This week, La República, one of the most important economic and financial newspapers in Colombia, published the latest article by ATREVIA´s president, Núria Vilanova, titled “Colombia and Spain: An ´Orange´ Future”. President Ivan Duque´s recent visit to Spain leaves us with several insights regarding the relationship between two nations that share a vision of the future that includes, as King Felipe VI reminded us, “the need for a green reconstruction, the commitment to renewable energies, and equality between men and women as the main focus for public policies.”
«The King also pointed out this constant exchange between the two countries that fosters the so-called orange economy. He referred to the development model based on creativity and diversity, through which social and economic transformation is sought, facilitating new job opportunities. Startups best exemplify this model. The President of Colombia himself has described this method as “infinite opportunity.”
This means of generating wealth and employment is a fundamental issue and more relevant than ever, seeing that the health, social, and economic crisis caused by the pandemic hampers equal opportunities.
Startups, who generate high added value due to their innovation and talent, emerge as an excellent medium for promoting social mobility when needed most. In this context, it is particularly noteworthy that Aquilino Peña, founder of Kibo, a fund specializing in startups, and president of the Asociación de Capital Crecimiento e Inversión, an organization that brings together the leading players in the sector, spoke to the President of Colombia on behalf of Spanish entrepreneurs.
Fortunately, Colombia is one of the most dynamic countries in Latin America in this field, which has sparked interest worldwide.
In fact, SoftBank, a vital new technologies fund, launched a $5 billion investment line just over two years ago and has financed 48 business projects to date. This fund, in which the Colombian Javier Villamizar holds a key position, has recently announced that it will allocate an additional $3 billion, bringing its total investment in the region to $8 billion.
These figures highlight Latin America’s appeal to foreign venture capitalists, especially in Colombia. This financial support translates into more opportunities for people with talent and entrepreneurial capacity during economic recovery and transformation.
Also, Spain’s 2.5-billion-dollar investment in Colombia that Iván Duque secured during his stay in Spain should contribute to the generation of prosperity and employment. Likewise, factors such as the recent shipment of more than one million vaccines and implementing Pedro Sánchez’s pledge made during his speech at the CEAPI Congress held last May in Madrid will help rapidly overcome the effects of this pandemic.
These are just a few examples of Colombia and Spain’s commitment to moving forward together on important issues. In the post-covid world, multilateralism will be more critical than ever. The fruitful and beneficial relations between the two countries can be a model of alliance that inspires Latin America and Europe, two regions that, more than ever, require one another to strengthen our role in a global world.”
Click here to read the full article originally published in La República.
