History of diplomatic relations

On 8 July 1922, the Republic of Colombia recognised Latvia's independence and on 6 September 1991 - the restoration of Latvia's statehood. Colombia never recognised the incorporation of Latvia into the then USSR in 1940.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 19 July 1995.

On 7 July 2005, the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Colombia was opened in Riga. Mr Roberts Binde was accredited as the Honorary Consul of Colombia to Latvia.

On 31 January-1 February 2006, Carolina Barco, the Foreign Minister of Colombia, made an official visit to Latvia. The official delegation accompanying the Minister included Dory Sanchez de Wetzel, Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia to Latvia, Jose Renato Salazar, Director of European Affairs of the Colombian Foreign Ministry, and Roberts Binde, Honorary Consul of Colombia to Latvia. This was the first high-level meeting with an official of the Colombian government in the history of Latvia.

Economic cooperation

Trade (according to data of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia)

January - December 2006

• Exports

1. Lithuania - 788,418,743 USD or 14.11 % of total exports from Latvia

2. Estonia - 677,475,768 USD or 12.2 %

3. Germany - 562,635,155 USD or 10.07 %

4. Russia - 523,368,676 USD or 9.37 %

5. United Kingdom - 443,333,400 USD or 7.93 %

...

69. Colombia - 1,752,795 USD or 0.03 %

• Imports

1. Germany - 1,609,581,384 USD or 15.02 % of total imports to Latvia

2. Lithuania - 1,373,000,060 USD or 12.81 %

3. Russia - 891,580,050 USD or 8.32  %

4. Estonia - 810,199,559 USD or 7.56 %

5. Poland - 751,076,957 USD or 7.01 %

...

65. Colombia - 1,559,981 USD or 0.01 %

In 2006, Latvia had a positive trade balance with Colombia to the amount of USD 92,814.

Main export commodities to Colombia by type of commodity in 2006

Type of commodity	Million USD	Percentage of total exports
Total	1.753	100 %
Machinery and equipment; electrical appliances - transmission apparatus - 98 %	1.31	98.77 %

Main import commodities from Colombia by type of commodity in 2006

Type of commodity	Million USD	Percentage of total imports
Total	1.560	100 %
Plant products  - flowers - 94 %	1.135	72.76 %
Prepared foodstuffs  - sugars and sugar confectionery - 100%	0.347	22.26 %

Trade dynamics between Latvia and Colombia from 1998 to 2006, USD

Year	Exports	Imports
1998	6,555	95,902
1999	55,264	32,708
2000	-	23,006
2001	9,550	110,393
2002	4,684	138,928
2003	1,057,873	271,503
2004	2,062,123	170,907
2005	2,450,409	508,177
2006	1,752,795	1,559,981

Investment

As of 6 August 2007, one Colombian-Latvian joint venture was listed with the Register of Enterprises of the Republic of Latvia. Colombia had made an investment of LVL 2000 in the equity of Latvian-registered enterprises.^[1]

Legal base

On 1 February 2006, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding with regard to the establishment of a consultation mechanism in the issues of mutual interest.

Facts and Figures 

Land area	1.14 million sq km
Population	44.2 million (2003, the third largest state in Latin America)
Capital	Bogotá
State language	Spanish
Religion	Catholic (91%)
State system	Democratic Republic, independent since 1810
National holidays	20 July, Independence Day
Official currency	Colombian Peso

Contacts:

Embassy of the Republic of Colombia 

http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/ministry/mission/?lv=2&org=COL

Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Colombia in Latvia

Roberts Binde

Address: Mārupes iela 4, LV-1002, Riga, LATVIA

Tel./Fax (371) 7325623

e-mail: colombianconsulate@inbox.lv

Honorary Consulate of Latvia in the Republic of Colombia

Marta Arango

Calle 140 A, No 7-45 (T4 Apt.701), Bogota, COLOMBIA

Tel: (571) 6266748

e-mail: consuladoletonia@gmail.com