COUNTRY PROFILE COLOMBIA
GENERAL INFORMATION
Colombia, or formally, the Republic of Colombia (Spanish: República de Colombia), is the northwestern country of South America. Colombia is bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil, to the south by Ecuador and Peru, to the North by the Atlantic Ocean and to the west by Panama and the Pacific Ocean. Colombia is a large and physically diverse nation. It is the fourth-largest country in South America (after Brazil, Argentina, and Peru), with an area seven times greater than that of New England and almost twice that of France. Its vast territory is one of great physical contrasts, ranging from the towering, snowcapped peaks of the Andes to the hot, humid plains of the Amazon River Basin. Not only is Colombia large in area, but it also has a large population, containing more people than any other South American country except Brazil. The nation's population is not evenly distributed. Most of the people live in the mountainous western third of the country, where Bogotá, the capital, and most of Colombia's other large cities are located. Because this western region has a pleasant climate and rich soil, it is also where most agricultural activity takes place.
FLAG OF COLOMBIA
The current flag of Colombia is yellow, blue and red. The yellow represents the richness of the Colombian gold. The blue shows the two oceans which border North and West Colombia. The red has two meanings. The first one is the blood of soldiers of the people who fought and victoriously won the independence. The other is the blood of Jesus Christ, clearly showing the Christian roots of Colombia.
ETYMOLOGY OF COLOMBIA
The word "Colombia" comes from the name of Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón in Spanish, Cristoforo Colombo in Italian) and was conceived by the revolutionary Francisco de Miranda as a reference to the New World, especially to all American territories and colonies under Spanish and Portuguese rule. The name was then adopted by the Republic of Colombia of 1819 formed by the union of Venezuela, New Granada and Ecuador.
In 1830, when Venezuela and Ecuador separated, the Cundinamarca region which remained became a new country, the Republic of New Granada. In 1863 New Granada changed its name officially to United States of Colombia, and in 1886 adopted its present day name: Republic of Colombia.
LAND AND USES
Colombia has more physical diversity packed into its borders than any other area of comparable size in Latin America. The country is part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region of the world characterized by frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Colombian surface features form complicated patterns. The western third of the country is the most complex. Starting at the shore of the Pacific Ocean in the west and moving eastward at a latitude of 5 degrees north, a diverse sequence of features is encountered. In the extreme west are the very narrow and discontinuous Pacific coastal lowlands, which are backed by the Serranía de Baudó, the lowest and narrowest of Colombia's mountain ranges. Next is the broad region of the Río Atrato/Río San Juan lowland, which has been proposed as a possible alternate to the Panama Canal as a human-made route between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. The chief western mountain range, the Cordillera Occidental, is a moderately high range with peaks reaching up to about 13,000 ft. (4,000 m.). The Cauca River Valley, an important agricultural region with several large cities on its borders, separates the Cordillera Occidental from the massive Cordillera Central. Several snow-clad volcanoes in the Cordillera Central have summits that rise above 18,000 ft. (5,500 m.). The valley of the slow-flowing and muddy Magdalena River, a major transportation artery, separates the Cordillera Central from the main eastern range, the Cordillera Oriental. The peaks of the Cordillera Oriental are moderately high. This range differs from Colombia's other mountain ranges in that it contains several large basins. In the east, the sparsely populated, flat to gently rolling eastern lowlands called llanos cover almost 60 percent of the country's total land area.
This cross section of the republic does not include two of Colombia's regions: the Caribbean coastal lowlands and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, both in the northern part of the country. The lowlands in the west are mostly swampy; the reed-filled marshes of the area are called ciénagas by the people of Colombia. The Guajira Peninsula in the east is semiarid. The Sierra Nevada is a spectacular triangular snowcapped block of rock that towers over the eastern part of this lowland.
