134 on Sunday, November 12, 2023.

For more information about the Miami Rum Festival – 14th Anniversary Celebration, call 707-278-6736 or visit the web site: rumrenaissance.com/

Photo: Loren Moss

Even though the two countries are physically distant, Australia and Colombia enjoy a friendly, growing relationship. Australia already hosts a significant Colombian community, and Colombia has become the number one source for English-language students studying abroad in Australia, even surpassing geographically closer Asia-Pacific countries. Australian businesses are making their mark in Colombia, and just a few years ago, Australia expanded from just having a trade office to opening a full diplomatic mission in the Andean country. To further understand this, Finance Colombia’s Loren Moss sat down for a conversation with The Honorable Bernard Unkles, who recently moved to Colombia from México to lead Australia’s diplomacy in the country.

Finance Colombia: We are here with Ambassador Bernard Unkles, the newly appointed ambassador to Colombia from Australia. How long have you been here in Colombia now?

Ambassador Unkles: I’ve been here two months. I arrived just at the end of end of November. I need to clarify that I’m the acting ambassador. I’m here for a year. I’ve come directly from Mexico City, where I was previously deputy ambassador, and I’m here for a year until such time as the permanent ambassador is able to commit.

Finance Colombia: The Australian embassy to Colombia, if I’m not mistaken, is relatively new. It’s just a few years old. Am I correct?

Ambassador Unkles: That is correct. We started in about, I think it was July 2017, was when we opened, we’ve had diplomatic relations with Colombia for nearly 50 years. But the fact that we opened an actual embassy in July 2017 demonstrates just how our bilateral relationship is growing at a whole heap of different levels. People to people, investment, and in particular in education. That’s testament to the fact that where we see Colombia as a really important partner in what we are doing, we have had a responsibility here for a little while, AusTrade, which is kind of like the equivalent of ProColombia, has been here for a number of years longer. I think from memory, they started in about 2013 or 2011, something like that. But yeah, the fact that we upgraded it and turned it into an actual diplomatic mission, it is relatively recent. And of course, with the Pandemic, two years where we were still here, still operating, still completely functional, but not as difficult, not as easy to be able to engage, wouldn’t have been meeting. Of course, Australian borders were closed most of that time for two years, which means deeply for students, Colombian students, it was a challenging time, but we’ve bounced back and we’re kind of bigger and better than ever.

Finance Colombia: That’s great to see. It’s interesting because there are quite a few Australian companies operating in Colombia. A lot of times people may not even be aware that they’re Australian companies, I think because in many cases they’re global companies. If you look at the success and the importance that Australia has had in the mining sector, for example, a lot of companies, we know them as global operations, and people in the sector know that they’re Australian. But maybe just like the retail or the public hears about a company like “yeah, I know that’s a mining company. I didn’t realize they were headquartered in Australia.” I’ve been at events when, for example, financial firms, companies like private equity and specialty and mining sector firms from Australia have been here. What are some of the example Australian companies that have established themselves here in Colombia.

Ambassador Unkles: Look, we’ve got a lot of Australian companies here. There’s around about 90 Australian companies that are present in Colombia in a range of sectors. Of course, we have a very strong and proud history of being involved in the mining sector. So, we’ve got a number of Australian companies involved in mining, but we’re also involved in a range of other sectors such as infrastructure. The official figures from Colombia don’t tell the true story of just how large our investment is; just with infrastructure alone. There are two companies, Aleatica and Macquarie, both of whom are 100% Australian. They’re involved in building large infrastructure projects, roads that will connect parts of Colombia. We’re talking the investment that is being made here about over two US billion dollars. The issue is that that money, even though it is Australian money, it comes from the US or from Spain or from the UK as the last point of entry into Colombia. And so, Colombia central bank and treasury recognizes that as coming from those countries and not actually being Australian fund, Australian investment. But I can guarantee you that it is a 100% Australian fund. Macquarie and Aleatica are kind of the second and the fourth, I think, largest infrastructure funds in the world.

