The Governor of Valle del Cauca, Dilian Francisca Toro, began an official agenda this Thursday, December 11, in Washington, DC, where she was invited by the Office of Andean Affairs of the US Department of State and the US Colombian Business Council.
Your participation is part of the event “From Local to Global: Advancing Subnational Alliances between the United States and Colombia,” a strategic space that brings together regional authorities, business people and economic entities from both countries.
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The central objective of this visit is to promote Valle del Cauca as an attractive investment area.highlight its competitive advantages and strengthen alliances that enable the promotion of infrastructure, logistics and economic development projects.
During his speech at the forum The President presents the opportunities the department offers in the areas of infrastructure, mobility, public services and logistics.
“We are invited by the Undersecretary of State and the United States Chamber of Commerce. I will participate in a forum where they will talk about what competitive advantages subnational governments like Valle del Cauca have and that we have advantages to attract investors,” Toro said.
The governor will insist on demonstrating the institutional capacity of the ministryhighlighting that the Valley continues to make progress despite not receiving the full support of the national government for projects deemed strategic.
Among them he mentioned the commuter train, the Buenaventura Aqueduct and the dredging of the access channel to the port of Buenaventura.
“With the performance of its employees and the ability to overcome the challenges, the department shows that it can only do this,” he explained, underlining the regional commitment to finding solutions through international cooperation.
One of the most important meetings will be the “Subnational Participation” panel organized by the United States Chamber of Commerce. There, Toro will explain why Valle del Cauca is a favorable terrain for relocating companies, highlighting factors such as:
- Its strategic location in the Colombian Pacific
- The port of Buenaventura, the country’s most important on the Pacific coast
- Alfonso Bonilla Aragon International Airport
- The logistical proximity to the East Coast of the United States
“I will talk about Valle del Cauca, about all our competitive advantages, including geographically, because we have the port and the international airport and because we are closer to the east coast of the United States. We can do nearshoring to attract companies to locate in Colombia and it is easier to get to the United States,” he said.
The president will seek to consolidate the ministry as a strategic hub for foreign investmentand capitalized on growing interest among U.S. companies in relocating their operations to Latin America.
Dilian Francisca Toro shared a pre-trip message on her social networks on December 10 at 7:37 p.m.:
“Today I travel to the United States with a purpose that fills me with hope: to bring new opportunities to the Valley and further advance the change we are building together. Because we can do it alone!” Every meeting and every door we knock is aimed at the same thing: the well-being and transformation of our department.“.
The governor assured that she will return with “good news, new alliances and more opportunities to show that we work and deliver in the Valley.”
While the President carries out her mission outside the country, The Valley’s Minister of Health, María Cristina Lesmes, assumed the position of governor in charge until December 12. The taking of possession took place at the departmental assembly, ensuring administrative continuity during Toro’s absence.
With this visit, the Government of Valle del Cauca wants to open a new chapter in relations with the United States. The idea is to promote projects that require international financial support, from mobility measures to public service initiatives and economic empowerment.
Dilian Francisca Toro’s trip to Washington not only opens the door to new investments, but also positions the Valley as a leading region in international alliances and shows that regional management with a global vision can move forward, even without full support from the central government.
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