Colombia's proximity to the equator influences its climates. The lowland areas are continuously hot. Altitude affects temperature greatly. Temperatures decrease about 3.5° F. (2° C.) for every 1,000-ft. (300-m.) increase in altitude above sea level.
Rainfall varies by location in Colombia, tending to increase as one travels southward. This is especially true in the eastern lowlands. For example, rainfall in parts of the Guajira Peninsula seldom exceeds 30 in. (75 cm.) per year. Colombia's rainy southeast, however, is often drenched by more than 200 in. (500 cm.) of rain per year. Rainfall in most of the rest of the country runs between these two extremes.
Altitude affects not only temperature, but also vegetation. In fact, altitude is one of the most important influences on vegetation patterns in Colombia. The mountainous parts of the country can be divided into several vegetation zones according to altitude, although the altitude limits of each zone may vary somewhat depending on the latitude.
The tierra caliente (hot land), below 3,300 ft. (1,000 m.), is the zone of tropical crops such as bananas. The tierra templada (temperate land), extending from an altitude of 3,300 to 6,600 ft. (1,000 to 2,000 m.), is the zone of coffee and maize. Wheat and potatoes dominate in the tierra fría (cold land), at altitudes from 6,600 to 10,500 ft. (2,000 to 3,200 m.). In the so-called zona forestada (forested zone), located between 10,500 and 12,800 ft. (3,200 and 3,900 m.), many of the trees have been cut for firewood. Treeless pastures dominate the páramos, or alpine grasslands, at altitudes of 12,800 to 15,100 ft. (3,900 to 4,600 m.). Above 15,100 ft. (4,600 m.), where temperatures are below freezing, is the tierra helada, a zone of permanent snow and ice.
Vegetation also responds to rainfall patterns. A scrub woodland of scattered trees and bushes dominates the semiarid northeast. To the south, savanna (tropical grassland) vegetation covers the Colombian portion of the llanos. The rainy areas in the southeast are blanketed by tropical rain forest. In the mountains, the spotty patterns of precipitation in alpine areas complicate vegetation patterns. The rainy side of a mountain may be lush and green, while the other side, in the rain shadow, may be parched.
GEOGRAPHY
Colombia is divided into 32 departments and one capital district. Colombia has a total of 22 principal cities, which are listed below in order of importance:
Bogotá (La Atenas Suramericana – South America's Athens) - Capital
Cali (La sucursal del cielo – Heaven's Branch; also called La Sultana del Valle - Valley's Sultan)
Medellín (La ciudad de la eterna primavera – The City Of Eternal Spring; Also called Capital de la montaña - Capital of the mountain)
Barranquilla (La puerta de oro de Colombia – Colombia's Golden Gate)
Bucaramanga (La ciudad Bonita – The Pretty City)
Cartagena de Indias (La heroica – The Heroic)
Cúcuta (La hermosa villa - The Beautiful Village)
Pereira (La querendona, trasnochadora y morena – The Lovely Sleepless Brunette)
Santa Marta (La perla de oro - The golden pearl)
Ibagué (Capital Músical de Colombia - Colombia's Music Capital)
Pasto (Ciudad Sorpresa – The Surprise City)
Manizales (La ciudad de las puertas abiertas – The City Of Open Gates)
Neiva (Neivayork, La capital bambuquera de América - Capital of bambuquo of America)
Armenia (La Ciudad Milagro – The Miracle City)
Valledupar (Capital mundial del vallenato – World's Vallenato Capital)
Villavicencio (La Puerta al Llano - The Llano's Gate)
Sincelejo (La ciudad de las corralejas - The city of the "bullruns")
Montería (La capital ganadera de Colombia - The colombian cattle capital)
Buenaventura (Bello Puerto del Mar - Beautiful Seaport)
Popayán (La Ciudad Blanca - The White City)
Tunja (La capital del haba, el tejo y la ruana)
Quibdó (La perla negra - The black pearl)
ECONOMY
In spite of the difficulties presented by serious internal armed conflict, Colombia's economy grew steadily in the latter part of the twentieth century, with gross domestic product (GDP) increasing at an average rate of over 4% per year between 1970 and 1998. The country suffered a recession in 1999 (the first full year of negative growth since the Great Depression), and the recovery from that recession was long and painful. However, in recent years growth has been impressive, reaching 8.2% in 2007, one of the highest rates of growth in Latin America. Meanwhile the Colombian stock exchange climbed from 1,000 points at its creation in July 2001 to over 7,300 points by November 2008.
According to International Monetary Fund estimates, in 2007 Colombia's nominal GDP was US$202.6 billion (37th in the world and fourth in South America). Adjusted for purchasing power parity, GDP per capita stands at $7,968, placing Colombia 82nd in the world. However, in practice this is relatively unevenly distributed among the population, and, in common with much of Latin America, Colombia scores poorly according to the Gini coefficient, with UN figures placing it 119th out of 126 countries. In 2003 the richest 20% of the population had a 62.7% share of income/consumption and the poorest 20% just 2.5%, and 17.8% of Colombians live on less than $2 a day. Government spending is 37.9% of GDP. Almost a quarter of this goes towards servicing the country's relatively high government debt, estimated at 52.8% of GDP in 2007. Other problems facing the economy include weak domestic and foreign demand, the funding of the country's pension system, and unemployment (10.8% in November 2008). Inflation has remained relatively low in recent years, standing at 5.5% in 2007.
Historically an agrarian economy, Colombia urbanized rapidly in the twentieth century, by the end of which just 22.7% of the workforce were employed in agriculture, generating just 11.5% of GDP. 18.7% of the workforce are employed in industry and 58.5% in services, responsible for 36% and 52.5% of GDP respectively. Colombia is rich in natural resources, and its main exports include petroleum, coal, coffee and other agricultural produce, and gold. Colombia is also known as the world's leading source of emeralds, while over 70% of cut flowers imported by the United States are Colombian. Principal trading partners are the United States (a controversial free trade agreement with the United States is currently awaiting approval by the United States Congress), Venezuela and China. All imports, exports, and the overall balance of trade are at record levels, and the inflow of export dollars has resulted in a substantial re-valuation of the Colombian peso.
Economic performance has been aided by liberal reforms introduced in the early 1990s and continued during the current presidency of Álvaro Uribe, whose policies include measures designed to bring the public sector deficit below 2.5% of GDP. In 2008, the Heritage Foundation assessed the Colombian economy to be 61.9% free, an increase of 2.3% since 2007, placing it 67th in the world and 15th out of 29 countries within the region. Meanwhile the improvements in security resulting from President Uribe's controversial "democratic security" strategy have engendered an increased sense of confidence in the economy. On 28 May 2007 the American magazine BusinessWeek published an article naming Colombia "the most extreme emerging market on Earth".
Bilateral Relationship
I. Diplomatic Relation, Indonesia – Colombia
The bilateral relation between Indonesia and Colombia formally began on September 15, 1980 in Geneva-Swiss with the Joint Communique of Ambassador Atmono Suryo and Ambassador Jaramillo.
Both countries have the same vision and importance in International forum. The membership of both countries in G-77, South Working Group, and North-South Working Group are one of the examples of international vision between the two countries.
Colombia has an important role in the history of the achievement of Indonesian foreign policy, especially considering Colombia is one of the countries in South America that support the struggle of Indonesia on the principle of "Wawasan Nusantara". Colombia is also the main partner in Indonesia Conferences and the International Sea Law that has a positive outlook for developing countries in the Pacific region, especially the ASEAN countries and South Pacific.
