AJC Lauds Colombia-Israel Free Trade Agreement

NEW YORK, Oct. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC lauded the signing this week of the Colombia-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100816/AJCLOGO)

"Colombia is one of Israel's closest friends in Latin America. This FTA expands a longstanding mutually beneficial relationship between Israel and Colombia," said Dina Siegel Vann, director of AJC's Latino and Latin American Institute.

Shortly after the signing, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos tweeted: "We have concluded FTA negotiations with Israel. This means more investment and more employment."

The agreement is now subject to ratification by both Colombian and Israeli parliament.

AJC honored Santos in September 2012 with its prestigious Diplomatic Statesman Award for pursuing peace, and for strengthening ties among Colombia, the U.S. and Israel.

The FTA is expected to benefit, in particular, the agricultural sector. When it takes effect early in 2014, some 97% of Colombian agricultural exports will have tariff-free access to the Israeli market. And, Israeli agricultural technology will no longer face tariffs when entering Colombia.

The Colombian Jewish community's central organization, Confederación de Comunidades Judías de Colombia, is one of AJC's 32 international partners.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee