Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Luis Guillermo Plata of Colombia

Minister Plata has agreed to meet with the Council to discuss the pending FTA with Colombia and our efforts to promote this important agreement.

Mr Plata was in Europe recently to represent Colombia in negotiations between the EU and the Andean Community and to meet with British trade authorities, the UK being the second biggest investor in Colombia after the US.

Mr Plata was one of many who left successful careers abroad to return and take part in improving the country.

the reasons offered for not acting on the US.

var RTR_ArticleBlurb = "By Jonathan Lynn DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Colombia's strong peso is a mixed blessing, reflecting growing confidence in the Andean country but hurting exporters, Trade Minister Luis Guillermo Plata said on Friday.

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Colombia's strong peso is a mixed blessing, reflecting growing confidence in the Andean country but hurting exporters, Trade Minister Luis Guillermo Plata said on Friday.

It's a sweet and sour feeling," Plata said in an interview during the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos.

Plata said adding more value is critical.

Plata said he expects exports to grow this year to $30 billion from around $28 billion in 2007, when they grew by 15 percent.

var RTR_ArticleBlurb = "BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's booming economy will post record foreign direct investment (FDI) and exports this year, Trade Minister Luis Guillermo Plata said on Friday.

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's booming economy will post record foreign direct investment (FDI) and exports this year, Trade Minister Luis Guillermo Plata said on Friday.

02 billion in 2007 and exports are seen shooting to $35 billion compared with $30 billion last year, Plata said at the Reuters Latin America Investment Summit.

Minister Luis Guillermo Plata said Tuesday in Washington.

Washington - The Colombian government is willing to wait for the approval of its Free Trade Agreement with the United States, but will not accept more changes to its contents, Colombian Trade Minister Luis Guillermo Plata said Tuesday in Washington.

var PageContent= ' Washington - The Colombian government believes it is only lacking 15 votes from Democrats in the the US House of Representatives to ratify the free trade agreement between the two countries, Colombian Trade Minister Luis Guillermo Plata said Thursday in Washington.

Plata said according to his own estimates Colombia needs the votes of 35 Democrats to see the agreement through, and Bogota has already secured 20.

Plata said Bogota wants to secure the support of 35 of the 245 Democrats in the lower house of the US Congress.

Democrats in the lower house of the US Congress.

Trade Preferences SoughtColombian Trade Minister Luis Guillermo Plata said he is seeking a six-month extension on expiring US.

Plata said there is not enough time for the deal to be debated and approved before then.

Luis Guillermo Plata has been recently nominated Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism of Colombia.

BOGOTA -(Dow Jones)-Colombia attracted a record number of foreign visitors in 2007, beating the previous record in 1980, as lower violence levels and promotional campaigns encouraged travelers, Trade and Tourism Minister Luis Guillermo Plata said Thursday.

Plata said the country has the potential to further boost the number of foreign visitors to 3-4 million each year in the coming years.

Plata said the FTA may still be debated and ratified during a possible lame-duck session.