Furthermore, Colombian foreign policy can be considered impartial foreign policy in Indonesia when Indonesia is experiencing an international problem that is the complicated issue of East Timor. In the tense period of the East Timor issue, Colombia chose his abstention (1975-1978), support Indonesia (1979-1981) and re-choose attitude of abstention (in 1982). Even the reference on the issue of East Timor who are always listed in the Final Declaration of the High Level Conference of Ibero Americana 1993-1997 period, successfully eliminated in the final summit declaration to VIII Ibero Americana held in Porto, Portugal. During the meeting the issue of East Timor had not discussed.
A good relationship between Colombia and Indonesia for almost 30 years can be said to still range in the level of multilateral cooperation. Despite an increase in the value of bilateral trade since 1989 and the opening of the prioritization of foreign economic relations with Asia-Pacific countries, the Colombian government since the launch of Apertura Economica (Economic Aperture) policy by President César Gaviria on July 4, 1991, it has a higher priority attention to the industrial countries in the Asia Pacific region Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and now India. This priority is mainly to attract real investment of the Asia-Pacific region country to Colombia.
Apart from the fact, Colombia is actually a reliable partner for the achievement of Indonesian foreign policy. In the period 2006 to the present, the Colombian government has a lot of political support for the candidacy of Indonesia membership in various international organizations. Colombian government provides 10 times to support Indonesia, which is to the non-permanent member of UN Security Council 2007-2008 (previous year 1995-1996), Human Rights Council membership in 2008-2010 (previous year 2006-2008), membership in the International Law Commission 2007 -2011, membership in the IMO 2009-2011 (formerly 2007-2009), membership in the International Narcotics Control Board (2007-2011), membership in the International Telecommunication Union 2006-2010.
For the year 2007, the government gave each other support the candidacy of the two countries in the 2 world corp member which are the Colombia's candidacy as a member of the International Court of Justice 2009-2018 period, with the candidacy of Indonesia as a member of the International Maritime Organization category C 2007-2009 period and Indonesia's candidacy as a member of International Civil Association Organization 2007-2010 period with Colombia as a member of the Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2008-2011 period.
Conversely Indonesia also recorded a significant support to Colombia to the Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference member in 1992. A decision that support each other which Dr. Eduardo Valencia Ospina has been elected as representatives of Colombia in the International Law Commission 2007-2011 period, with the representatives of Indonesia Dr. Nugroho Wisnumurti for organization and membership in the same period. In addition, Indonesia provides support for Colombia's candidacy as a non-permanent member of UN as a payback period of 2011-2012 through the support of the Government of Colombia for the election of Indonesia as a non-permanent member of UN Security Council 2007-2008 period.
The visit of high officials of both countries can be noted since the declarations of diplomatic relations between the two countries are as follows:
- Indonesian Foreign Minister Mochtar Kusumaatmadja visit to Colombia in 1985 in order to pioneer the non-oil exports.
- Kalitbang Ministry of Foreign Affairs visit to Colombia, Dr. Hashim Djalal on 1988 in order to develop Indonesia's foreign policy.
- Colombian parliamentary delegation visit to Indonesia 19-24 June 1989.
- MPR / DPR-RI delegation visit to Colombia on 21-28 February 1990.
- Colombia Foreign Minister's visit to Indonesia, Noemí Sanin de Rubio in representing President César Gaviria Trujillo at 10th NAM summit in Jakarta on September 1993.
- Indonesian Special Envoy visit to Colombia, Dr. Arifin Siregar, Ambassador of Indonesia in Washington, to Colombia on August 7, 1994 to attend the inauguration of President Ernesto Samper Pizano.
- Colombian delegation visit to Indonesia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Rodrigo Pardo Garcia Pena in the framework of NAM ministerial conference in Bandung and KAA Anniversary Commemoration April 1995.
- Indonesian President visit to Colombia, Dr. Suharto and Indonesian Foreign Minister, Ali Alatas to Cartagena in 1995 to attend the Non-Aligned Summit.
