The decision came as a surprise to the financial world did not expect a rate cut, much less in magnitude than did the Issuer. In fact, according to recent surveys, 95 percent of financial analysts will bet on the stability of the intervention rate. The stated rationale that the Issuer is the good behavior of inflation, which is at lower levels than expected. With the decision on Friday is expected that the cost of credit to banking users continue to fall and demand is stimulated to give further impetus to economic recovery. The Issuer stated that the Colombian economy has a significant recovery rate without compromising the price control of the family budget. "The information received in recent weeks suggests that the economy is recovering faster than expected, without generating inflationary pressures.
Factors such as increased global economic growth, improvements in the confidence of the agents and dynamics of several leading indicators show the strength of growth. He adds that "despite the higher growth of the economy, maintaining a negative gap, coupled with the good performance of inflation and expectations, allows a more expansionary monetary policy without compromising the goals of inflation and macroeconomic stability." The manager of economic research Bancolombia Group, Daniel Child, believes that the central provision of the Issuer was to cut the real interest rate, is discounting inflation.

*http://www.portafolio.com.co/

Besides from the economic crisis that affected Colombia in 2009, it was indicated that poverty rate decreased, their autonomous downward trend, highlighting the reduction of extreme poverty for the period between 2008 and 2009, according to the National Planning Department, following a report of the Mission Series Junction Employment, Poverty and Inequality (MESEP). The results of independent income poverty do not incorporate the impact of poverty alleviation of the social programs of the state. According to the Mission for the splicing of the Series the employment, Poverty and Inequality Mesep, involving the DANE and DNP, poverty in Colombia was no longer at 46% in 2008 to 45.5% in 2009 in relation to extreme poverty or indigence fell from 17 8% figure belonging to two years ago to 16.4% in 2009.
According Mesep, inequality, measured through the Gini coefficient rose from 0.589 in 2008 to 0.578 in 2009 the poor in the country arrive at a figure of 19'899 144 people, most are mired in extreme poverty or indigence 7'159.172. For taking on these results the Mission through a standard categorizes the poor people where is attributed to that individual receiving monthly income below 281,384 dollars, is considered indigent to a person whose monthly income is less than 120,588 pesos. Within these ranges are also considered poor households consisting of four members whose incomes are below 536 1'125 pesos. It is considered living in poverty families consisting of four members where your monthly income is below the 482 352 dollars.

*http://www.dnp.gov.co/PortalWeb/

Colombia planned investments for 2010 of $ 220.637 million, the National Government advances in the prevention and comprehensive care of the displaced population in the departments of Antioquia, Caldas, Chocó and Risaralda, where reside a large percentage of the total population of African descent and indigenous Country. According to the preliminary and indicative regionalization of the National General Budget for this year, the resources to care for the displaced population in Antioquia amount to $ 136,330 million, $ 47,810 million more than in 2008 and $ 20,765 million more than in 2009. Investments for the departments of Risaralda and Caldas in 2010 amounted to $ 24,680 million and $ 20.666 million respectively, which exceeded $ 12,255 million and $ 18,801 for 2008 and 2009 for the former and $ 15,630 million and $ 17,402 for the second. It is important to clarify that this figure may change during the execution of the force. Among the major advances in these departments, is the number of homes served by Emergency Humanitarian Assistance, which between 2008 and 2009 increased 142% in Antioquia, Caldas 54%, 1,145% and 419% in Chocó, Risaralda. Similarly, another important development is the implementation of plans to return, mainly in Antioquia and Choco, in the strategy "is Back Live" led by Social Action. Based on the momentum given by the federal budget towards the theme, the national government called for local authorities to make greater efforts in order to add resources and actions that allow the displaced population on the full enjoyment of their rights.Similarly, the National Planning Department and the Ministry of Finance reiterated their commitment to continue to prioritize resources to meet obligations under the budget for the displaced population in proceedings presupuestales y en el Plan Anual de Caja for 2010.(Plan budget and the 2010 Annual Fund)
These approaches were made by national authorities before the Constitutional Court during the fifth technical session on progress in the prevention and comprehensive care of the displaced population. A technical meeting attended by the ministers of Interior and Justice, Fabio Valencia Cossio, Hacienda, Óscar Iván Zuluaga Escobar, Housing, Carlos Costa Posada, Agriculture, Andrés Fernández Acosta the Director General of the National Planning Department, Esteban Piedrahita Uribe; the Director of the Presidential Agency for Social Action and International Cooperation (Acción Social), Diego Molano Aponte and Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare, Carlos Ignacio Cuervo. Also attended by the delegate of the National Council for Integral Attention to the Displaced Population (CNAIPD), Bernardo Moreno, governors and mayors of local authorities referred to the Public Ministry, the Comptroller, representatives of organizations of displaced population and civil society.


