KUALA LUMPUR: Colombia is seeking Malaysia as a strong business and investor partner under the new macroeconomic and political landscape following a bilateral ceasefire agreement with a guerilla group.
Its Ambassador to Malaysia Victor H. Echeverri said the recent signing of the agreement with FARC, the oldest guerrilla group in the South American continent, is a milestone and probably there is no turning back in this peace process that started in 2012.
He said the government will be able to focus on further strengthening the economy and attract foreign direct investments (FDIs) following the political stability in the country.
“In this sense, the current GDP growth which is above 3% could be increased to more than 5% while the foreign direct investment is expected to triple up to US$36bil in the medium term, thus placing Colombia among the world’s top 20 in terms of FDI flows.
“Malaysia can profit from this new macroeconomic environment in Colombia by entering into joint ventures and/or investing in key sectors like agribusiness, infrastructure, energy, manufacture and services,” he said.
Echeverri cited that Malaysia’s expertise in agriculture industry downstream processes can benefit from the more than five million new hectares of land that will be available to expand agriculture business like palm oil and rubber, among others.
He said that Malaysia’s venture into Colombia will enable the former Malaysia to be integrated in the value chain processes and reach more than 1.5 billion consumers in 47 countries through the latter’s country’s network of trade agreements.
“Besides the relevant political to the peace process in Colombia, there is no better way for Malaysia to join our efforts in the post-conflict era than refocusing its attention on the new investment opportunities that are already at hand.
“Now, more than ever, Colombia is ready to have Malaysia as a strong business and investor partner for the new era that has already started,” he said.
Recall that in June 2016, Colombian president Juan Manual Santos and the FARC had signed the agreement which was the last subject of the Colombian peace process negotiations.
Echeverri pointed the peace talks had faced multiple challenges and more than 50 rounds of complex negotiations in Havana, Cuba.
He also noted the international community including the United Nation’s Secretary General as well as the Security Council had given their strong support. The Council’s resolution 2261 was unanimously approved by the permanent and non-permanent members, including Malaysia, to monitor and verify the ending of the conflict.
The agreements between the government and the FARC focus on six main issuer, agrarian reform, political participation, illicit drugs and illegal crops, transitional justice and repatriation for victims, final ceasefire, and implementation, verification and democratic approval of agreements.
He said the commitment towards the reconciliation of the Colombians and the construction of a fairer society with better opportunities for the citizens are the tasks ahead for the coming years in order to achieve a stable long-lasting peace.
Such commitment out to be linked to fostering the economic growth and development. In spite of the long internal conflict, Colombia’s GDP has remained one of the top four in Latin America.
He said experts and several studies have concluded that sustained increase of GDP between one and two points per year is a realistic projection of the economic outcomes that will result from a consolidated peace.
Its Ambassador to Malaysia Victor H. Echeverri said the recent signing of the agreement with FARC, the oldest guerrilla group in the South American continent, is a milestone and probably there is no turning back in this peace process that started in 2012.
He said the government will be able to focus on further strengthening the economy and attract foreign direct investments (FDIs) following the political stability in the country.
“In this sense, the current GDP growth which is above 3% could be increased to more than 5% while the foreign direct investment is expected to triple up to US$36bil in the medium term, thus placing Colombia among the world’s top 20 in terms of FDI flows.
“Malaysia can profit from this new macroeconomic environment in Colombia by entering into joint ventures and/or investing in key sectors like agribusiness, infrastructure, energy, manufacture and services,” he said.
Echeverri cited that Malaysia’s expertise in agriculture industry downstream processes can benefit from the more than five million new hectares of land that will be available to expand agriculture business like palm oil and rubber, among others.
He said that Malaysia’s venture into Colombia will enable the former Malaysia to be integrated in the value chain processes and reach more than 1.5 billion consumers in 47 countries through the latter’s country’s network of trade agreements.
“Besides the relevant political to the peace process in Colombia, there is no better way for Malaysia to join our efforts in the post-conflict era than refocusing its attention on the new investment opportunities that are already at hand.
“Now, more than ever, Colombia is ready to have Malaysia as a strong business and investor partner for the new era that has already started,” he said.
Recall that in June 2016, Colombian president Juan Manual Santos and the FARC had signed the agreement which was the last subject of the Colombian peace process negotiations.
Echeverri pointed the peace talks had faced multiple challenges and more than 50 rounds of complex negotiations in Havana, Cuba.
He also noted the international community including the United Nation’s Secretary General as well as the Security Council had given their strong support. The Council’s resolution 2261 was unanimously approved by the permanent and non-permanent members, including Malaysia, to monitor and verify the ending of the conflict.
The agreements between the government and the FARC focus on six main issuer, agrarian reform, political participation, illicit drugs and illegal crops, transitional justice and repatriation for victims, final ceasefire, and implementation, verification and democratic approval of agreements.
He said the commitment towards the reconciliation of the Colombians and the construction of a fairer society with better opportunities for the citizens are the tasks ahead for the coming years in order to achieve a stable long-lasting peace.
Such commitment out to be linked to fostering the economic growth and development. In spite of the long internal conflict, Colombia’s GDP has remained one of the top four in Latin America.
He said experts and several studies have concluded that sustained increase of GDP between one and two points per year is a realistic projection of the economic outcomes that will result from a consolidated peace.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-rebels-idUSKCN0Z62EQ
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