- Colombian President visit to Indonesia, Dr. Ernesto Samper, Colombia's Foreign Minister, Maria Emma Mejía Vélez, and Colombian businessmen to Jakarta in October 1996, to increase bilateral relations. Where the visit has a good result and it was signed an Education and Culture Agreement, as well as cooperation agreements between the Antara News Agency and Ancol Colombia.
- Indonesian Foreign Minister visit to Colombia, Dr. Alwi Shihab to Cartagena 8-9 April 2000 in the framework of the 13th Conference of Foreign Ministers of Non-Aligned Countries.
- Colombian delegation visit to Indonesia, Vice President Gustavo Bell Lemus in the framework of G-15 Summit in Jakarta May 31, 2001. The delegation conformed by the Foreign Trade Minister, Martha Lucia Ramirez and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Perdoza Jairo Montoya.
- Indonesian Trade Minister Visit to Colombia, Rini Soewandi and Head of BKPM Theo Toemion to Bogota in 2003.
- Indonesian special President's envoy visit to Colombia, Ambassador of Indonesia to Venezuela, Cornelis Manoppo for the inauguration of President Alvaro Uribe, in June 2006.
- Colombian Minister of environment visit to Indonesia, Juan Lozano Ramirez and his delegation in the framework of the UN FCCC meeting in Bali in 2007.
- The visit of the Director General of Multilateral Political Colombia, Olga Bula in order FEALAC trial in Bali in 2008.
- The visit of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia to Colombia, Dr. Yusgiantoro and his delegation to the 20-21Juli 2009.
- The visit of Colombia Ambassador for Indonesia in Noirobi to Indonesia, Dr. Maria Diaz, for the environment framework of Ministerial Meeting F-11 in Jakarta on 12-13 October 2009.
Although Indonesia's diplomatic relations with Colombia can be said that is still relatively young which is 29 years, compared with Indonesia's diplomatic relations with other Latin American countries, but the intensity of the relationship and cooperation since it was first established the diplomatic relations can be said quite intensive. This is reflected in the establishment of the Colombian Embassy in Jakarta in 1983 and the implementation of several Indonesia high officials visit to Colombia in the period 1984-1989. Close diplomatic relations of both countries in the aforementioned era, was culminated with the establishment of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Colombia on May 1989 and with the approval accreditation of Dr. Trenggono, Ambassador on June 20, 1989, which also marks the official operation of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to the Republic of Colombia.
On June 1989 was formally established the Indonesian Embassy in Bogota that previously the diplomatic relation of Colombia was handled by the Indonesia Embassy in Brazil. However, due to the efficiency/budget savings, the Government of Colombia on September 6, 2002, the Government of Colombia officially announces the closing of its embassy in Jakarta.
As the impact of the Asian financial crisis in 1997-2002 periods, the intensity of the relationship between the two countries was little further down that led to the closure of the Colombian Embassy in Jakarta in September 2002. Following the closure of its Embassy in Jakara, the Colombian governments open its embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has recorded the investment of Colombia around U.S. $ 1 million in the palm oil sector. Indonesia being handled by the Colombian Embassy in New Delhi. Meanwhile consular affair matter in Indonesia is served by an Honorary Consul of Colombia in Jakarta, Ms. Maria Mercedez.
During 2009, the government and the Armed Forces of Colombia acknowledge actively the development of Indonesia, either in the form of participation in the Embassy's diplomatic events, international conferences held by the government of Indonesia (NAM, Climate Change, WOC, F-11, etc.), programs KTNB programs as well as providing mutual support in international forum, such as the IMO, ITU, ICAO, Council of Human Rights, the International Narcotics Control Board, an others. Colombia also sent the representative at the World Ocean Conference in Manado in 2009 and F-11 in October 2009 in Jakarta. Areas that have a potential cooperation between both countries to strengthen more are the sea issues (Colombia supports the Archipelago of Indonesia), forestry (carbon trading), environment (Climate change), safety (drug trafficking, money laundering) and energy.