*http://businesscol.com/noticias/cate-3.php
*http://www.dnp.gov.co/PortalWeb/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=XaZ6tqxR0Gw%3d&tabid=36

The Minister Luis Guillermo Plata said the outcome of the meetings he had this week with members of the Canadian Parliament, to promote the adoption of the trade agreement. In his speech to the International Committee of the House of Commons, the official said the agreement is a "basic tool for mutual economic development." After his visit to the Canadian Parliament, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Luis Guillermo Plata, said that "the Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada, could be ratified by the U.S. Congress in less than a month and a half". During the week, Silver attended a meeting of the International Committee of the House of Commons of Canada, which stressed the importance of ratifying the Treaty. The Minister explained that the agreement was a "basic tool for mutual economic development." Also during his presentation to the Committee, composed of five members of the opposition Conservative Party and Liberal representatives of four, two of the block of Quebec, and one of the New Democratic Party, the official spoke on the progress Colombia has had in issues related to respect for human rights and the rights of workers. Also, he reviewed the progress of the Government of President Alvaro Uribe Velez in the fight against impunity. The Head of the Trade portfolio was optimistic about the receptiveness of the members of Parliament, who held individual meetings to explain the need to ratify the agreement for the two nations. During the visit to Ottawa (Canada), the Minister was accompanied by the Ambassador of Colombia in that country, Jaime Giron Duarte, the Asocolflores delegate for the official visit, Rebecca Lee, the Presidential Adviser on Mining and Energy issues, Rafael Unda and the President of the Union of the Empresas Publicas de Medellin (EPM), Walter Navarro.
It may be recalled that last week the FTA between the two countries was approved at first reading by the House of Commons of Canada, with 183 votes in favor and 78 against. At this time the agreement must go to second reading. Among the votes are that of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Leader of Liberalism, Michael Ignatieff. Silver referred, also, to the trade agreement is crucial for both countries from the realm of bilateral trade and reciprocal investment protection. For its part, the opposition spokesman of the Canadian Parliament, Scott Brison, said he supports Colombia and expressed interest in ratifying the trade agreement. The leader said that the FTA (Tratado de Libre Comercio) is favorable for both countries. Similarly, the Conservative Ed Holder defended the deal and stressed that the agreement must be ratified promptly, to promote greater economic development in both nations.



*http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/andean-andin/can-colombia-colombie.aspx
*http://businesscol.com/noticias
*http://www.topnews.in/canada-colombia-put-ink-free-trade-accord-291899

