Category: Noticias

EL OLVIDO QUE SEREMOS
17 Dic, 7 pm – Terra Pavilion

El olvido que seremos is a 2020 drama film directed by Spanish director Fernando Trueba and based on the novel of the same name by Colombian author Héctor Abad Faciolince. The film was included in the official selection of the 2020 Cannes Festival, which was postponed due to the 2020 coronavirus disease pandemic in France.123 Finally, the film closed, out of competition, the Official Selection of the sixty-eighth edition of the San Sebastian Festival.

Link trailer

JINETES DEL PARAÍSO

20 Dic 7 pm – Terra Pavilion

In Colombia a farmer has won a Grammy, few know the landscapes that inspire his songs. El Llano is a paradise: a delusional experience where nature discovers its enigmatic beauty in verses. Music, landscape, riders and horses star in a vibrant and robust culture. The most heartfelt verses have traveled the world in the voice of Orlando “El Cholo” Valderrama. However, the magnitude of this land is unknown to the inhabitants of the big cities. A Colombia to explore!

Link trailer

EL PIEDRA

21 Dic 2 pm – Terra Pavilion

Reynaldo “El Piedra” Salgado is a boxer who makes a living losing fights. One day Breyder appears; a boy who claims to be his son and who wants to be a boxer. Father and presumed son will learn to live together. Reynaldo will find someone who will make him feel valuable again, and Breyder will learn to admire the father and not the supposed champion.

Link trailer

LOS AJENOS FÚTBOL CLUB

22 Dic 2 pm – Terra Pavilion

Four retired sailors make a pact 28 years ago to accompany each other in solitude and face the realities of old age. One of them dies taking stories, secrets and the title deed to the old shipyard that has been home to everyone for years. Martina Ibáñez, daughter of the deceased, arrives to vacate and sell the old house of “the shipyard”, which she rightfully belongs to.

Link trailer

JERICÓ

29 Dic 6 pm – Aussie Park (5 – Aside Football)

Four retired sailors make a pact 28 years ago to accompany each other in solitude and face the realities of old age. One of them dies taking stories, secrets and the title deed to the old shipyard that has been home to everyone for years. Martina Ibáñez, daughter of the deceased, arrives to vacate and sell the old house of “the shipyard”, which she rightfully belongs to.

Link trailer

El Grupo Ecopetrol inició su participación en Expo Dubái 2021, donde presentará ante un nutrido grupo de inversionistas internacionales su estrategia de SosTECnibilidad y las acciones que viene desarrollando para avanzar en la descarbonización de sus operaciones, la reducción de emisiones de gases a la atmósfera y la transición energética.

En el evento, al que asisten representantes de 192 países, el presidente de Ecopetrol, Felipe Bayón tendrá un espacio en el cual explicará el camino que recorre la compañía para alcanzar la meta de cero emisiones netas de carbono al año 2050.

En su presentación se referirá en detalle a los cuatro pilares de la transición energética del Grupo Ecopetrol, las iniciativas en materia de economía circular, las inversiones en gas, y el portafolio de proyectos de generación de energías renovables.

Así mismo, el presidente Bayón tendrá la posibilidad de interactuar con potenciales proveedores, líderes de fondos de capital verde y expertos en la generación de energía a partir del hidrógeno.

“La participación en Expo Dubái 2021 le permite a Ecopetrol visualizar nuevas oportunidades para seguir avanzando en su proceso de transición energética, presentar en un escenario tan importante toda su estrategia de descarbonización, conocer tecnologías, modelos de negocio, experiencias y proveedores de producción de nuevas fuentes de energía y explorar posibilidades de negocios”, indicó el presidente de Ecopetrol, Felipe Bayón.

En el evento el presidente Bayón también hablará sobre dos logros recientes del Grupo Ecopetrol, a través de empresas filiales, que representan una contribución significativa en la lucha contra el cambio climático.

