Other authorities from the ministry and from the National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (INVIMA) will participate in the meeting.

The Cuban official, who had arrived in Colombia on Sunday on an official visit, will meet with Carmen Caballero, president of Procolombia,accompanied by Umaña.

Procolombia is the government agency in charge of promoting Colombian exports, international tourism and foreign investments in the country.

According to the program of his visit, which will last until next Wednesday, Malmierca will also hold a meeting with authorities of Bancoldex, the development bank for business growth in Colombia. Later, he will hold talks with Umaña, Caballero and other businessmen with the topic “Prospects of commercial relations between Colombia and Cuba and a look from Colombia towards the Caribbean”.

Cuba and Colombia established diplomatic relations in 1902, after achieving their independence. In commercial matters, they have an Economic Complementation Agreement, in force since July 2001, which covers some 1,500 products with tariff preferences in favor of Colombia and almost 1,000 in favor of Cuba.

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