Deputy Housing Minister, Luis Felipe Henao, revealed that last year the disbursement of housing loans in Colombia grew 8.7 percent. He noted that in 2009 existing home sales rose 48 percent. President Uribe attributed the revival of the sector to reduce interest rates. A total of 91.250 of home loans with subsidized interest rate of the national government has funded since the launch of the initiative in April last year to date. The report was delivered on Wednesday by the Deputy Minister of Housing, Luis Felipe Henao, during the presentation of housing macroproject Maiporé, developed by the Family Compensation Fund, and Ferdinand Colsubsidio Mazuera and Company. The official stressed that such a strategy, implemented by the Government to encourage the purchase of Public Housing in the country last year allowed the disbursement of loans in this sector grew by 8.7 percent. In this regard, President Alvaro Uribe Velez recalled that a year ago, when he began to notice a reduction in interest rates, and the Colombians began to assimilate the measure of interest rate subsidies through the Stabilization Fund Mortgage Portfolio (Frech), there was a great reaction in the construction sector."They lower interest rates and immediately raises the pace of housing," the president to explain the situation. He said that in the years 2007, 2008 and part of 2009 the increase in interest rates slowed the development of housing projects in the country, but that building activity was reactivated after the implementation of subsidies.
In this regard Deputy Housing Minister emphasized the good performance of the construction sector in 2009, for while in 2008 recorded sales were 4.6 billion pesos last year amounted to 6.1 billion pesos. “Eso está mostrando que en unidades lanzadas se creció más de un 21 por ciento y que en ventas se creció más de un 48 por ciento” which means that this is showing that it grew units shipped more than 21 percent and that sales grew more than 48 percent;the official added, noting that such behavior should be reflected in the growth of Gross Domestic Product ( GDP) in 2010. The Deputy Minister also attributed the revival of the construction to Decree 4065, which reduced the process to build Vivienda de Interes Social(VIS) (social interest housing)in the country. He said the decree, together with the help of the compensation funds and the subsidy rate, among other measures, prompted the initiation of VIS, which grew 98 percent during 2009.




*http://www.minambiente.gov.co/portal/default.aspx
*http://businesscol.com/noticias

In the framework of the Summit of the European Union and Latin America, which begins May 18 in Madrid (Spain), representatives of governments of the European block and the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Luis Guillermo Plata, signed the Agreement Commercial also negotiated with Peru. It is an essential step, "said the owner of the portfolio of Commerce, noted that in this way the text of the agreement is ready for final signature and to take the legislative process for the respective conferences. In this negotiation, he said, Colombia achieved a beneficial result for the access of goods and services and disciplines to be negotiated.On the GSP, the Minister said it was favorable to the consolidation and deepening reached the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). The preferential access to Colombia today is in the EU under the GSP Plus, responsibility for the fight against drugs is one-sided and at any time can be suspended by the EU. "It is therefore very important for traders to have clear and stable rules provided by the Agreement," he said. He stressed the importance of mechanisms for the import duty exemption for raw materials, applied in Colombia under Plan schemes Vallejo and Free Zones, to produce goods for export to the EU at the preferential treatment granted.
The owner of the portfolio of Commerce highlighted as an achievement to have secured preferential terms agreed for the agricultural and industrial goods, together with the disciplines in customs and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade and sanitary and "fitosanitarias" measures, which it defines the Worlds Organization of Health (OMS.) These issues will ensure transparency and certainty for the entry of our exports to a market near the 500 million people, which is the world's leading exporter of goods (million USD 1.7 million) and second in cart (USD 1.95 million million) with a per capital income of more than U.S. $ 32,000, said the Minister.

*http://www.businesscol.com/noticias/fullnews.php?id=11894

The Santander department received between 2002 and 2009 a total of $ 8.95 billion direct and indirect royalty and the General System of Units, additional SGP. Different investments of the General Budget of the Nation that runs through the law enforcement agencies and national ministries. The total amount of the General System of Units allocated to the regional administration and municipalities in this section of the country in the period amounted to $ 7.4 billion (constant 2009), from $ 901.568 million in 2002 to $ 1 trillion in 2009. Bucaramanga allocation for the period was $ 1.1 billion, from $ 51.759 million in 2002 to $ 167.489 million in 2009. Consequently, real growth in the period for the consolidated department reached 12% and 224% for the Capital. It should be noted that the high growth of Bucaramanga is because from 2003 took over responsibility for financing their plant faculty and staff education with the GSP.
In addition, Santander and its municipalities, received during the 2002-2009 lifetimes of royalties (direct and indirect) 1.55 billion pesos, of which 88 percent were direct royalties from the exploitation of hydrocarbons, coal, gas and precious metals. In 2002 they received the lifetime direct royalty 74.691 million pesos, while 2009 had money for 212 958 000 pesos, which represents a growth of 185 percent. For allocations National Royalties Fund (royalties indirect) in the period 2002-2009, the department and 35 municipalities received 192.762 million pesos to finance 79 projects. These resources account for 7 percent of total allocations FNR (2.5 dollars) for the period and ranking as the largest recipient of royalties department indirect. To date, eight local authorities in receipt of royalties are suspended in the turn of resources, among which stand out and Guavate Landazuri.