Ambassador Unkles (left) speaks with a guest at Colombia’s MinExpo mining industry event, where Australia’s trade promotion agency was a sponsor.

And US $2 billion is an extraordinary amount of money, Australian investment that is coming here. As I mentioned, you know, also involved in mining, you know, companies like BHP, South32, Orica. Mining is not just extraction and exploration, it’s also Mets. So, Orica is involved in Mets. Ground Probe is another fascinating Australian company that origins grew in mining. It undertakes really impressive using Australian technology, really impressive ability to detect movement in the earth in order to be able to prevent kind of landslides and things like that. And so of course incredibly important in the mining sector, but also has applications outside of that in the civil sector and they’re increasingly using it in roads and infrastructure in order to be able to prevent landslides from occurring. And so not only does technology like that kind of save money by being preventative, but also it saves lives. So I’m proud to say that there are Australian companies involved in that as well.

There are also companies that are increasingly involved in other sectors such as fintech, which a company like Nextpay is very big here and growing considerably. Nextpay uses Australian technology in the fintech sector to be able to transfer money from basically anywhere around the world, but in particular from Colombia to Australia, and in particular Colombian students using this technology and this service, to be able to quickly, cheaply, economically and securely transfer money to be able to pay for their education in Australia.

So Australian companies are involved in a whole heap of different parts of the Colombian economy of which we’re incredibly proud to be here. And another reason why we’ve opened an embassy back in 2017.

Finance Colombia: That’s great and you touched on something that a lot of people don’t realize, and I didn’t understand until a few years ago, and that is to say that there’s a growing, thriving, successful population of Colombians in Australia, and that the relationship between the two countries is especially strong when it comes to education. Australia has some innovative, both policies and programs when it comes to education, and Colombians are taking advantage of that. Maybe you can speak a little bit about the opportunity and maybe kind of how Australia has become such a destination for Colombian students. And then also, maybe more broadly, I know that they’re thriving Colombian community in Australia. That surprises a lot of people.

Ambassador Unkles: And to be honest, it surprised me as well. I wasn’t, prior to coming here, aware of quite just how large the Colombian population in Australia was. I was aware that a lot of Colombians were electing to go to Australia to study, and I can increasingly see why. Now that I’m here, I can see the kind of—there’s a lot of similarities between Australia and Colombia and Australians and Colombians, as we were discussing before, and as I mentioned in my Australia Day speech recently, Australians are probably about as Latino as you can get in the anglosphere!

And there’s this kind of warmth and perspective that we have—but also our weather—is there’s a lot of comparison between our climate and our geography and our weather. And I think that kind of makes us very accessible and familiar as well as a destination. I mean, the numbers really do speak for themselves. Colombia is now #1 in terms of our source country for international students that are choosing Australia to learn English and overall, across all of the sectors. So English vocational education and training, university, undergraduate, university, postgraduate and high school. Columbia is now #3 in the world in terms of our outsourced country. But to be #1 in in English let people wanting to go to Australia to learn English rather than to the US or Canada or the UK other English…

“Australians are probably about as Latino as you can get in the anglosphere!”-Ambassador unkles

You know, that they’ve overtaken, Colombians have overtaken countries like China, countries like Indonesia, countries like Vietnam. And that really is testament to, you know, both the quality of the education that they’re learning, but also the experience that they get when they come to Australia. They feel welcomed. They feel safe and secure. They feel like there are opportunities available for them, something that they’ll be able to take with them when they come back to Colombia, or you know a lot of them are increasingly staying on and moving into other sectors.