In the framework of social cooperation, the Colombian government, through a Memorandum dated October 16, 2009, has delivered condolences and aid donation of U.S. $ 12.000, - to overcome the damage caused by the impact of the earthquake in West Sumatra in September 2009. Donations will be transferred directly to the account number of Finance Ministers of Indonesia. For this reason Indonesia has address a appreciation and gratefulness to Colombian People and Government for the aforementioned donation.
Concrete bilateral cooperation existing today is cooperation between the Trans Jakarta and Bogota Trans-Millenio. On October 17 to 23, 2009, ITDP (Institute for Transport Development Program) delegates of Indonesia have visited Bogota to conduct further comparative studies. Meanwhile, in a visit on July 20, 2009, the Minister of Mines RI, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, has signed a Joint Declaration by the Colombian Minister of Mines, Dr. Hernan Martinez Torres, who essentially agreed to further cooperation in the field of energy. The visit was followed by a visit to Jakarta and Ecopetrol meeting with Pertamina and BP Migas.
Related to the Joint Commission both parties agreed in principle to do the Joint Commission in the near future. Colombia proposed Joint Commission to be held in Jakarta on March 23-25, 2010. Indonesia MOU draft proposal currently just waiting for the translation by the Colombians.
From the results of talks conducted by the Embassy with Colombian officials, The Colombian Government noticed the commitment to give priority to the opening of the Colombian Embassy in Jakarta in 2010. In this case would have prompted further development of this commitment.
Related to the development prospects of bilateral relations in trade, it is perhaps that Indonesia experience a high surplus with Colombia. The bilateral trade value in 2008 according to data from Colombia is U.S. $ 137 million. In this case it should be noted that more and more people are interested. Colombia in representing of 25 entrepreneurs has participated this year in the Trade Expo Indonesia 2009.
Related trial of the Ottawa Convention, the President has expressed his gratitude for the invitation conveyed by the President of Colombia to attend a meeting of the Ottawa Convention to be held in Cartagena on 3-4 December 2009. President of the Republic of Indonesia has delivered apology cannot attend but will convey a commitment to send a delegation to attend in Cartagena.
In the framework of ASEAN cooperation, FEALAC, Colombia has participated in the FEALAC conference in Bali. 2010, Colombia will play host to hold the hearing with an agenda FEALAC Counter Terrorism.
Cooperation within the framework of APEC: Colombia is very aware the importance of APEC and therefore it expects Indonesia to provide support for Colombia will become a member of APEC. For that, Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez is hoping to hold a meeting with Foreign Minister of Indonesia, Dr. Marty Natalegawa, on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Singapore 12-13 November 2009.
II. Existence of the Embassy of the Republic Indonesia in Bogota
The existence of Bogota Embassy significantly strengthens relations between the two countries in various fields. Some things can be noted in political relations during the existence of the Embassy: visit each other parliaments of both countries in the period 1988-1990; Visits Lawyers and Professionals Association (ASAPIDA) in June 1992 to study the role of women in both countries, each elected as Chairman of Indonesia Non-Aligned Movement in 1992 and Colombia in 1995.
Peak of the closeness of diplomatic relations between the two countries can be said to occur in 1996, where President of Colombia, Ernesto Samper Pizano official state visit with a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office of News and Colombian Chamber of Commerce. This visit is the first official visit of high officials of the President in the history diplomatic relations level between both countries. This state visit provides a very positive outcome because it is followed by the signing of the Cooperation Agreement of Culture and Education, Cooperation Agreement Between the Office of News and Centro de Information de Colombia, and the Cooperation Agreement Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Indonesia (KADIN) and the Confederacion de Cámaras de Comercio (CONFECAMARAS) . In this visit, the exact date is October 24, 1996 Agreement was also signed by the Economic and Technical Cooperation Indonesia, Colombia, but due to translation errors in the Spanish language in the 1996 Agreement KSET annulled and a new agreement signed KSET returned by the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Ali Alatas and Colombian Ambassador to Indonesia Luis Fernando Angel on October 13, 1999.