The National Employment Service contributes to the effective job search and job profiles through the Labour mediation process, improving occupational profile with additional training and guidance as an efficient mechanism for achieving such a search. The Colombians can access an Internet portal or go to any center in the National Employment Service (SNE) of the Sena to be guided in seeking employment and employers will have extra help in the orientation of job profiles, as well as selection of human resources.The National Employment Service (SNE) of the Sena will be renovated and will allow Colombians to access an Internet portal for guidance in finding employment, and employers have a tool that will facilitate the recruitment process, reported Thursday entity.
The National Apprenticeship Service (Sena) said the SNE lead people who are looking for work in areas such as resume development, interview and job market, and business owners on the proper selection and turnover rates among others."The main changes are related to a renewed Web site (http://sne.sena.edu.co), a new logo, new services and tools as professional guidance is based on the analysis sheets life of the applicants. This allows the profile of the person concerned re-qualify, which despite having a definite profession or occupation, can become competent in different branches and skills certified by the Sena, "reported the state. SNE Previously known as the Public Employment Service (PES) and its renewal was due to the initiative of the organization to optimize its free labor intermediation Colombians benefit more and more quality. The service will also enable employers to make special calls when they offer more than 10 vacancies for the same profile, and employees to be qualified by the Sena for their competence and have a broader employment picture. "These changes and updates are released under the Fair Avanza-2010, the first job fair will allow visitors from around the country consulting and professional academic offerings of the exhibitors and is encouraging the dynamics of employment in Colombia "concluded the Sena.

Next Friday April 30 is the deadline, both for tourism service providers to update their registration on the National Register of Tourism-RNT-like for managers of buildings devoted to passenger accommodation credited also with the Ministry of Commerce , Industry and Tourism, the reforms made to the condominium regulations in order to continue providing this service. This is indicated by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Luis Guillermo Plata, who called on contractors for various items of tourism to update their registration, and can thus continue to be beneficiaries of the programs supported by the Ministry in terms of assistance, training and finance.
As owners of condo buildings that are used to provide the hosting service, the Minister recalled that, pursuant to Decree 2590, 2009 and Resolution 3772 of 2010, is the duty of the administrators of this type of housing modify the regulations condo where it is clear that this activity is authorized and complies with all requirements of law for this purpose.Currently there are around 12 000 registered tourist services, required to update the National Register of Tourism.
These include those providing services in accommodation and lodging establishments, travel agencies, professional drivers, congresses, fairs and conventions, tourist eateries, timeshare-harvesting companies savings for travel and tourism service companies land transport vehicle and tourism representative offices. Also this update is very easy and it can be done through the internet so there can be some savings.