La primera ejecutada por ISA aquí mismo en Expo Dubái, donde compensó durante una semana la huella de carbono de todo el Pabellón Colombia para lograr ser Carbono Neto Cero. La acción fue registrada a través de EcoRegistry, plataforma que permite la emisión, transferencia y retiro de créditos de carbono.

Los recursos obtenidos a través de esta compensación serán invertidos en el departamento del Chocó, en el proyecto de conservación, Cocoman Frontera Redd+, que tiene como propósito evitar la deforestación de los bosques de los Consejos Comunitarios Mayores de Novita.

El otro logro fue la certificación de carbono neutro que le otorgó el Instituto Colombiano de Normas Técnicas y Certificación (Icontec) a la empresa Cenit, filial de transporte del Grupo Ecopetrol, con lo cual se convirtió en la primera empresa del sector de hidrocarburos en recibir esta distinción.

Para obtenerla, Cenit ha trabajado en consolidar el inventario de emisiones, poner en marcha el programa de energías renovables e implementar alternativas de compensación de emisiones a través del proyecto de conservación Delfines Cupica REDD +, ubicado en los municipios de Bahía Solano y Juradó, departamento de Chocó.

En Expo Dubái 2021 también estará presente Jaime Caballero, vicepresidente Corporativo de Finanzas de Ecopetrol, quien compartirá la estrategia de TESG de la Empresa, que refleja la visión sostenible del negocio desde cuatro componentes: ambiental, social, económico y de gobernanza (ESG por sus siglas en inglés).

Between November 28 and 30, ISA will take over the Colombia Pavilion at Expo Dubai to present to the world the relevance of the jaguar in the climate change mitigation and the preservation of ecosystems in the Americas, on the occasion of November 29, the date declared by the United Nations Development Programme as International Jaguar Day.

The company invites you to participate in ‘the exhibition that no one wants to see’, among other interactive activities such as photography, murals, and live art, to recognize the value of this ‘umbrella species’ in the balance and proper functioning of ecosystems and what could happen if it were to disappear.

More than 2.000 visitors a day are expected to attend, who will take away valuable lessons about the jaguar, which is currently in near threatened status, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, due to habitat destruction and illegal hunting. It is estimated that there are 4,5 felines per 100 km² in the Amazon, in protected areas, and 2,5 in unprotected areas. In Uruguay and El Salvador, they are already extinct.

“We want to make visible to the world the importance of protecting the jaguar, ratifying our commitment to leave a legacy of Sustainable Value for new generations. Currently, this commitment has materialized with the protection of nearly 800.000 hectares of forest and a potential reduction of 6 million tons of CO₂ among the seven conservation projects located in the jaguar corridor in Colombia, Brazil, and Peru,” María Adelaida Correa, ISA’s Corporate Sustainability Director, said.

In addition, aligned with the purpose of mitigating climate change, ISA will offset the carbon footprint of the Colombia Pavilion during the three days of activities, through the purchase of carbon credits from its Conexión Jaguar sustainability program.

The resources generated from this purchase will contribute to further consolidate the rehabilitation of more than 2.200 hectares of land degraded by cattle ranching in the municipality of Cimitarra, in Colombia’s Magdalena Medio region, one of the most critical points for recovering the connectivity of the Jaguar corridor in Colombia.

To this end, the project will continue with the planting of endangered native trees such as the Abarco, in conjunction with cocoa production, which generates important benefits for local communities in terms of employment, income, and capacity building. In terms of biodiversity, this project contributes to the protection of five critically endangered species: Colombian Blue-billed curassow, Magdalena brown spider monkey, white-tailed deer, cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), and black-headed spider monkey.

Finally, it should be noted that the importance of the jaguar goes beyond borders and continents, since, simultaneously, academic, and cultural expressions of great impact will be held in Bogotá, Lima, Sao Paulo, and New York, in addition to Dubai, to connect the world around the celebration of International Jaguar Day.

