MADRID IS INTERNATIONAL

On the 3^rd May, in the framework of the visit of the Colombian President, Mr. Gustavo Petro, to Spain, the Spain-Colombia Council Foundation (FCECo) organized a seminar regarding “Energy Transition” that counted with the participation of Ms. Irene Vélez, Minister of Mines and Energy of Colombia. Minister Vélez presented to the Board of Trustees of the Foundation the objectives, aspirations, challenges, and opportunities of Colombia's energy transition.

Also participating in this seminar were the president of the FCECo, Ms. Trinidad Jiménez; the general director of the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), Mr. Joan Groizard, and the president of Redeia, Ms. Beatriz Corredor. Likewise, Mr. José Eugenio Salarich, Mr. José Manuel Rodríguez and Ms. Clara Rey, representatives of Acciona, Iberdrola and Repsol respectively, presented the success stories of these Spanish companies in the field of energy transition.  

The Minister affirmed that there is a strong “political will” by the Colombian Government to boost the energy transition to comply with the Paris Accords, as well as to progressively adapt their system to the decarbonization of the global economy. In this context, the relations and political exchanges between Spain and Colombia will be important for the construction of alliances and collaborations aimed at achieving a more sustainable and efficient public policy.

The Colombian Government has drafted a roadmap for a fair energy transition, equative, participative and inclusive, taking into consideration the regional particularities inside their country. The energetic democratization is in line with the Development National Plan 2022-2026 of the Gustavo Petro’s Government – called “Colombia, life global power” – and focus on three axes: environmental, social, and economic justice.

Minister Vélez assured that the Colombia energy transition offers big opportunities for foreign investment, highlighting that is a “propitious moment” for Spanish companies to bet on Colombia as a global power in green energy.

Lunch with the Board of Trustees of the Spain-Colombia Council Foundation

After this activity, the Board of Trustees of the Spain-Colombia Council Foundation, and a group of guests, assisted to a work-lunch where they had the opportunity to transmit to Minister Vélez the objectives, experiences, plans and projects of their companies in Colombia, at the same time they showed their strong social commitment with the country.

Attended this lunch Mr. Santiago Saura, Councilor of Internationalization at the Madrid City Council; Ms. Trinidad Jiménez, President of the FCECo; Mr. Fabián Hernández, President CEO of Teléfonica Movistar Colombia; Mr. José Eugenio Salarich, Director of International Relations in Acciona; Mr. Cecilio Cerdán, Director General of Cooperation and Global Citizenship at the Madrid City Council; Mr. Juan Carlos de Castro Pita, Deputy Director General for Internationalisation; representatives of BBVA, Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Enerfín, Elecnor Foundation, Euroamerican Foundation, Ortiz Group, Iberdrola, ICEX, Indra, Mapfre, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Redeia, Repsol, Sacyr, Teléfonica and UNIR; together with Mr. Eduardo Rodríguez-Rovira, partner at Uría Menéndez; Ambassador Mr. Carlos Abella, General Secreaty of the FCECo; Ms. Berta Fuertes Ferragut, Director; Ms. Vega Yubero, Deputy Director of the FCECo; and Mr. Mikel Herrera, Project Manager of the FCECo.