In January 2017 the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism (Min-CIT) signed a collaboration agreement with the Network of Local Economic Development Agencies (LEDA) of Colombia RED ADELCO, aimed at strengthening territorial development within the framework of the national support strategy to the peace process in Colombia. 

ILS LEDA will support RED ADELCO in the implementation of the project with training and technical assistance activities.

 

The 11 LEDA members of RED ADELCO operate in territories prioritized by the national program for peace and this agreement will strengthen their actions in support of local economic systems.

 

This initiative is part of the budget support cooperation agreement signed on 27 January 2017 in Bogota between the European Union and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia. The agreement aims to strengthen territorial development in the country, as a complementary instrument to support the program for peace, based on work articulated with the territory and under a local economic development approach.

The signing of the agreement concluded an event in which Ana Paula Zacarias, EU Ambassador to Colombia, Daniel Arango Angel, Vice Minister of Min-CIT, Henriette Geiger, Head of Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean, Alejandro Gamboa, Director of the Presidential Cooperation Agency, Yeinni Andrea Patiño, Director of Productivity and Competitiveness of the Min-CIT, Sandra Acero, Director of MiPyMes of the Min-CIT, Sergio Tolosa, Governor of the Department of Boyaca, and Carlos Callejas, Director of RED ADELCO.

 

In the event all the interventions emphasized that the processes of local development and the Local Economic Development Agencies are the most appropriate instruments to sustain the processes of development and consolidation of the peace in the country.

 

The project will be implemented in 37 territories of 20 Departments of Colombia: Boyacá, Santander, Huila, Tolima, Antioquia, Quindio, Risaralda, Arauca, Casanare, Meta, Nariño, Valle del Cauca, Cauca, Chocó, Bolívar, Magdalena, Cesar, La Guajira, San Andres and Providencia and Sucre. In 11 of these territories, the project plans to operate through the RED ADELCO members, while in the other 26 territories the Regional Commissions for Competitiveness and the Competitive Routes will be strengthened. The project also foresees the creation of new LEDA in four territories, identified by mutual agreement between the promoters and with the support of RED ADELCO.

 

The EU Ambassador stressed that "The EU program seeks to contribute to the consolidation of peace in the regions, through processes of economic development and strengthening of local economic systems, which dynamize the economy in vulnerable areas of the country". The Vice Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism said that this support is in line with the country's Productive Development Policy, which promotes economic sectors working with a local economic development approach". 

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