In the case of Bogotá, the emblematic Colpatria Tower, the replica of the Taj Mahal and the Maloka Cosmica in Jaime Duque Park will be covered with jaguar textures and jungle designs through lighting and 3D Mapping by prominent national artists. Moreover, in the case of New York and Sao Paulo, the official presentation of the Jaguar Parade, an event that brings together artists from around the world to raise funds and awareness of the urgent need to conserve jaguars and their habitats, will take place.

All activities around Jaguar Month will be in alliance with Parque Explora, Jaime Duque Park, Sonic Design, Jaguara, Herencia Ambiental, Jaguar Parade, ISA INTERCOLOMBIA, ISA TRANSELCA, ISA REP, ISA CTEEP, Expo Dubai, Panthera and South Pole.

The Colombia Pavilion kicked off its three-day celebration of International Jaguar Day at the site of Expo 2020 Dubai. Running until November 30, 2021, the commemoration features a range of activities and events to promote jaguar conservation and biodiversity protection.

Multi-Latin business group ISA spearheads the pavilion’s observance of the event. On November 29, the date declared by the United Nations Development Programme as International Jaguar Day, ISA brought to the fore the significance of jaguar protection in climate change mitigation and the preservation of ecosystems in the Americas.

One of the highlights of the pavilion’s celebration is a one-of-a-kind photo exhibition that features pictures of jaguars and other relevant initiatives. This interactive exhibition prompts people to move to see the images.

The fun begins at the entrance to the Colombia Pavilion, where people can take a picture with a digital retouching to turn half of their faces into a jaguar. Other attractions include murals and live art, which will emphasize the importance of jaguars in the ecosystems and tackle what could happen if they were to disappear.

Visitors will also be treated to works by renowned graphic artists who have been helping raise environmental protection awareness. They will have a chance as well to watch an artist painting a live piece on the jaguar.

Additionally, children will be able to paint a giant doodle on a jungle landscape while adults will be able to participate in a raffle to win two works of art featuring jaguars. Furthermore, they can listen to the sounds of the jaguar and the jungle on Spotify. Anyone can visit this Spotify playlist.

International Jaguar Day is observed annually to help protect the jaguar, America’s largest wild cat that serves as an umbrella species for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. As a result of habitat destruction and illegal hunting, jaguars are currently in ‘near threatened’ status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. In the Amazon, it is estimated that there are 4,500 felines per 100 square kilometers in protected areas and 2,500 in unprotected areas. They are already extinct in Uruguay and El Salvador.

María Adelaida Correa, ISA’s Corporate Sustainability Director, said: “We want to make visible to the world the importance of protecting the jaguar, ratifying our commitment to leave a legacy of sustainable value for new generations. Currently, this commitment has materialized with the protection of nearly 800 hectares of forest and a potential reduction of 6 million tons of carbon dioxide among the seven conservation projects located in the jaguar corridor in Colombia, Brazil, and Peru.”

“Aligned with the purpose of mitigating climate change, ISA will offset the carbon footprint of the Colombia Pavilion during the three days of activities through the purchase of carbon credits from its Conexión Jaguar sustainability program,” Correa also revealed.

Carbon credits are defined as ‘measurable, verifiable emission reductions from certified climate action projects.’ ISA will use the carbon credits to further contribute to the rehabilitation of more than 2.2 hectares of land damaged by cattle ranching in the municipality of Cimitarra in Colombia’s Magdalena Medio region. The region is considered one of the most critical points to re-establish the connectivity of the jaguar corridor in Colombia.

Additionally, the resources will be used to support the continuous planting of endangered native trees such as the Abarco and protect the country’s five critically endangered species.  These five are Colombian, Blue-billed curassow, Magdalena brown spider monkey, white-tailed deer, cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), and black-headed spider monkey.

More than 2,000 visitors a day are expected to take part in the Colombia Pavilion’s celebration at the Expo site. Across the world, simultaneous cultural and academic activities was held in Bogotá, Lima, Sao Paulo, New York, and Dubai- reflecting that the efforts to protect jaguars must go beyond the Americas.

