| IPD traveled to Colombia in March 2003 for an eventful and highly effective visit. The group met with Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe Velez, his economic advisors, the country's former Presidents, and members of Congress. IPD also held a conference in coordination with Fundacion Agenda Colombia. More than 700 people including Colombia's most influential politicians and policymakers attended the conference. It was broadcast live throughout the country to many Colombian universities, and featured an interactive question and answer session via the Internet. The publicly aired conference generated continued public policy debate for roughly six months after the Dialogue concluded. As a direct result of the dialogue's success, IPD and Fundacion Agenda Colombia are publishing a book outlining the debate on economic policy and political economy issues such as the relationship between violence and the economy, the asymmetries faced by Colombia in the world market and the advantages and disadvantages of open markets and trade liberalization. |
