Colombian Ambassador to the U.S. Luis Carlos Villegas gave an overview of Colombia's economic and social landscape, touching on the changes the country has undergone in the last decade. Colombia's GDP rose from $90 billion in 2000 to $400 billion in 2013, with poverty decreasing from 60 percent to 30 percent over the same period, explained Villegas. But challenges remain. Starting "other engines of growth" will be one of those challenges facing Colombia, Fitch Ratings Director Erich Arispe noted. He said that the country's infrastructure improvement plans will be an important development to improve competitiveness.

Panelists:

• Luis Carlos Villegas, Colombian Ambassador to the U.S.
• Cynthia J. Arnson, Director, Latin American Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
• Erich Arispe, Director, Sovereigns Group, Fitch Ratings
• Adriana la Rotta, Director, Media Relations, Americas Society and Council of the Americas (Moderator)

On March 13, the Council of the Americas and the Bertelsmann Foundation hosted a discussion about the Pacific Alliance with trade experts and the ambassadors from Peru, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica to the U.S. They also spoke about a new Bertelsmann Foundation report, The Pacific Pumas, which highlights advances and opportunities created by the trade bloc.

Speakers:

• Harold W. Forsyth, Ambassador of Peru to the U.S.
• Eduardo Medina Mora, Ambassador of Mexico to the U.S.
• Luis Carlos Villegas, Ambassador of Colombia to the U.S.
• Mauricio Hurtado, Chargé d'Affaires, Embassy of Chile to the U.S.
• Antoni Estevadeordal, Manager, Integration and Trade Sector, Inter-American Development Bank
• Samuel George, Project Manager, Bertelsmann Foundation
• Annette Heuser, Executive Director, Bertelsmann Foundation (moderator)