November 27 to 29, 2023, Cali and Buenaventura (Valle del Cauca, Colombia)

The 6th Region Global Chamber of Commerce (6THRGCC) designed this Mission to create a commercial exchange between Colombia, Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean. The objective of the Mission was to expand commercial alliances to benefit Colombia’s business with the African continent, the Americas and the Caribbean, while promoting a positive image of Colombia.

In the case of Africa, the 6THRGCC sent invitations to more than 500 businessmen and officials on the African continent, of which more than half made their visa applications to come to Colombia. Unfortunately, for various migratory reasons unrelated to the event, the Colombian Embassies in Africa denied most visas for African businessmen to attend the Event. However, the event continued with the presence of the Colombian delegations.

We hope that this Mission will open the doors of diplomacy for the facilitation of visas for African businessmen who want to come to do business in Colombia and the rest of the Americas and the Caribbean.

The International Trade Mission began on the morning of November 27, 2023 at the Intercontinental Cali Hotel, with welcome words from Dr. Melida Harris Barrow, Founder and CEO of the 6^th Region Global Chamber of Commerce (6THRGCC) and coordinator of the Mission. She thanked the attendance of more than 150 people, including officials from State Institutions, Businessmen, Entrepreneurs, the general public, the media and the organizing team. Dr. Barrow closed her intervention with the projection of a message of support for the Mission from Dr. Alvaro Calderon, Director of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia.

The attending delegations from the State institutions provided their support to the Mission from its beginning and expressed the relevance of this space for the economic development of Valle del Cauca and Colombia, in integration with the markets of Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean. The spokespersons for these institutions were:

Dr. Juan Camilo Escobar Escobar, Advisor to the Office of the Secretariat of Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries of the Government of Valle del Cauca, highlighted the purpose of the Mission and the entity at the regional and national level, in agricultural progress, social responsibility and economic profitability, to contribute to the productivity and competitiveness of the sectors, food sovereignty and sustainable development in Valle del Cauca.

Dr. Omaira Barona Caracas, Secretary of Ethnic Affairs of the Government of Valle del Cauca, addressed a message about the coherence of the Mission with the state public policy aimed at Afro-descendant and indigenous populations in the department. He gave a gift of traditional crafts to those present, from Governor Clara Luz Roldán.

Dr. Janneth Martínez, Undersecretary of Internationalization of the Secretariat of Economic Development and Competitiveness of the Government of Valle del Cauca, gave an account of the efforts they are carrying out at the level of foreign trade with Europe and the potential for economic alliances with African nations, the Americas and the Caribbean.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development contributed the participation of Dr. Mario Alejandro Valencia, Head of the International Affairs Office, giving the conference “Agricultural export potentials of Valle del Cauca for the countries of Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean.” Dr. Nancy Andrea Moreno Lozano, Director of Rural Women, attended from the same Ministry, who highlighted the importance of the International Trade Mission in contributing to sustainability in the business processes of the communities, improving the quality of life of women. and families, while generating sustainability in society.

The District Mayor’s Office of Buenaventura participated with Dr. Álvaro Arroyo, Secretary of Economic and Rural Development, who has been accompanying the organization of the Mission through inter-institutional exchange. On behalf of the business sector, Dr. Michel Valdemar Villegas, President of the Colombo Afro-American Chamber Corporation, participated, who made his commercial training program available to attendees.

The international delegation was led by Queen Bmazazhi Karu, the first Haitian-American Queen, crowned by the Karu Traditional Council of Nasarawa State in Nigeria, president of the charitable organization “The Valley of Love Ministries.”. With her was Dr. Eduardo Augusto Green Arrechavala, Minister of International Trade of the Autonomous Government of the Indigenous and Afro-descendant Peoples of Moskitia, Honduras, who gave a conference on the economic potential of his country.

Dr. Fernando Portocarrero, part of the organizing team of the 6^th Region Global Chamber of Commerce, thanked everyone present for their receptivity towards the International Trade Mission, in the certainty that paths of prosperity are opening up for the region . The morning session of November 27 closed with the special participation of the artist-businessman, Jimmy Saa “The Ambassador of the Pacific” and with a cultural exhibition of Pacific Dances.

During the afternoon of November 27, 2023, the Mission continued with the development of the B2B (Business to Business Model), applying this methodology together with Networking, in order to form business relationships, create and develop business opportunities, share information about contacts, competition, market trends and look for potential clients.

The participating Businessmen and Entrepreneurs from different regions of Colombia, including Valle del Cauca, Choco, Nariño and the Archipelago of San Andres and Providencia, presented their products in 25 Exhibition Stands, including ancestral drinks, Pacific cuisine, clothing and accessories fashion with ethnic designs, items for Afro aesthetics and beauty, decorative and utilitarian crafts, and Afro-centered editorial production.

On November 28, 2023, the International Trade Mission continued at the Intercontinental Cali Hotel, with the assistance of other institutions, including the National Space for Prior Consultation of Black, Afro-Colombian, Raizales and Palenqueras Communities, with Dr. Martha Cecilia Jordan Arroyo, National Delegate for Prior Consultation and Human Rights. Dr. Carmenza Rojas Potes, delegate official for Valle del Cauca and Bambazu Entrepreneur, attended for the Ministry of Culture, along with Falon Murillo from the Yo Pazcifico Company and Sham Selassie, anti-racist activist from the Rastafari Community.

The RAP Pacific Administrative and Planning Region had as a participant its Manager, Dr. Viviana Obando Marínez, who highlighted the difficulties and challenges in the area of ​​entrepreneurship and the need to support these spaces, to promote the development of ethnic communities. Dr. Obando also facilitated the Rap Pacifico Experience Center to launch the Mission to the media.