In Bogotá, the emblematic Colpatria Tower as well as the replica of the Taj Mahal and the Maloka Cosmica in Jaime Duque Park was covered with jaguar textures and jungle designs through lighting and 3D Mapping created by prominent national artists. In New York and Sao Paulo, the Jaguar Parade was held to convene artists worldwide to raise funds and awareness of the urgent need to conserve jaguars and their habitats.

All global activities during the Month of the Jaguar this November are being staged in alliance with Parque Explora, Jaime Duque Park, Sonic Design, Jaguara, Herencia Ambiental, Jaguar Parade, ISA INTERCOLOMBIA, ISA TRANSELCA, ISA REP, ISA CTEEP, Expo Dubai, Panthera, and South Pole.

The Colombia Pavilion has centered the spotlight to Risaralda, one of the four areas in Colombia that make up its Coffee Cultural Landscape area designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Several intriguing events were organised at the nation’s pavilion from November 21 to 23, 2021, allowing visitors to marvel at the exhibition of Risaralda, an area designated for its coffee producing legacy.

The two-day exhibition also highlighted Risaralda’s other major tourism attractions and its position as a destination for wellness. The region is considered as a great destination for health tourism in Colombia with teams of high-level professionals who practice all kinds of holistic wellness treatments.

In keeping with this, Pavilion visitors learnt about the region’s products and services.

To complete the experience, visitors also had the opportunity to learn the entire process of cultivation and production of coffee beans as they enjoy different types of Colombian coffee, famously known for its exceptional aroma and flavour.  (This did not occur at the Pavilion. We want to tell about it as part of the experiences that tourists who visit Risaralda have).

The pavilion also showcased Risaralda’s range of products and services in the sectors of agribusiness, textile, health, and technology including strategic projects such as the Eje Cafetero Logistics Platform. The Eje Cafetero is a pivotal project aimed at enhancing the logistics in primary coffee production areas, stretching to over 50 kilometers and covers strategic entry ports to facilitate the region’s transformation to becoming a tourism, industrial and business epicenter.

In a bid to attract more potential investors from the UAE and other Gulf countries, the Risaralda delegation also presented the ‘Pereira Airport City’ project, one of the initiatives of Colombia offering complete tourist and cultural experience. In addition, the delegation highlighted the Center in Science & Biodiversity of Risaralda (CiBi) project which acts as a research center and tourist attraction highlighting the rich fauna and flora in the region.

Risaralda is one of Colombia’s top agrotourism destinations with over 45 thousand hectares of coffee plantation cultivated by over 19,000 families. It is also famed for its biodiversity which includes more than 900 species of birds and 150 species of mammal. The region’s breathtaking scenery, among other features, are known among domestic and foreign visitors. Risaralda, with 14 municipalities, is the major location and the ideal spot for enthusiasts of extreme sports, as it provides one of the greatest landscapes of the Risaralda Valley for skydiving, presenting the visitors with a sensation of liberty while progressing over the skies of the Coffee Cultural Landscape.

The Colombian Pavilion at Expo 2020 has succeeded in showcasing the potentials of Risaralda as a destination for tourists and investors alike.

The Pacific Alliance, Latin America’s trade bloc comprising Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Mexico,
celebrated its regional integration through a cross-cultural event held at the Peru Pavilion in the
Expo 2020 Dubai on November 28, 2021. The event led by Colombia, with the support of other
member nations was held to reaffirm efforts to strengthen political and economic relations
between member nations, as well as promote their respective rich cultural heritage at the global
expo.

Diplomats, general commissioners of various national pavilions and business leaders from the
member nations of the Pacific Alliance, attended the gala celebrations which featured an
exclusive four-hands dining experience crafted by the finest chefs from the Latin American
region, Colombia’s Alex Salgado and Peru’s Iván Casusol Rossi.

