Lula leaves for Colombia next week, where he will meet with President Pietro

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) On Tuesday (16) he will travel to Colombia. The next day, the Workers' Party member will begin the meeting's agenda, which includes a meeting with the Colombian President, Gustavo Pietroin Bogotá.

According to Palacio do Planalto, among the topics that the two presidents will address are the agendas of trade and investment, sustainable development, Amazonian cooperation, social programs, human rights and family farming.

Lula will also participate in the Brazil-Colombia Business Forum and the opening of the 36th Bogotá International Book Fair, an event in which Brazil is the guest of honour.

In an interview to clarify the details of the presidential trip, the Director of the South American Department in Itamaraty, Minister João Marcelo Galvão de Queiroz, stressed that the two countries “have a large group of indigenous and Afro-descendant people, and by their rulers, priority is given to strengthening these sectors of society. At the same time At the same time, the two governments share very similar views regarding the dimension related to the Amazon, integration in South America and regional integration, more broadly.

After Wednesday's meeting, a statement is scheduled to be made to the press, followed by lunch. Lula is then scheduled to participate in a business forum promoted by ApexBrasil and trade promotion agency ProColombia – which is supposed to bring together about 300 Brazilian and Colombian businessmen from various sectors.

After that, the President participates in the opening of the Bogotá International Book Fair, which carries the slogan “Read Nature.” The Brazilian delegation will include national artists such as Ailton Krenak, Daiara Tucano, Eliane Botteguara, Bernardo Carvalho and Hermeto Pascual.

“Before President Lula’s agenda in Bogotá, there will be a parliamentary mission, organized by the Secretariat of Institutional Relations of the Presidency of the Republic, to establish contacts between members of the Brazilian and Colombian Congress on matters of interest to the two countries. In addition, a symposium on family farming will be held, to exchange experiences from the Ministry of Development Agricultural and family farming.

Brazil is Colombia's third largest trading partner. In 2023, US$6.1 billion was traded between the two countries. Brazilian exports amounted to US$3.8 billion, and Colombian exports amounted to US$2.3 billion. There are, according to the federal government, more than 70 Brazilian companies present in Colombia.

(with Brazil agency)