We hope the IT and you know, vocational, educational, training or even heading into to the university sector as well. So…and that then translates and transfers through into you know recent census figures. Colombians now are our largest Latin American community in Australia. Well and having recently in the last census overtaken Chile and that is a you know it’s really you know a testament to the fact that young Colombians have discovered that Australia has a phenomenal education system and a great lifestyle and great opportunities. And word of mouth is spreading, as I say, you know they are the best ambassadors for Australian education. This might be my…technically my professional job, but I can’t promote Australia better than they can, their own very personal experiences and they’re doing a phenomenal job kind of getting the word out about Australia is a destination.

Finance Colombia: That’s really impressive. So there’s a thriving kind of community. What do you know about the Australian expat community here in Colombia?

Ambassador Unkles: That’s a really good question. So, it’s nowhere near as large as Colombian expat community in Australia, but a lot of the Australians that I’ve met here have come here because they’ve fallen in love with a Colombian in Australia, they’ve come to meet the family in Colombia and then in turn have fallen in love with Colombia and moved here, relocated here on a permanent basis.

Just in Medellin alone, I’ve earlier this week on Monday I met with Simon Kutchner, who works for the World Mosquito program. The World Mosquito program originated from Australian research. At Monash University. They were successful in one of Bill Gates’s, you know, challenges. Yeah, they have, you know, received funding and they’ve more than 10 years ago, a long time ago.

That they discovered this crazy little thing where through the Wolbachia [bacteria}, if you breed mosquitoes that kind of have the Wolbachia within them, when they breed, they don’t have the ability to be able to transmit dengue. They don’t have the ability to transmit Zika, they don’t have the ability to transmit—I can never pronounce it…

Finance Colombia: Chikungunya?

Ambassador Unkles: That’s the one. Alright, so basically, you know, it’s better than taking the vaccine. It’s better than taking you know, anything and it’s so much cheaper and it does it in a way that has no impact on the local environment, and mosquito population which is required and essential for maintaining ecosystems. But we’re able to kind of change that ecosystem so that they do not have the ability to translate dengue to humans. And so, the World Mosquito Program has set up a quite a large office here in Medellin and so you’ve got an Aussie that’s heading that up.

Another Aussie that I’ve met here, Jess Schroder’s classic story, she fell in love with a Colombian, came, met, the family fell in love with Colombia and has moved, relocated here and she’s created her own business called The Ideas Factory, and she’s essentially working kind of like marketing and is able to, you know works with a lot of businesses and a lot of communities and on those kind of things. She’s a member of the Australia Colombia Business Council, the business chamber as well. But others that I’ve met in Bogota, very similar story, fell in love with the Colombian and then fell in love with Colombia relocated here, a number of them are working.

You know the NGO sector, some are working in mining, some are working in education. You know the most popular Hostel in Bogota, I think it’s called the Cranky Croc, was established by an Aussie, you know, a number of years ago. I think he’s been here for nearly 20 years. Then there’s another guy, Travis who’s relocated to Medellin. He’s based here now, but he started in Bogota. He created a local business which is all surrounded, surrounded around, centered around language exchange. OK, it’s called Gringo Tuesdays. It doesn’t sound very Australian, right? Yeah, but it’s got your name, catchy name, and it works. You know, I went recently in Bogota. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it [in Medellín] last night.
There is a chapter in Medellin. It’s also in Cali. It’s also in Cartagena, I think from memory, and that’s it’s all centered around language exchange, Walk up from 4 until 8:00 PM you can elect to sit at whatever table you want. They operate in six different languages, English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian and German. Whatever you want to practice or help someone practice, you sit at a table with that you know a flag representative of that language and it’s a great way to be able to kind of in a very casual, very informal setting. Be able to you know, to practice and a you know a second language and also to be able to make friends. And then after, from 8:00 PM onwards, it’s kind of extreme party. So, yeah. So there’s just a handful of some of the interesting Australians that have moved here because they love Colombia as much as Colombians love Australia.