http://www.businesscol.com/noticias/fullnews.php?id=11822

At a breakfast with a group of 35 large employers in the Santa Teresa Hotel, Cartagena, in the World Economic Forum for Latin America, the president stressed the advantages of investing in the country and invited reassure investors. When explaining the benefits that Colombia offers in terms of investment, President Alvaro Uribe Vélez reiterated the opportunity for investors in the country. He told a group of 35 large employers 'Los necesitamos en Colombia, los necesitamos' which means that "We need you in Colombia, we need you." The Head of State acknowledged the importance of Cartagena to host the World Economic Forum for Latin America, considering this as an opportunity for foreign investors confidence in the country.
"I want to reiterate our gratitude, on behalf of all Colombians, for your presence here at home. Es extremadamente importante para Colombia; ésta es una clara señal para la comunidad global, que Colombia merece confianza”, expresó durante el desayuno realizado en el Hotel Santa Teresa, de Cartagena, en el marco del Foro. It is extremely important for Colombia, this is a clear signal to the global community that Colombia deserves trust, "he said at the breakfast held at Hotel Santa Teresa, Cartagena, in the framework of the Forum. For his part, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Luis Guillermo Plata, recalled the reforms implemented in the commercial sector and the benefits they bring to the big businessmen, including a notable advance in the global ranking of business. “Por tres años seguidos, Colombia ha sido nombrado como uno de los 10 mayores reformadores del mundo por el Banco Mundial, en mejorar su clima de negocios” said Plata, which translated means that For three consecutive years, Colombia has been named one of the 10 biggest reformers of the world by the World Bank, to improve its business climate.
As the President Uribe, the Minister Plata invited investors to the country and reiterated assurances that the State offers to foreigners: "We really bet on this (investor confidence) for Colombia actually provide and give to investors confidence and a good place to do business. " During the event, employers had the opportunity to voice their concerns and comments of the Head of State and Ministers of Trade and Energy and Mines Hernan Martinez Torres. In the meeting attended, among others, the directors of companies Dell, Coca Cola, AT&T, Group PLC, Tata, Polar (Venezuela), Comscore, Genpact, PetroTiger, Global Government Relations and Jubilant Organosys. I really hope that all this companies and employers help Colombia, it would really contribute to the country's economy( which is really bad.)

*http://www.businesscol.com/noticias/fullnews.php?id=11458
(Spanish)

The Colombian government will provide $150 million pesos in each research project on the biodiversity and the bio commerce of the country. Interactive Park of Science and Technology, Neomundo, launched a program of "Support for applied research initiatives in biodiversity and bio in Santander," which seeks to promote studies in these areas, as a proposal for new prospects trade and sustainability through proper and controlled use of natural resources.In this activity was present Secretary of Planning, Consuelo Rincon Ordoñez, the executive director Neomundo, Jesus Aristizábal, director of the National Bio Fund, John Bejarano, representing the regional academy, teachers, researchers, students, environmentalists governmental and other institutions interested in developing the initiative now supports the government of Santander.
It was also said by the Secretary of Planning that a year ago, at the request of the Competitiveness Committee which is responsible for issues of biodiversity and bio commerce, the governor spent some science and technology resources to support research aimed at appropriate and sustainable use of biodiversity and bio-generating alternatives. "We're honoring the commitment of Governor Horacio Serpa with the signing of the agreement between the Department and Neomundo through this framework that allows researchers to develop knowledge and capacity utilization of resources, access to grant funding from the Government to advance research applied ... This call invites researchers, research centers, government institutions on these issues, to submit projects to finance up to 300 minimum monthly wages, about $150 million pesos for the project. "Similarly, Consuelo Ordoñez said that "the expectations we have is that at least 5 research projects submitted to generate new processes and activities through the production, value added, employment and income for Santander, but this is the real knowledge economic benefits of biodiversity and opportunities through trade that is generated from this sector." For his part, Jesus Aristizábal, director of Neomundo indicated that with these proposals and with the involvement of the government of Santander, with a contribution of about $ 1,000 million, will reach a corporate advantages and competitive in the department on issues of biodiversity and bio- with the junction between the academic and the private sector, too, will be achieved the formation of a competitive business and sustainable social and economic prospects. John Bejarano, director of Bio Fund in Colombia said that this is a great opportunity for Santander to recognize their potential in biodiversity, focusing on how to use it in the process of developing new competitive companies for the department, a first step in the development of a commercial future based on biodiversity. They also say that Santader is very competitive in this area. I believe this will be a very important project.


* http://businesscol.com/noticias/cate-3.php (in Spanish)