To further strengthen the diplomatic relations the two countries Embassy Bogota tried to organize a state visit to Indonesia president of Colombia. President Abdurrahman Wahid's visits to Colombia have been prepared before the president attended the OPEC summit in Caracas Venezuela on 28 September 2000. However, these requests fail is realized because sudden things are happening in Indonesia. Indonesia forced the President to delay the departure abroad.
In connection with the sudden cancellation, the Government of Colombia and Indonesia, through the Embassy Bogota, agreed to improve relations between the two countries through various means such as mutual support in international forum and invite Embassy to actively participate in various seminars, conferences and exhibitions in Colombia.
Interwoven cooperation in economic and technical fields the two countries have actually initiated a decade before the signing of the Agreement KSET, precisely since the 1984/1985 Fiscal year in which the Indonesian government offered to citizens of Colombia to take advantage of scholarships Inter-Technical Cooperation Developing Countries (KTNB). Unfortunately, these scholarships offer less appreciated, where during the period 1984-1998 was recorded only three of the participants' Meeting on Technical Cooperation among STOs in Fertilizer "from Colombia.
Enhance efforts and improve economic relations expertise in the field of economics for the business has been pioneered by the Indonesia Embassy since the founding. Businesses that can be recorded is the Flower Association of Indonesia visit to the city Bogota DC and Rio Negro, Medellín to study flower development technologies and methods of flower industrialization on 6-10 January 1993. As Colombia is known at that time and up to now is the second largest flower producer in the world after the Netherlands.
Coffee research collaboration between research centers and coffee in Jember in Pereira also successfully pioneered by the Embassy in Bogota in 1993. This business is considering Colombia is the main producer in the world of coffee and Colombian coffee is better known worldwide than the coffee that in fact Indonesia is also one of the world's major coffee producers.
Mutual economic delegation visited Indonesia and Colombia that could be recorded since Bogota was founded Embassy delegation visit employers and the Chamber of Commerce Colombia to Indonesia in 1996 in the party delegation state visit President Ernesto Samper and the Colombian delegation visits Minister of Trade and Industry, Indonesia, Rini Suwandi and Head of BKPM , Theo Toemion, in the year 2003.
In addition to creating a cooperative effort "sister city" to some cities in Colombia had begun with the establishment of Monumento el domo de las antípodas in Neiva City, created by Colombian engineer José Antonio Rodríguez Puentes. This monument is a tangible evidence of the proximity of Indonesia, Colombia, where the city of Neiva in Huila Province was right on different points of the city of Palembang in South Sumatra Province. Apart from being realized not be the same monument in the city of Palembang, and yet the realization of the relationship "sister city" between the cities in Indonesia and Colombia, but this antípodas Monumento development can be the main point and the beginning of development cooperation "sister city" Indonesia-Colombia.
Actual demand cooperation "sister city" was submitted by several cities in Colombia, among others Pereira-Bandung, Tumaco-Makasar, and requests the Governor of Province Island of San Andres, Providence and Santa Catalina in 2001 that explored the twin city cooperation making the islands of San Andres in the city in Indonesia. Despite these twin city proposal got positive response from the cities in Indonesia, but up to now this cooperation can be realized yet.
The sister city partnership that if being realized is worth between Jakarta and Bogota, DC, since both cities are equally into the state capital, has a transportation system TransMilenio / Transjakarta and plays anti-polar, though not as precisely Neiva-Palembang, is 200 km.
Other co-operation can still be realized is the Colombian National Police Commission for Cooperation with the Indonesian Police. Plan of cooperation in the form of a comparative study visit program and scholarship study in educational institutions of both countries real police filed by the Colombian National Police Commission to the Embassy on January 22, 2001. The proposal is a positive response from the Indonesian Police as stated in the Letter of Indonesian Police Chief dated March 30, 2001.