Finance Colombia: We had a we did a small advertising campaign for an Australian company wealth management company called Visis and you know, we were glad to do it but I was curious and I asked the partner, “you know this is great but I’m just curious why” because he was coming to—there was some kind of investment event taking place here in Colombia and I said: “I’m just curious as to what the linkage is? you know we’re glad to have you, but why?” And so he said, “oh, my wife is Colombian.” Yep. And so like you mentioned, that’s kind of a classic, classic story. You know, you see a lot of them.

Ambassador Unkles: Yep, fall in love. Fall in love with a Colombian, fall in love with the country.

Finance Colombia: So where are the areas of growth? I mean we look at you know there we’ve talked about some of the traditional areas, infrastructure, mining that Australia is well known for.
If you think about the commercial mission, what are the areas for a potential for bilateral trade between—whether that’s Colombia exporting to Australia or Australia exporting to Colombia, where are the opportunities?

Ambassador Unkles: So I mean. We both have new governments: the Petro administration and the Anthony Albanese government as well. They both have a very strong focus on the environment and on ensuring sustainable development. And these are areas where Australia has great success and companies like Fortescue are looking to invest significantly in Latin America including in Colombia. Fortescue is heavily involved amongst other things, in green hydrogen, which is a really clean, safe and green way of being able to provide energy.

So I see that as being an area of mutual interest and mutual benefit, but also of course a lot of the technologies that are required in order to be able to create green sustainable new industries. They do require mining, they require mining of critical minerals and of course Australian companies are you know are here already doing that and some are even telling me that they’re looking to invest even to reestablish or to start up their presence again in in Colombia such as Rio Tinto.

You know we might speak a different language, but you know I really do believe that you know “somos parceros, somos bacanos.”

So another area where I think we’ve got a real opportunity for collaboration, to be able to learn from each other is in areas relating to indigenous issues. We both have our own indigenous populations.They’ve both had their difficulties and their challenges and we’ve got governments that recognize that and are working actively to try and address it with some of the inequities that exist. And I think that’s an area where there’s a real opportunity for us to be able to learn from each other in terms of what policies have worked, and how can we work collaboratively to be able to invest back in in that.

I mean I think we could potentially learn from Colombia in terms of language, you know Australian indigenous languages is something that we’re working very hard now to try and make sure that these are languages that are important for, culture and the maintenance of cultural heritage, ways in which we can establish that, formalize that as a part of our education system. And there are ways in which we can work together on that.

But also, one of the things that the Australian government is doing well I think, and I think my understanding from before I got here, there’s been an opportunity to work with is the promotion of indigenous businesses, the promotion of indigenous tourism and the promotion of indigenous foods. And that’s an area where there was an event last year held in Colombia where a business delegation from Australia came. It was a it was a global event, a world forum, and we were able to share and an exchange information and ideas on ways in which we can showcase to the world our respective indigenous cultures and the knowledge that they have and the skills that they have and the you know and the enterprises that they’re that they’re growing. So, I think that’s another really interesting and exciting area for potential collaboration as well.

Finance Colombia: Absolutely. You know, the cultural exchange isn’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind, but maybe it should be. I mean, if you think about it, Australia has…the indigenous population has a certain degree of global fame. Everybody knows what a didgeridoo is, but even beyond that, just the whole ancient culture going back dozens of thousands of years.

Ambassador Unkles: Agree entirely, you know the Australian indigenous culture is the longest, the oldest living indigenous culture in the world, of over 60,000 years, you know, they know how to use the land, to be able to what…you know, fruits, what spices, what herbs…

Finance Colombia: What a challenging land, too!

Ambassador Unkles: It is a challenging landscape, but you know, produce what flavors, what ingredients and how they can be incorporated into innovative Australian cuisine. And I’m seeing very similar things occurring here in Colombia as well. I mean when you’ve got biodiversity, a rainforest and down in the Amazon jungle, you like what exists here and really long-standing indigenous knowledge of what fruits and what flavors you know work well and looking to be able to incorporate that into to cuisine. I think that’s a wonderful way with which we can exchange and learn from each other as well as in terms of tourism and tourism promotion as well.

