THE HOMELAND | Manizales
Jonathan Ballesterosdirector of the Manizales Internationalization Office, He spoke this Friday with LA PATRIA Radio about the creation of this dependency and the projects that will promote in the long term. This he said:
What is the objective of the office?
This office was created this year. One of the issues that were discussed in the territory was international positioning and organized management of international cooperation. There was also the need for a scenario that dialogues with other public-private institutional bodies, such as the Chamber of Commerce and the different unions, to articulate from the capabilities of a Mayor’s Office the possibilities of being a much more attractive destination for foreign direct investment and support entrepreneurs who are interested in reaching these markets.
Under this scenario, this office was created, which since February 15 began to generate a process that undoubtedly begins to give the city an international vocation. Only 13 cities of the more than 1,100 municipalities in Colombia have an institutional framework that generates administrative processes within the logic of internationalization.
What are some of the upcoming projects?
We came from a background that unfortunately should not cause us laughter, even though it was a national mockery. We had negative recognition for not knowing how to carry out a serious internationalization exercise.
In this scenario, and without the intention of putting a rearview mirror, the trust of many actors had to be regained in an organized internationalization exercise. What have we managed? A meeting between multi-stakeholders, with whom we have interacted and begun to set common goals and objectives.
These two months and the following ones are going to be a very strong exercise in repositioning the city. We must talk again with the international actors, with the embassies, with the binational chambers, with the economic advisors of the embassies, with the associations, with the networks of cities to which we belong, to say again that Manizales is focused on a serious process of internationalization.
How to sell the idea that this bet is long-term? How not to get carried away by the need for early victories?
This is an organic creation within the institutional system of the Mayor’s Office of Manizales and is not an advisory service or a consultant that comes and goes depending on the contractual ups and downs. Here the city begins to be provided with an institutional framework with an office that belongs to the mayor’s office. It is not a minor matter.
Thus there is a guarantee scenario, there is already professional experience that allows us not to advance in the internationalization proposal with careers that are only for photography. The first major exercise that we have to do is a repositioning process, which will allow us, in the times that both the international corporation and the management of foreign investment give, to meet the objectives.
These are not triumphs that are achieved in two or three months. I feel that the city, hosting international events, is beginning to have these achievements. What comes next, without a doubt, would be to establish a public internationalization policy that manages to protect and bring professionalism to the exercise of the internationalization of the city.
How does this mechanics of diplomacy between cities and with the national government work?
Cities like Manizales can have direct dialogues with embassies, due to proportionality issues. We are not a small city: if we compare ourselves with any capital city in Central America or the Caribbean, we would be the second city in each of those countries. We must understand that we have the tools to play in an international context in a clear, solid and equal way.
Listen to the full interview here:
