Ankara, 1 April 2022 (TDI): The Vice President and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Colombia, Marta Lucía Ramírez, is visiting Turkey for a two-day visit on 1st and 2nd April.
The visit aims to develop and strengthen political and cultural relations. In addition, strengthening investment opportunities and promoting commercial ties are also on the work agenda.
Furthermore, the Vice President will meet the Vice President of the Republic of Turkey, Fuat Oktay, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğluy.
The officials will discuss a wide array of areas of cooperation. The areas on the agenda include Investment, cooperation, and promotion of trade links, tourism, entrepreneurship, agriculture, science, health, technology, and innovation.
Moreover, they will attempt to find new possibilities of support from the Cooperation and Coordination Agency of Turkey (TIKA) for the educational sector and gender equity in Colombia. TIKA is Turkey’s agency that deals with its international cooperation.
Likewise, the Vice President and Foreign Minister will hold a meeting with the representatives of the Colombian community residing in Istanbul. She will also meet with the Honorary Consul in that city.
Colombia-Turkey Relations
Colombia and Turkey established official diplomatic relations on April 10, 1959.
The trade balance between both countries maintains a surplus trend in the last 5 years. In 2021, it reached a surplus of USD 860.6 million, 26% higher than in 2020. In 2006, Colombia and Turkey signed an agreement for trade cooperation. Furthermore, the visa requirements between the two countries were abolished in 2012.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos made a visit to Turkey in 2011. It was the first presidential interaction between the two nations. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Colombia in February 2015.
There are also people-to-people and private commercial contacts between the two countries. Many Colombian visit Turkey as tourists. There is a small but active Colombian community in Istanbul.
Recently, the Colombian Vice President visited the UAE to participate in the annual gathering of the World Government Summit.
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