Centered around how indigenous communities can own it and can reap the benefits in terms of investment back into their own community through the money that they’re able to make from people from all around the world coming to understand and see both in Australia and in Colombia and then being able to educate the world and reinvest that back into their local communities. I think that’s something we’re there’s lots of opportunities and we’re both on a journey to kind of make that happen.

Finance Colombia: Last question, you’ve been generous with your time. You know, you’re relatively new here in Colombia. I think you’ve been here just a few months. What’s your impression of Colombia, and what’s your experience been like so far?
Ambassador Unkles: I’d say it’s a similar kind of observation to Mexico. I mean Mexico, I was there for three years and it’s got 32 states. We visited 24 of them and I used to say that Mexico isn’t one country, it’s 32 different countries! And, you know? Colombia has 32 departments. I haven’t visited anywhere near as many departments yet as I have in Mexico, but my observations are as far as that, it looks like at face value, Colombia is also 32 different countries. It’s—the weather plays a part of that, and the surroundings the geography as well, but that then impacts language, that impacts lifestyle.

And so, yeah, from my time in Bogota to my current time in Medellin, I’ve been to Cartagena, I’ve traveled around the outskirts of Bogota as well. You know, it really does…You do feel like you don’t have to travel very far by plane or by car to have a totally different experience and a totally different environment. But the one thing that I would say is you know, consistent throughout is that wherever you go, Colombians are always incredibly welcoming. They are incredibly friendly, they’re incredibly generous with their time. They’re always curious. They’re fascinated to know “why.” What’s an Australian doing here?

But we share this kind of you know we’re both kind of you know pretty laid back, we both love a good joke especially at our own expense.And so, I really do feel very much at home. It does not feel in terms of culture shock, really there isn’t it really doesn’t feel like there is any. You know we might speak a different language, but you know I really do believe that you know somos parceros, somos bacanos.
Really, there’s far more similarities, I feel than there are differences. And they’re just…you know, Colombia and Colombians have welcomed me with open arms and I couldn’t be more thankful.

CALM Luis Fernando Márquez Velosa is President of Cotecmar

Held every year, ColombiaMar is the largest naval & maritime event in Colombia, and among the top two in all of Latin America. The event is organized by The Colombian Navy, The Pan American Institute of Naval Engineering, and COTECMAR—Colombia’s government owned shipbuilding and naval engineering company. Finance Colombia will be present, but for a preview of what to expect, Finance Colombia Executive Editor Loren Moss sat down for a conversation with the President of COTECMAR, Contra Almirante (Rear Admiral) Luis Fernando Márquez Velosa, the officer in charge of the event’s organization and success.

Finance Colombia: I know that you are super busy preparing the event, but ColombiaMar is the most important event in the marine sector. After four years, the ColombiaMar event returns. How do you think the interest of the participants, be they speakers, vendors, government entities…especially considering that we have a few years of pause due to COVID, how do you find the interest of all the participants this year?

Admiral Márquez: First of all, good morning, and thank you very much for this opportunity to be able to share with you and your work team what this great fair is. ColombiaMar is a fair that has been organized by COTECMAR since the Year 2006 and this has become one of the main fairs in the naval sector in the South American region. As you mentioned, after four years it was In 2019, when we held this fair in person due to the affectation of the impact of the covid in the years 2020 & 2021. We returned to this face-to-face mode after four years, we come again with what is the ninth version of ColombiaMar.

After having been able to cope with these difficult times due to the issue of the pandemic, the restrictions that impacted not only the way of seeing the world and people’s lives, but also the part of the world economy, we have this great opportunity to meet again with all these players who are important to the shipyard industry in our country, such as all the suppliers, all the companies that revolve around the development of the shipyard industry, such as the metal components, mechanical components, furnishing components, the hardware components, the industry 4.0 that revolves around auxiliary companies in the development of the shipyard industry to be able to satisfy all those needs of the different groups of interest that they have in the region.

Colombian Navy Ocean going Patrol Vessel

In this area, well, we have great expectations because we know that at this moment it has been of great interest on the part of all the different actors, in meeting again, here in Cartagena, in Colombia we currently have confirmation of approximately 80 top-level companies, both national and international, that are going to participate in the event. We hope to have more than 4,000 people in attendance, among visitors from all sectors, from the industries, from the academic part.

Approximately 15 navies are invited, which are already confirmed. Right now, they come from Spain, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Panama, El Salvador, Italy, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Germany, the Dominican Republic, among all those who have been invited and obviously as you know, well not only it is the issue of the attractiveness as such of a maritime fair to be able to strengthen ties and relationships from the commercial and development point of view.

Simultaneously with the ColombiaMar fair will be the Eighth International Congress of Naval Design and Engineering, which is an exercise of an academic type that has always been carried out outside of ColombiaMar; precisely because due to the nature of COTECMAR, which is a science and technology corporation and everything it has to do with the academic side, for us it is fundamental. In this academic field, three specific themes will be discussed in the development of the Congress, which are:

One, all of which are the world trends, applied to ship designs as the world evolves, the part evolves. from what engineering has to do, since new developments and new projects are being generated in what has to do with the part of the trends to the part that are the ships of both the military part, as well as the commercial or maritime part for international trade.

The other topic is everything that the technological organizations that we manage are in terms of sustainability applied to the naval industry, in for example, the energy transition: everything that has to be focused on around protecting the environment, which is something that today is in vogue worldwide and also in this industry.

And finally, everything that has to do with opportunities and bets on competitiveness: what the shipyard industry has to do, through what naval industries 4.0 are, everything around the technological developments to manage the highly complex productive processes and that from the point of view of the shipyard industry, from the point of view of quality, automation and industry 4.0 products.

Colombian Navy Surface Warfare Frigate

We see that there is great enthusiasm for the entire maritime and naval sector of our country and the region. The high interest, as I was telling you, in the number of invited countries, companies, from different countries, America, Europe, Asia that are going to accompany us at this fair and always looking at the development of the industry, what is current around shipbuilding, developments in repairs and maintenance that are carried out on boats for integral solutions. That is what I can tell you at this moment, as such, of what that expectation we have is and how we managed to capture the attention of all the participants in this event.

 Finance Colombia: This topic of evolution seems very interesting and very impressive to me, as we have seen this last week, a supposed balloon of I don’t know what purpose, that is not defined entering Colombian airspace, but we have seen some changes in the international political environment. And Colombia, for example, in recent decades has focused on issues such as interdiction, on issues such as insurgencies and domestic challenges.

But Colombia is in the process of modernizing its armed forces and this balloon exposed  the security challenges, the challenges of intelligence issues, defense, are evolving, they are changing. Now that we can see in conflicts high tech things like drones, aquatic drones, we’re talking about stealth technology and things like that are now being used. So how do these processes manifest? Like in Colombia, which is already in the process of modernizing its armed forces to face the challenges of the future. And so, my question is then, what is the role of ColombiaMar and of events like these to demonstrate the technologies, to share knowledge with countries, with partners, with colleagues, countries that are allies of the companies that are suppliers. What is the role of an event like this in the modernization of the armed forces?

Admiral Marquez: It is necessary to start initially from the role that COTECMAR plays for the part of the Colombian Navy and for the country. As you know, , COTECMAR always focuses its main effort on the development and innovation of products that meet the needs of the Colombian Navy to fulfill its mission. But it still produces items with dual-use technologies to satisfy the needs of both the military, and the civilian sector, and in the same way focus on satisfaction of the needs of the Colombian people.

In this order of ideas, within those roles that we fulfill, from the point of view of the shipyard industry, for construction, repair and maintenance. Initially with companies at the national level, generating productive resources for their development and strengthening, but if we look at the external sector where we rely on some technological allies, speaking of countries that have greater experience, greater capabilities from a development and technological point of view to be able to achieve synergies with them that allow us to develop the products that are initially required by the Colombian Navy.

That for what purpose? First, right now from the point of view of the articulation at the level of what the Colombian Navy does with the different countries of the region, that allows it from the point of view of protecting the patrimony of the Colombians, which is the main thing, the main task carried out by the Colombian Navy.

And second, to generate synergies with the other navies in the region and in the world to be able to face the different, let’s say, transnational threats that affect security or that threaten the interests of our country. There are few who will know, everything that has to do with drug trafficking, human trafficking, what smuggling is, the illegal fishing or the challenge that we sometimes have with respect to protect our natural resources.

So it is what allows us, from the point of view of the corporation to contribute to the Colombian Navy, and the different state entities, what this development focused on the shipyard industry has to do with. These scenarios such as ColombiaMar are of great importance, which allows us to strengthen this relationship with all these allies, both from the private sector, homeland companies, international companies seeking to search and present solutions that meet those needs.

We have an example of this, if you remember last year, in recent years, which was one of the emblematic projects currently of the corporation in Codesarrollo, which was the ARC Simon Bolivar Marine Scientific Research vessel, the General Maritime Directorate, which was a ship, since it was co-developed by COTECMAR with a technological ally, seeking to adjust to the needs of the Maritime Directorate to have a ship with capacities for investigation of everything that has to do with our marine areas in the Pacific and the Colombian Caribbean, for research, for the protection of natural resources. It is a ship that has the capacity to go to Antarctica at this time, which was part of what the Maritime Directorate is also looking for.

The ARC Simón Bolivar

If you don’t know, recently, last year, in November, a contract was signed with the Navy, for the construction of three platforms. Among these are an ocean going patrol boat, a Colombian ocean patrol boat designed entirely within Colombia by the shipyard with an interdisciplinary team of naval engineering design and that we are going to build for the Colombian Navy.

Starting this year, 2023, we will also continue with the project for the construction of the first frigate in Colombia. It is a project that is currently being co-developed with a technological ally to achieve that basic design for the ship that the National Navy requires to fulfill its constitutional role, as the protection of the aforementioned Colombian maritime patrimony.

A logistical support ship is also being contemplated to satisfy the logistics needs of the Navy but in the same way it is a multi-mission ship that is also intended to provide support when required to the Colombian people in everything from situations in insular areas, or areas far from the national borders, which at some point might require, due to some special situation, support from the military forces, in this case the Colombian Navy.

I concatenate all this, with the work that we have been encouraging these 23 years by COTECMAR and where we use this platform such as ColombiaMar to be able to strengthen those relationship ties with all our allies in the commercial area and show the region, the world, to the different sectors, both the public sector of the country and the variety of the region. We have the products with high added value that the corporation already develops and builds.

A logistical support ship is also being contemplated to satisfy the logistics needs of the Colombian Navy.

Finance Colombia”: Interesting, you have been very kind, generous with your time. The last question is that for the attendees of the last events of the previous years, what would be the changes or expansions that you would like to highlight for the event this year and how many exhibitors, speakers and attendees do you hope to have there in Cartagena this year?

Admiral Marquez: Regarding that, initially I can tell you that what we hope to be able to show the industry, the different countries that are going to accompany us and the academic part is, first of all, what has been the development and evolution of the capacities that have generated by COTECMAR with different products and technological innovations.

We are going to have in the development of ColombiaMar extended reality, virtual reality, how it has contributed to us from the point of view of productive processes and avoid setbacks in the field of shipbuilding and design. And likewise, in ship repair it is a tool that has multiple uses that benefit the industry. An example of this, extended reality, has currently allowed us by the IMO (International Maritime Organization), there is an instruction that by 2025 old-fashioned ships that did not have a ballast water treatment system that goes into the bilge and that [dirty water] was thrown into the sea. In certain place, they generated a great risk for migratory species because they dumped water, and also polluted.