Colombian party postpone the implementation of this cooperation is to wait the turn of the Colombian police chief in 2002 and the corrections made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia to the proposed collaboration they pose. But up to now have not been cooperative programs had been conducted.
In the field of social and cultural information in 1996 managed to sign news exchange cooperation agreement between the Antara News Agency and the Centro de Information de Colombia (CIC). The main purpose of the establishment of this cooperation is to improve the coverage of both countries directly without quoting the news from the international news agency. Unfortunately these relationships lasted only very briefly. According to information from Antara News, mutual news exchange cooperation carried out only for 3 months and then disconnected. This partnership breakup can be caused by the economic crisis and the world at that time or the political situation in the country of Colombia at the time. This news exchange cooperation was not yet formally terminated.
Meanwhile, since the government of President Alvaro Uribe Colombian National News Agency is SNE (Servicio de Noticias del Estado) which is different from previous news agency CIC. News about or related to Indonesia is increasing within the last 9 years. Based on data from Colombia's largest daily El Tiempo, reports the news about Indonesia amounted to 112 in 2000, up to 130 news in 2006, 265 news (2007), and 278 news (2008). Despite an increase in coverage of Indonesia within the last 3 years, but most quoted news from international news agencies such as EFE, CNN, BBC, or AP.
Related to the implementation of education and culture cooperation, which was signed in 1996, wiith the facilitation of the Embassy it has been conducted in sending reporters to Indonesia of El Tiempo journalist in 2004 and the El Espectador newspaper reporter in 2009.
Colombia students who take advantage of the scholarships Darmasiswa and Developing Country Partnership also increased from three student KNB scholarship year 2004/2005 to 3 people awardees Darmasiswa for 2007/2008 and two scholarship for 2007/2010 Colombia's own government offer scholarships to foreign students but, until this time with no special offers given to Indonesian students.
In the social field of culture, the Government of Indonesia provides humanitarian aid worth U.S. $ 20,000 when natural disasters occurred in Colombia in 1994. The assistance delivered directly through Ambassador Agusni Sastradireja to Colombian Foreign Minister Rodrigo Pardo Pena. Meanwhile, the Colombian government is also providing humanitarian aid West Sumatra earthquake in 2009 worth U.S. $ 12,000.
In the field of Consul, Bogota Embassy since it was established providing various services to the citizen consular affairs and foreign citizens residing in Colombia, Panama and Ecuador. In the era of the early 1990s when the fishing boats are still docked in the harbor a lot of Buenaventura, Embassy provides information to the citizen who became a fish for the crew was not involved in cocaine traffic network uses a lot of foreigners who became fishing crew, cruise ship goods or to be a courier of cocaine with the lure of huge money.
The situation in the country that are less conducive in Colombia in the mid and late 90s era did not make the citizen carrying a crew of fishing vessels, cargo ship and yacht based in region of Colombia. However, along with the improvement of security situation and the Colombian economy since the 2008/2009 accounted recorded 60 Indonesians into the fish crew and domiciled in the territory of Colombia. Of course, in the return of fishing boats, ships and cruise ships goods to the Colombian territory had to be a special concern of the Embassy in Bogota since 2001-2002 was recorded 3 (three) people imprisoned in Colombia and Indonesia for smuggling drugs (cocaine).
A citizen was arrested on January 1, 2001 and imprisoned for 4 years for carrying 4 kg of cocaine. Later on March 12, 2002, two cruise ship crew citizens arrested for carrying 1.381 kg of cocaine and imposed their 4-year prison sentence. Embassy always cooperates with relevant agencies and providing assistance to their translator during the trial in Colombia.
But somehow is worth to note that assistance from the Embassy in this case is very limited given the Colombian government will not provide relief or ease prison sentence in the court process to any foreign citizen who is lawfully proved to smuggle cocaine.