The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Alan Yarrow, will visit Colombia this week to build bilateral ties and strengthen the City of London’s relationship with an important regional partner.

The Lord Mayor of London is a role which has existed for over 800 years, and today the Lord Mayor’s primary function is to act as an ambassador for the City of London and its financial services industry. He will be bringing a delegation of British business leaders keen to engage in the region with him to help facilitate the development of stronger economic ties.

In Colombia, the Lord Mayor will meet President Juan Manuel Santos, and they will discuss expanding relations between Colombia and the UK, using the UK’s financial services expertise for Colombia’s benefit. He will also meet the Vice President, the Minister of Transport, the Director of the Central Bank, and many senior local business representatives from a variety of industries. At Bolsa de Valores, the Stock Exchange, he will celebrate the signing of a MoU between the CISI, of which he is Chair, and the Colombian Stock Exchange pledging to adopt international certification on finance integrity.

Speaking ahead of his visit, the Lord Mayor said:

“This country is at a crossroads – an exciting moment in which a vast number of opportunities are emerging. British businesses are ready, willing and able to help you grasp these opportunities. But I want to be very clear that this should not be a one way street. Britain is a fantastic inward investment destination and the City of London and the UK are open for business, with a diverse range of opportunities for investment in all kinds of industries. I hope that this visit acts as a catalyst for deeper links between Colombia and the UK and enables our business communities, working together, to generate more jobs and growth.”

Ends

Notes to editors

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About the City of London Corporation 

The City of London Corporation provides local government and policing services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. In addition, the City Corporation has three roles: (1) we support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration, education and skills projects. In addition, the City of London Corporation’s charity City Bridge Trust makes grants of more than £15 million annually to charitable projects across London and we also support education with three independent schools, three City Academies, a primary school and the world-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama. (2) We also help look after key London heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important ‘commons’ in south London. (3) And we also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events, research-driven policies all reflecting a long-term approach. See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for more details.