So there is a BWTS system, which is a treatment system for these ballast waters that was being installed in some countries in Europe. And the corporation appropriated that work, that development and achieved with this extended reality and reality. Firstly, one can virtually achieve that any ship that wishes to implement it can do a 3D survey in the specific areas according to how they have distributed their engine rooms, to be able to design and propose the installation of the system so that they can comply with this requirement. It is one of the tools that we are going to show in the framework of ColombiaMar.

In the same way, it is a tool that serves the training process that we have also used and taken advantage of, as an example when developing some of the products, such as the cod boats, so that by doing the simulation in this tool, the crews can train when required. It will also allow us to show the different projects that we developed, advancing as the theme of the same marine scientific research ship where the part is the electronic model or of the other ships, such as the oceanic patrol boat that we are going to build and the frigate too, so that they have the perspective with the use of the tool, how these projects are approached and have that experience.

On the other hand, what we are also looking for and that has been working, not now, but since 2019, when the strategic direction of the four-year period by the corporation was projected, within one of its axes or the lines of action, which was part of the development of dual-use technologies for the benefit of improving the quality of life of Colombians, social development.

This is a topic that we saw working, we have also evolved with new designs that are available to satisfy all these needs at the country level, but also at the regional level, that we have different types of vessels for integral action in the fluvial zone. Medical ambulatory transport boats, educational platforms, that we want to show and take advantage of from the point of view as a strategy that the corporation manages, to contribute to the development of the country and to all the Colombian people.

These different, let’s say, solution alternatives are going to contribute to the solution of some of the problems that exist at a social level throughout Latin America. So this is going to be a great opportunity to also be able to show these dual-use technologies as a bet from the point of view of everything that is the promotion of innovation, development in what it has to do with respect to the technological shipyard industry of our country, linked to the part that is the internal productive confrontations of the country with the companies, but it also forms what has to do with employment generation and development for the country.

Finally we have everything that has to do with a project that is quite interesting for us and that we want to make known as the Cotec Energy Boat project, it is a boat that has been in development for some time, since last year by the corporation, which is a prototype of a USV vehicle, an unmanned electric surface vessel, that is, a bet on everything that has to do with this energy transition project, that is sought through new and innovative products worldwide and obviously at the country level. It is a design, let’s say, on a small scale that allows us, with a remote control system from the shore, to demonstrate how it is viable to implement this type of technology, taking advantage of solar energy, solar panels or with the electrical energy, an electric motor that can be used remotely, let’s say, to show what progress has been made in the development of this type of product focused on the energy transition and the new technologies that are currently being advanced worldwide.

This is work that is being carried out jointly not only with COTECMAR, but also with a technological ally here in the country, the company Automotech SAC, which is going to present itself as a dual-use platform that may also be of interest to some entities of the Colombian state or some of the marinas in the region. So let’s say that as the three vertices that we currently have focused on correspond to what we want to highlight in the changes and new advances that the corporation has in this ColombiaMar 2023.

Finance Colombia: It is very impressive. It is very exciting to see that they are highlighting issues from the technological to the social here in Colombia because that has obviously been a very important issue in the country. So, Admiral, thank you very much for your time. And I hope to see you and your colleagues at the event for sure, we already have our reservations there in Cartagena and I hope to see you and also our readers there.

Admiral Marquez: Thank you very much, it will be a pleasure to have your company and your team join us at this great event that marks a milestone in what the shipyard industry has to develop in our country and that COTECMAR has been leading for 23 years. We know that this new fair in ColombiaMar and the International Congress of Naval Engineering will be a total success, because we have a fairly big commitment and we believe in what the country has been developing, in terms of this industrial development that we need and obviously looking for a Integral development for the industry, but always for the benefit of the Colombian people and the needs of our Colombian military. Thank you very much for your time and this great opportunity that you offered us today.