• Moderador: Sergio Clavijo, Executive Director, Anif
• Hernando José Gómez, Colombian FTA Czar | Access presentation (PDF)
• Javier Diaz, President ANALDEX | Access presentation (PDF)
• Miriam García Ferrer, EU Commercial Representative in Colombia

Access Minister Cárdenas’ presentation (PDF).

Colombian Minister for Mines and Energy Mauricio Cárdenas’ remarks focused on the role of Colombia’s mining and energy sectors in strengthening the economy. He showed the robust growth of Colombia’s resource exports, with coal and oil alone growing from $15.68 billion in 2009 to $36.35 billion in 2011 and making up 64 percent of total exports that same year. Oil production went from 785,000 barrels per day in 2010 to an estimated 1.07 million in 2012, and is set to continue rising, though reserves are not expected to last into the long term. The minister also stated that Colombia has the second biggest potential for non-conventional energy in Latin America, after Argentina.

Infrastructure development and capacity building was a priority. Pipelines are planned to take hydrocarbons from Colombia’s interior to its Pacific and Atlantic coasts, and refineries in Cartagena and Barrancabermeja will be modernized and expanded, with the former costing $4.8 billion. There are also plans to create an interconnected power network with Panama, starting with a 300MW capacity, and eventually expanding this out to the rest of Central America. Domestic production of electricity will also increase.

How does a country turn a resource boom into a blessing? Save profits, diversify production and exports, and insure government transparency, said Minister Cárdenas.

• Moderator: Leonardo Villar, Executive Director, Fedesarrollo
• Victor Herrera, Managing Director Latin America, Standard & Poor’s | Access presentation (PDF)
• Alberto Bernal, Head of Macroeconomic Strategy, Emerging Markets Research, Bulltick Capital | Access presentation (PDF)
• Jason Press, Global Emerging Markets and Latin America, Citigroup (invited) | Access presentation (PDF)
• Nader Nazmi, Chief Economist, Latin America, BNP Paribas | Access presentation (PDF)
• Sergio Clavijo, Executive Director, ANIF | Access presentation (PDF)

Access Minister Echeverry’s presentation (PDF).

Colombian Minister of Finance Juan Carlos Echeverry began by examining the cause of global financial turbulence, currently focused mainly around the euro zone. A lack of responsible management of public finances and debt have led to the current crisis, said the minister, and developing markets have overtaken rich countries’ in terms of GDP growth due to market perception that emerging economies offer safe-havens for capital. Colombia in particular is currently very fashionable among foreign investors and has seen a surge in foreign direct investment.

Using experience and foresight the government of President Juan Manuel Santos is preparing for any possible domestic or international economic hurdles that could lie ahead, said Minister Echeverry. Colombia is an “atypical” country in the global scenario in that it’s reducing its foreign debt and growing its economy. This is achieved by a policy of responsible and active savings by the government, developing an anti-cyclical buffer as commodity exports hit $61 billion this year and mining and energy will grow 14.1 percent this year through next.

“Debt is the difference between what one is and what one thinks he is,” said the minister.

AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal discusses Colombia's economic and investment boom in light of the recent trade deal with the United States and integration agreement with the Pacific Alliance. Segal focused on the country's free market push, social inclusion initiatives, and infrastructure developments.

AS Director of Literature Dan Shapiro is interviewed by Televisa about Carlos Fuentes' contribution to Latin American literature following the Mexican writer's passing.