In Bogotá, Lula calls for more integration with South American countries

Amidst a backdrop of environmental concerns and a drive for enhanced bilateral relations, discussions surrounding the protection of the Amazon Forest and the consolidation of a robust environmental agenda took center stage. Emphasizing the imperative for collaborative agreements spanning social and economic domains, leaders sought to fortify ties between Brazil and Colombia. Moreover, concerted efforts were directed toward fostering partnerships aimed at facilitating cooperation between the law enforcement and military forces of both nations.

Following an extensive agenda, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed a firm conviction: “Colombia’s role in uniting the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Amazon makes it an indispensable partner. We must take responsibility for defining the South America we envision, the type of country we desire, and the integration policies we intend to pursue.”

President Lula’s visit to Bogotá was marked by a busy schedule, including a bilateral meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro and participation in the Brazil-Colombia Business Forum, organized by ApexBrasil and ProColombia.

The meeting between the two heads of state also witnessed the signing of international agreements, including memorandums of understanding and terms of technical cooperation across various sectors. It underscored Brazil and Colombia’s commitment to collaboration in diverse areas, particularly those related to biodiversity.

When assessing the trade balance and business prospects between the two countries within the context of a green and decarbonized economy, Gustavo Petro emphasized that the Amazon should serve as a unifying force between Brazil and Colombia. “The Amazon jungle should not be viewed as a divide between our nations; on the contrary, it should be a bridge,” declared the Colombian president.

EXPORTER JOURNEY – Until April 24th, ApexBrasil will launch the Exporter Journey program in both Bogotá and Medellín, Colombia’s second-largest city. The initiative aims to stimulate business interactions with local entrepreneurs, enabling a delegation of representatives from 13 Brazilian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies to engage in commercial immersion in Colombia and deepen their understanding of the sector’s key trends.

COMMERCIAL EXCHANGE – The two countries share significant commercial ties, with Brazil ranking as Colombia’s third-largest trading partner. Brazilian exports to Colombia have seen consistent growth since 2003, reaching a bilateral trade total of US$6.1 billion last year. Brazilian exports amounted to US$3.8 billion, while imports from Colombia totaled US$2.3 billion.

Brazil stands as the primary source of Colombian imports of automobiles and their parts (19% of the total) and paper and cardboard (19% of the total), with cereals ranking as the second-largest import category (21% of the total). Noteworthy among Brazilian agricultural exports to Colombia are corn and unroasted coffee, constituting 12% and 5% of Brazil’s total exports to Colombia in 2023, respectively.

Bilateral relations between the two countries currently exhibit a strong interest in expanding the integration of national production chains across various sectors, including automotive, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, agri-food, defense, and phytotherapeutic products industries. There is ample scope for increasing Brazilian exports in both industrial and agricultural sectors, with approximately 70 Brazilian companies currently operating in Colombia.

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