The global Teach for All network is seeing added efforts in improving access to education following DPDHL’s latest announcement confirming a new partnership agreement with Enseña por Columbia. Through this partnership, the Teach for All network is broadened to support partner organizations throughout the world. This ultimately reaches more young people for skills development and employability improvements, specifically for young persons with a less advantageous background or situation.
“I am delighted to use my experience as HR Director of a global company to enable children to get a good education, regardless of social background. Education creates future,” says Thomas Ogilvie, Board Member for Human Resources at Deutsche Post DHL Group.
“I was lucky and able to complete my studies and ultimately my doctorate under very good conditions. Access to a good education is the right of every child, and the basis for social development, political stability and economic prosperity. As a member of the Teach For All Board, it is particularly important to me that the idea behind Teach For All spreads even further,” Ogilvie concluded.
DPDHL’s already boasts a robust network of partners in which they support, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, Ecuador, Germany, India, Lebanon, Malaysia, Peru, the Philippines, Spain and the UK. Columbia is the fifth country to be added to DPDHL’s partner network in 2019. Armenia, Mexico, Paraguay and Uruguay were accounted for earlier this year.
Since 2010, DPDHL’s has been adamant in its efforts to support the vision of Teach for All through funding while utilizing employee knowledge for mentoring and training. In 2018, more than 7,200 children and young people were impacted by internships and other career opportunities in over 300 activities.
“We are delighted that Deutsche Post DHL Group is further expanding its involvement in the Teach For All network. The Group is an important strategic partner in our efforts to improve employability for young people,” Wendy Kopp, CEO and co-founder of Teach For All said.
Two new promotional offices representing Port Manatee’s International Trade Hub have been opened in the Latin America and European regions, according to a release from the company this week. The additional offices further advance the Port’s goals to penetrate global markets while sustaining global commerce. Medellín, Colombia and Barcelona, Spain are the latest locations.
“The opening of these two offices is a momentous step in connecting world markets and the dynamic business community of greater Manatee County and Southwest Florida,” said Iván Mutis, coordinator of the International Trade Hub at Port Manatee since its inception in 2014. “The Latin American and European office presences perfectly complement the successful initiatives the trade hub has been advancing over the past five years.”
“The offices provide soft landing platforms in major global markets for leaders of businesses of ManateeCounty and all of Southwest Florida exploring opportunities in Latin America and Europe, respectively,” said Carlos Buqueras, executive director of Port Manatee. “We already are making plans to further expand the global office presence of the International Trade Hub at Port Manatee.”
“The proactive efforts of the International Trade Hub at Port Manatee, including through foreign offices, furnish advantageous opportunities for expanding the already impressive socioeconomic contributions of Port Manatee throughout our region,” said Vanessa Baugh, chairwoman of the Manatee County Port Authority. Source: Port of Manatee
In June 2018, Colombian voters made Ivan Duque, an ambitious populist conservative, their next president, garnering 54 percent of the vote. The country’s future—and its attractiveness for global business investment—will be impacted by Mr. Duque’s administration as the country approaches a critical opportunity to grow as a South American and global economic leader.
With the majority victory, Mr. Duque is charting a pro-business and pro-trade path. On the heels of Mr. Duque’s predecessor’s peace agreement with FARC and now with Mr. Duque’s business friendly platform, Colombia enjoys an optimistic economic outlook and is drawing attention globally for high potential business investment in the country.
At the inauguration, Mr. Duque promised to “govern Columbia with a spirit of construction, never destruction.”
As South America’s second-most populous nation, third-largest economy and first member of the OECD, Colombia holds potential as a country ripe with opportunity for global business investment and expansion, if Mr. Duque can overcome a host of domestic challenges.
The result to that “if” is paramount for Colombia and determining future business expansion into the country.
Mr. Duque promised to transform the country’s economic model and tackle social and economic inequality. The president’s business-friendly policies include tax cuts, reducing bureaucratic red tape, support for the coal and oil industries and promises to bolster the $324 billion economy via science and technology investment.
Specific fiscal reforms include a reduction of the tax burden for businesses and the simplification of administrative processes, which are intended to provoke private business growth and global businesses to invest and expand to the country.
A former technocrat, Mr. Duque views technology and science as key elements in economic growth. Specifically, an income tax exemption has been implemented for five years for emerging science and technological companies.
A third component is attracting foreign investment to industrialize Colombia’s resource-rich geography—from agriculture to oil.
Altogether, central bank board member Carolina Soto predicted Colombia will reach its growth potential of 3.5 percent next year.
“I think we’ll grow a minimum of 3.5 percent, if not more, pushed by mining, energy and construction,” Soto said to Reuters.
Five Months After Inauguration: Challenges Surface
As politicians quickly realize—winning is easy, but governing is harder.
Mr. Duque has faced formidable obstacles: lack of political support for his economic reforms, reemerging domestic guerrilla forces, welcoming massive influx of immigrants fleeing Venezuela, continued drug trafficking and declining public opinion in the polls.
Tax reform has met stiff resistance in Congress as the president’s conservative Democratic Center (DC) party holds only one-fifth of the seats and must rally other political parties for support.
Mr. Duque and his DC party was forced to dilute its ambitious tax plan that would cut value added tax from 19 to 17 percent. According to the Financial Times, this plan was welcomed by economists to reduce the fiscal deficit and raise extra revenue, as much as 1.1 percent of gross domestic product.
Further complicating economic reform efforts is the fluctuation in oil prices, as Colombia is one of the world’s key oil exporters. Approximately 45% of Colombia’s exports are oil.
Future Outlook
Despite challenges, less than a half year into his presidency, Mr. Duque has time to realize the optimism espoused for his administration’s victory.
Eliminating and containing Colombia’s aforementioned challenges will be key in realizing the country’s high potential for growth.
Already in 2018, TMF Group, a global business expansion advisory firm, has seen increased business investment and interest in Colombia.
If Mr. Duque can actualize his administration’s economic, social and political visions, it could mark a new renaissance for Colombia.
It won’t be easy, but given Colombia’s membership in the OECD and NATO, in addition to successfully implementing pro-growth economic reforms there is still reason for optimism and significant business investment and global expansion opportunity despite these early hurdles.
As he said in his inauguration speech, Mr. Duque needs to start soon in fostering a spirit of construction over destruction. His success will shape Colombia, South America and the world’s businesses into the future, and he best start sooner than later.
About the author: Daniela is a Public Certified Accountant from the Universidad de la República, Argentina. She also holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), from Universidad Antonio de Nebrija y EALDE Business School, and has more than 30 years of experience.
