COLOMBIA, A POSITIVE COUNTRY

Prepared by:
Coordination of Internal and External
Communication Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

IN THE FOREGROUND

· TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATION: Colombia Aprende is the new Internet portal specialized in education, intended to be a meeting and reference point for students, directors, teachers, and researchers. At the following electronic address: http://www.colombiaaprende.edu.co/, navigators will find contents, services, and products designed by the Ministry of Education and its registered entities, to support the work of teachers and directors at all levels. The portal will make it easier for students to do their homework, through collections of digital books, videos, audio, and interactive games. Likewise, it will have room to guide students with regard to their higher education expectations and possibilities of scholarships, loans, and productive work.

· ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP: Rymco laboratories —manufacturer of medical products— and Thermo—Coil —producer of air conditioning parts— two companies from Barranquilla who are leaders in the defense of the ozone layer, assumed the commitment outlined by the Montreal Protocol and through a donation of US$1,400,000, began the process of reconverting their production processes. The initiative, endorsed by the Ministry of the Environment, Housing, and Territorial Development, through the Ozone Technical Unit, will enable these two companies to assume leadership in Latin America in their respective sectors. The technologies implemented by Rimco and Thermo-Coil will be monitored by the World Bank, which will be responsible for verifying the elimination of ozone layer-exhausting substances in these industries.

SOCIAL EQUITY

· POSITIVE SOCIAL BALANCE: During the first four months of 2004, SENA has trained 612,731 Colombians. This result is added to that obtained in 2003, when the agency exceeded the goals set for professional training. The last Social Reactivation progress report points out that SENA’s target for 2003 was to train 1,950,225 individuals. After year-end, the figure added up to 2,266,768, which means 116% over the forecast. In regard to education loans, ICETEX has approved 14,643 credits for students in strata 1 to 3, whereas last year it granted 26,014 loans, with a 102% coverage. Regarding unemployment subsidies, in the first four months, the government delivered 13,005 subsidies for unemployment, while last year, it awarded 18,247, with a 43,4% coverage. Finally, this year, a total of 327,294 Families in Action have been benefited by government aid. Last year, this figure was 337,337 families, reaching a 104% of the target.

· PRODUCTIVE SOLDIERS: With the purpose of carrying out sustainable agricultural projects, in April, the National Learning Service, or SENA for its initials in Spanish - Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje - trained 528 peasant soldiers in organic agriculture projects. The program’s intent is that, upon the end of their military service, the soldiers use the knowledge acquired to make their farms more technical. In the first phase, training was provided in fish farming, management of solid waste, apiculture, dairy production, and organic agriculture. During its second phase, scheduled to begin on 7 August, the plan is intended to train 1,675 soldiers. The soldiers are trained at the Tolemaida military base, the Ubalá (Guavio) battalion, the School of Artillery in Bogotá, and the Fusagasugá Multisector Center.

SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EMPLOYMENT GENERATION

· MOVING THE BALANCE OF PAYMENTS: Six-hundred local entrepreneurs from the various productive sectors and 260 buyers from 19 European nations participated in the First Macro Wheel of Business between Colombia and Europe, a meeting that recorded business dealings amounting to US$41,900,000, and closed commercial operations for a maximum one-year term. On a sector-wide basis, the highest business volume took place in the agro-industry, with US$23,900,000, accounting for 78% of the total, followed by business dealings in the clothing industry, textiles, footwear, and leather for US$5,800,000, reaching a 13% participation, while in light manufacture, the figure reached US$2,600,000 and US$421,700 as to services. The countries that showed more interest in national products were France, with business dealings for US$11,700,000; Spain with US$8,300,000; Germany with US$6,700,000, and Italy with US$4,900,000.

· VISIBLE ON THE INVESTMENT MAP: With the new oil policy reflected in a modern contract, Colombia returned to the oil sector foreign investment map, a contract that replaces that of association, which had been in force until today. The National Hydrocarbon Agency - Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos (ANH for its initials in Spanish) pointed out that there are more than 30 requests currently to enter into exploration and technical evaluation contracts and invest in the hydrocarbon sector in Colombia. Upon publication of the new contract in the Official Journal, the oil contracts will be entered into, including among them that of deep-water exploration, which will be signed by Ecopetrol, Petrobras, and Exxon-Mobil in the Tayrona block.

DEMOCRATIC SECURITY

· INCREASE OF DEMOBILIZED: To date in May, 161 members of illegal armed groups have been voluntarily surrendering to the authorities in different regions of the country. Out of this total, 91 individuals belonged to FARC, 48 to Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia - Self-Defense Groups -, 19 to ELN, and 3 to dissident groups. The departments reporting the highest number of demobilized are: Antioquia with 24, Chocó with 18, Cauca and Meta with 14 each, and Santander with 13. With these 161 new demobilized, a total of 975 is reached in 2004 and 4,243 in the current government.

· CANINE SENSE OF SMELL AGAINST SMUGGLING: A dog trained by the National Police to detect paper currency, delivered to the National Tax Administration - Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN for its initials in Spanish) - found US$550,820 in a double bottom suitcase that a Mexican citizen intended to introduce in the country. DIAN indicated that it is using all the mechanisms and elements necessary to avoid the introduction of non-declared dollars. Shortly, the agency will have five more dogs to carry out this activity. So far in 2004, the amount of US$3,8 million has been retained in the country’s main air terminals.