Guests were treated to a unique gastronomic experience following an array of exquisite Latin
American dishes served with authentic and natural ingredients from Pacific Alliance’s member
nations, along with exotic Chilean and Mexican beverages.

Jaime Amín, Ambassador of Colombia to the UAE, said: “Pacific Alliance has been successful
as an integration process and is an example of Latin America for the world which presently has
four associated countries, while four more countries are in the process of incorporation and 40
observer countries. The success of the Pacific Alliance demonstrates the strength of the political
integration project, which will allow us to have 100 per cent tariff-free trade of goods and
services between our four countries by 2030, which currently stands at 92 per cent.”

“As we celebrate the first ten years of regional integration, we observe with great optimism the
processes of social-economic development and political stability of our countries as it is
instrumental in our continued growth the proposed goals in the coming decades,” Amin added.
According to Marco Antonio Santivanez, Consul-General of Peru in the UAE, “The event held in
Peru Pavilion brought the member nations of the Pacific Alliance together and enabled us to
confirm that the strategic vision that inspires us fully converges with the future development
goals of the UAE, which is an active observer of the alliance. It is also in line with generating
new labour, academic, cultural and business opportunities beneficial to UAE and the member
nations of the Pacific Alliance.”

Jorge Dacarett, Ambassador of Chile to the UAE, said: “The member nations of the Pacific
Alliance understand that fostering collaboration and friendly relations with other countries is
integral for development and nurturing business opportunities. And in UAE, we are represented
by Pacific Alliance as a group of integrated countries that offers a favorable destination for
investment and visit.”

The Pacific Alliance is a Latin American trade bloc formed by Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and
Peru to promote regional integration and free trade on April 28, 2011. A strategic platform that
offers competitive advantages for international businesses, especially in the Asia-Pacific region,
Pacific Alliance is the eighth economic power and export force globally.

The Colombia Pavilion joined the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the United Arab Emirates and has extended congratulatory greetings to the country during the important date to be celebrated this December 2.

“For the Colombia Pavilion, it is an honor to be part of the biggest celebration of the founding of the UAE, a country full of cultural richness and opportunities. The UAE is an example of leadership, strength, and vision, from which we can all learn. We hope that our presence at expo 2020 will be the cornerstone to grow further our cultural and business relationship with this magnificent country.” Said Juan Pablo Cavelier, Commissioner General of the Colombia Pavilion.

To celebrate the five decades in which the Arab nation has achieved impressive advances in infrastructure, science, technology, and development, becoming a welcoming place for citizens from all over the world, Colombia began its tribute to the UAE with an emotional video.

In the celebration, the Colombia Pavilion praises the spirit of unity that the country promotes at Expo 2020, which has connected 190 nations committed to the future.

Throughout December, Colombia will present a varied cultural agenda to delight locals, residents, and tourists, showcasing the cultural richness of the South American country, as a token of appreciation to the United Arab Emirates.

For Colombia, this important date is a great opportunity to continue strengthening ties of unity and cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.

Colombia, known for its rich biodiversity celebrated Flowers Week at Expo 2020 Dubai from November 7 to 11. The country, home to over a thousand distinct species of flowers, encourages tourists to enjoy the beauty of diverse Colombian flowers displayed at the country’s pavilion as part of its efforts to promote its strong flower market production.
Colombia’s Flowers Week showcased what makes the nation’s flowers stand out in terms of shapes, colors, quality and appearance, which are recognized by the international market. Of the thousands of flowers in Colombia, their roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums are known to be distinct and are given an ‘Origin Seal’, a certification given guaranteeing their unique variety, color and quality.

