VZCZCXYZ0013
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #0511 0391819
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 081819Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1260
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 8040
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 9942
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ FEB LIMA 5895
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 1222
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 6541
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000511 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
EEB FOR A/S SULLIVAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EINV EAID PGOV CO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES EXPANDED ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT 
WITH GOC MINISTERS 
 
REF: 07 BOGOTA 6957 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Ambassador hosted a breakfast on 
February 4 for senior Colombian government economic 
policymakers to discuss ideas for expanded bilateral economic 
engagement to reinforce the benefits of the pending 
U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA).  The 
Ambassador emphasized that the CTPA remains the U.S. 
government's top economic priority for Colombia, but 
highlighted numerous areas with potential for closer 
bilateral cooperation. The meeting built off of EEB A/S 
Sullivan's pledge to President Uribe in October 2006 to 
broaden the U.S.-Colombian economic relationship.  GOC 
officials present reacted positively to the initiative and 
offered specific ideas for small business, biofuels, and 
science and technology collaboration.  Presidential Economic 
Advisor Cecilia Alvarez and Minister of Trade Luis Guillermo 
Plata agreed to coordinate follow-up with post to prioritize 
ideas, elaborate detailed proposals, and discuss rollout 
mechanisms. END SUMMARY 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador presented the initiative to Plata, 
Minister of Finance Oscar Zuluaga, Vice Minister of 
Agriculture Juan Salazar Rueda, Director of National Planning 
(DNP) Carolina Renteria, Presidential Economic Advisor 
Cecilia Alvarez, and Foreign Ministry North America Director 
Patricia Cortes.  In doing so, the Ambassador reiterated our 
intention to find ways to broaden bilateral economic 
cooperation across new sectors in order to multiply the 
benefits of the CTPA once approved and implemented.  He 
emphasized that the new areas of economic engagement would 
not function as a substitute, but rather a complement, for 
the CTPA. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Pointing to EEB A/S Sullivan's commitment to 
President Uribe in October 2006 to seek out areas for 
increased bilateral economic cooperation, the Ambassador 
outlined possible initiatives in the areas of housing 
finance, facilitating credit for small and medium 
enterprises, technical assistance on tax collection, a cargo 
open skies agreement, a regular dialogue on 
telecommunications, assistance on processes for environmental 
certifications for biofuels, customs facilitation, concluding 
agreements on science and technology cooperation, sharing 
best practices on small business development, and technical 
assistance on developing science-based biotechnology 
standards.  The Ambassador noted that several USG agencies, 
including the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) 
(reftel) and EX-IM Bank had recently visited Colombia and 
expressed interest in increasing their activities within 
Colombia. 
 
4.(SBU) The GOC representatives all welcomed the initiative 
and agreed on the need to quickly prioritize and elaborate 
ideas for further consideration.  In particular, they cited 
strong interest in small business development, biofuels, and 
science and technology.  Plata suggested also examining 
cooperation on competitiveness issues, while Zuluaga stated 
that Colombia could benefit from technical expertise in 
infrastructure planning and development.  Renteria proposed 
that technical staff look at prospects for cooperation on 
income generation in the context of reinforcing the economic 
development goals of Plan Colombia as well as transitioning 
to reduced levels of USG support for Plan Colombia programs 
and policies. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Alvarez and Plata agreed to coordinate GOC 
follow-up, including designating technical staff to work with 
post's Economic Section on developing a prioritized list of 
detailed proposals for further consideration.  The Ambassador 
encouraged the GOC to move quickly in order to maintain 
momentum and to consider how the GOC would like to eventually 
rollout a broadened bilateral economic agenda with the U.S. 
The ministers committed to establishing a working mechanism 
by the end of February. 
 
¶6. (U) Prior to the meeting, post sent an outline of the 
ideas for discussion to EEB and WHA.  Post will continue to 
keep the Department informed as more detailed discussions of 
potential cooperation areas proceed. 
Brownfield