The week-long event also provided visitors and interested parties an opportunity to participate in roundtable discussions and business meetings regarding the booming flower industry. Asocolflores (Association of Colombian Flower Exporters), which represents flower farmers who manage nearly 75 per cent of the nation’s total exports, accompanied the Colombian national government as it seeks to advance the sector and strengthen trade relations with the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region.
The country, also dubbed as the second largest flower exporter, supplies to nearly 100 countries and will leverage Expo 2020 as a platform to expand its market reach. It is noteworthy that in 2020, cut flower exports from Colombia to the UAE, reached over USD 1.8 million comprising of various kinds including rose, hydrangea, alstroemeria, carnation, chrysanthemum and others.

From January to August this year, Colombia’s flower exports reached an amount of more than USD 2 million and has recorded a strong increase of more than 100 per cent, both in value and volume compared to 2020.

The country’s geographical location and climate conditions make it ideal for the cultivation and production of high-quality flowers and supported by a well-established network of growers, suppliers, and government initiatives.

Colombia is also home to over 4,000 variety of orchids, including its national flower, Cattleya. Commonly known as ‘May Flower’, this orchid variety is native to Colombia and is considered as one of the most beautiful flowers in the world.

Positioned as the gateway to South America, Colombia is one of the region’s fast-growing economies and brings a wide array of investment opportunities to the Expo 2020 Dubai. Its participation in the most inclusive world expo is a major step to strengthen Colombia’s position in the Middle East market as well as to establish intraregional collaborations.

Colombia’s fashion industry will showcase its unique design with a fashion week celebration in Expo 2020 Dubai from November 11 to 18, 2021.The fashion week will pay tribute to Colombian artisans and designers who handcrafts signature pieces utilizing the exotic Colombian fabrics.

As part of the fashion week, Colombian artist and entrepreneur Natalia Botero T will handcraft a statement art piece, which will be available for sale at the end of the event. On the first day of the fashion week November 11, Colombia will host a panel discussion featuring fashion designers, Laura Aparicio and Glory Ang Atelier at 4 pm and an opening party at 6 pm on the opening day.

The fashion week will feature the work of Colombian designers such as Leal Dacarrett, Silvia Tcherassi, Hernán Zajar, Pepa Pombo, Beatriz Camacho, Amelia Toro, and Johana Ortiz, new talent, and winner of the Fashion Trust Arabia contest. Each piece of work in the display will carry a QR code, with more pertinent information about the work and designer. The Colombian companies will showcase products including accessories, swimsuits, jewellery, and fashion jewellery, and shapewear.

Flavia Santoro, President of ProColombia said: “Fashion enables us to establish a seamless connection with people across the world, as threads hold together pieces of fabric in an incredible garment piece. Through fashion week, we aim to showcase the distinctiveness of Colombia’s fashion industry to the world. Colombia’s products created by highly skilled artisans and designers are known for their craftsmanship, sustainability, innovation and durability.”

The fashion week featuring contemporary and ethnical designs is organized by Colombia to leverage the opportunities that emerge through the world expo and attract fashion enthusiasts in the region to further strengthen the growth of the fashion sector in Colombia. The weeklong celebration will showcase seven of the most renowned designers from Colombia and apparels made by 30 companies, that are representing Colombia in the macro business matchmaking forum in Dubai on November 18.

The designers from Colombia have earlier represented the country’s fashion industry in major fashion events held in UAE, such as Fashion Trust Arab, Arab Fashion Week and Galeries Lafayette and already have a strong relationship with the fashion sector in UAE. The apparels made in Colombia are an integration of aesthetics and functionality, many of them are quick-drying, breathable and possesses a high degree of protection from UV.

Colombia’s commitment to its fashion industry doesn’t limit to fashion week. Besides showcasing statement fashion pieces from Colombia in the pavilion, the staff of Colombia will also be sporting garments by designer Esteban Cortázar in partnership with Sutex and ProColombia and footwear produced by Cueros Vélez for the entire duration of the world expo.
Colombia is one of the largest exporters of flatweave fabrics in the world and has 14,000 companies in the fashion sector of which, most are MSMEs. In 2019, clothing and footwear sales in the country amounted to USD 8 billion and more than 1,200 Colombian companies exported their garments to over 100 countries.

According to ProColombia’s analysis of Dane’s figures, Colombia’s exports to MEASA grew 165%, going from USD 2 million in 2020 to USD 5.3 million between January and September 2021. and textile and apparel exports to the UAE grew by 16% in 2021

Colombia’s major exports to the MEASA region include leather, shapewear, footwear, women’s swimwear, formal wear, and the main consumers of Colombia’s fashion sector in the MEASA Region are Nigeria, Togo, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Kuwait, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Angola, And Qatar.

The companies participating in the fashion week are Ambar Design S.A.S Bic, Bamboleira, Baru Swimwear S.A.S, C.I. Manufacturas Model Internacional, Chic Marroquineria Sas, Cosita Linda Swimwear – Sueño De Playa Sas, Creaciones Segar S.A.S. – Fajas Mariae, Cueros Velez S.A.S, Dayana Montoya Jewelry, Amada Maria, Dlapel Sa, Entreaguas Moda S.A.S, Fajas Corpore Sano, Ferditex S.A.S (Indudise), Flor Amazona, Glory Ang, Green Shine Ci Sas, Grupo Asthec Sa, Hadasa Emerald Jewellery Sas, Hipnos Brands, Krispeta S.A.S, La Flor De Cali Sas, Laura Aparicio Sas, Mx Castillo Sas, Nawa Resortwear, Ola Azul Sas, Ondademar Sas, Steam Beach Sas, Summa Gestiones Sas, Taha Hussein Hnos S.A.S, Tejido Sagrado Sas, Unico Interior Sas, Unnik International Trading S.A.S C.I Mipyme, Valentina Terra, Waya Artesanias Sas, Onda De Mar, Black And Bengal, One One Swim, Smeralda, Liliana Montoya, Encantadore, Mola Mola, Baobab, and y Puntamar.

Colombia will be hosting a meet and greet event at the Dubai Design District on November 10 to recognize its designers, as part of its design week celebrations to showcase the country’s culture, creativity, and innovation. The all-day event held at ‘The Name Resto Cafe’ will display a variety of distinct and luxury products from some of the best Colombian design brands.

The event will also feature an exclusive networking session from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., during which visitors will be able to learn more about Colombian design. Apart from Colombia’s designs, guests will be able to experience a live handicraft display, sample Colombian coffee, and enjoy contemporary music with DJ Alejo.

At Expo 2020, the 2,000-square-meter four-story Colombia Pavilion displays over several articles made by the nation’s indigenous communities and local artisans from remote regions who have learned the tradition of creating diverse and beautiful handicrafts over many generations. Colombian master artisans and designers have expressed their identity in handicrafts, clothing, footwear, jewelry, furniture, and other decorative items with a rich blend of craftmanship, innovation and elements distinct to the country.

Sustainability, one of the key messages of Expo 2020, is also one thing that makes Colombian design stand out as they use materials that consciously integrate the importance of environment and social impacts. Leveraging its richness in natural resources, Colombian designers use about 120 plants or tree fibers, common of which are calceta de plátano, iraca, seje, faja tetera, werregue, junco, bejuco, and palma de guarumo. Other widely used raw materials include bamboo, fique, clay, wood, totumo, and some precious metals.
Colombia’s design and fashion industry has grown to become one of the country’s most important exporters and has successfully established itself in the global market. These uniquely designed items have crossed boarders and reached exclusive destinations such as Milan and New York. In the furniture and home upholstery segment, Colombian manufacturers have exported products valued over USD 14 million in the first half of the year, an increase of 27.1 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year, according to recent data.

Participating Colombian companies include Tu Taller, Tucurinca, Artesanías De Colombia, Siente, Angela Ramos, Atlas, Monica Urquijo, Monica Urquijo, Carmen De Viboral and La Telemón.

Expo 2020 serves as one of the biggest platforms for the Latin American country to promote its products and services as it expresses keenness to increase exports and expand its market in the MENA region.