In a ceremony held in the Francisco José de Caldas auditorium, the centennial of the entity was commemorated with a forum and business recognition.
The Cauca Chamber of Commerce is commemorating a century of existence. It was born in April 1924, by Decree 629 of the same year, signed by the President of the Republic, Pedro Nel Ospina Vásquez (1922-1926).
One of the reasons that an important group of Popayán merchants had to create this entity was the construction of the Pacific Railway, which, in addition to improving the mobility of cargo and passengers, would promote the economic and social progress of the department.
Since its founding, the Cauca Chamber of Commerce has promoted and championed regional development projects, it has also encouraged and supported the creation of entities, strengthening the institutional framework, such as Servitaxi, Acopi, Sitec, Agroinnova, Creatic, Promotora de Turismo , Cauca Progresa, among others.
The credibility that it has enjoyed for 100 years has made the Chamber a neutral body, articulating the government, academic, business, political and civil society sectors, as well as an advisory body to the national Government.
It is paradoxical that the newly created Chamber of Commerce of Popayán, as it was originally called, spoke out against the delay in the construction works of the Pacific railway, a century later this same entity had to make great efforts to revive the Popayán-Santander de Quilichao dual carriageway.
Forum “The economic future of a diverse Cauca”, moderator Ana Fernanda Muñoz Otoya, panelists Juan Carlos Zambrano, Claudia Cruz, Gustavo Wilches and Ana María García.
The commemoration of 100 years
In the Francisco José de Caldas auditorium of the University of Cauca, on April 12, 100 years of the founding of the Cauca Chamber of Commerce were commemorated, with the forum “The economic future of a diverse Cauca” and the recognition of merchants, businessmen and entrepreneurs of the department. The event was presented by the social communicator, María Elvira Castellanos Gómez, head of communications for the entity.
In the colloquium, moderated by the executive president of the institution, economist Ana Fernanda Muñoz Otoya, the lawyer, researcher, teacher and ecologist, Gustavo Wilches Chaux, participated as panelists; Ana María García de Montilla, merchant, who through franchises has brought important brands in the fashion and home segments to Popayán; Claudia Cruz, musician, cultural manager and candidate for a master’s degree in business management and administration; and Juan Carlos Zambrano Arciniegas, agricultural administrator, with a master’s degree in international relations and a professional career of more than 30 years in the design and monitoring of policies, plans, programs and investment projects in the public and private sectors.
The panelists presented their opinions and points of view on fundamental issues of the economic, social, cultural and environmental reality of the department, before an audience that enjoyed their talks.
Executive president, Ana Fernanda Muñoz Otoya and president of the board of directors of the Cauca Chamber of Commerce, Juan David Delgado Echeverri.
Recognitions
The board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Cauca, through its president, Juan David Delgado Echeverri and the executive president, Ana Fernanda Muñoz Otoya, praised those who contributed with important achievements in favor of the institution and the business and commercial development of the Cauca department.
CEOs
For their commitment, dedication, work in favor of economic development of the Cauca, when they presided over the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce, were recognized, Mildred Jaramillo de Zambrano, Eduardo Nates Lopez, Gustavo Wilches Chaux, Rodrigo Ceron Valencia, Hugo Herney Cuervo, There are many reasons why you shouldn’t buy these products. These are the reasons why you shouldn’t buy these products. These are the reasons why you shouldn’t buy these products Velasco Cajiao and Juan David Delgado Echeverri, current president.
CEOs
Likewise, the management carried out by professionals who, as executive presidents, achieved important goals for the chamber organization and for the region, in search of progress and collective good, was praised. They were the lawyer and researcher, Felipe Millán Constaín (1988-1992); Laura María López Castrillón (1992-2006); Daniel Mauricio Luna Fals (2006-2009); Oriana Mendoza Vidal (2009-2017) and Ana Fernanda Muñoz Otoya, current president.
Former executive presidents, Laura López Castrillón, Daniel Luna Fals and Felipe Millán Constaín, accompanied by the executive president, Ana Fernanda Muñoz and the president of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce, Juan David Delgado.
Life and career of Merchants
In this centenary, the Chamber highlighted the life and career of merchants and businessmen, considering that the permanent exercise of commercial activity is one of the sources of economic development in the region, in addition to being an example of business effort and strength. This entity recognized those who have dedicated their lives to the activity of this sector.
Business Merit Category
Innovation Subcategory: Dairy Colombia Foods, received by Helens Vannesa Meneses López.
Outstanding Young Subcategoryaimed at entrepreneurs under 35 years of age: Anderson Camilo Romero Cadena, from Entorno Cocina Local.
Subcategory: Empowerment of Women in Entrepreneurship: Carmen Ilse Hernández, from Chocomueic SAS.
Subcategory Positioning: Blesscard-Benmoga &CIA SAS.
Subcategory Value Chains: Agroindustry La Rochela, Jaime Enrique Garrido Arboleda.
Cauca Business Legacy Subcategory: Bambi varieties, Alba Rosero Terán; Almacén Mellos, Germán Alfredo Sánchez; Los Angeles Drug Depot, Nelson Soto Mejía; La Violeta Florist, María Oliva Ledezma; Artistic Furniture, Ana Teresa Bonilla de Prado; Bolaños and Bahamón Toilet Warehouse; Vidrios El Sol, Juan Pablo González Mejía.
Business Leadership Category
Subcategory Exporting company: Appsus SAS, Karen Cristina Gómez Muñoz.
Category Culture
Tsatso Ya Casa del Hummingbird Tourism and Crafts: Viviana Andrea Tombé Queal.
Subcategory Promotion of Tourism, Culture and Heritage: Lunapaz Tour Ecotourism, Alex Jairo Paz Gómez.
Special Category Recognition 100 years
For their perseverance and expertise: Maryluz Warehouse, Gonzalo Arturo Nañez Candle; Warehouse Duke, Martha Lucia Duke Ceron; Plastics of the Cauca, Carmen Cecilia Arroyave Boatman; My Cowgirl, Adolph Jose Velasco Castrillon; The Colombian Gourmet Grilled Harvest, Jose Arturo Corrales Lopez.
Likewise, the Chamber of Commerce paid posthumous tribute to the lawyer, politician and businessman, Olid Larrarte, for his altruism. He received the recognition from his daughter Marcela Larrarte.
Tribute to a life of work for Cauca
The Chamber of Commerce paid special tribute to the business administrator, Juan Cristóbal Velasco Cajiao, for his leadership, strategic vision, contribution to economic development, extensive business career, persevering executive, committed to the progress of Cauca, promoter of several processes from the perspective of the union, with the drive and interest shown in the creation of the Cauca Development Promoter (Promocauca) that made it possible to manage investment resources, today converted into a reality through the creation of companies in the north of Cauca, thanks to the tax benefits of Law 218 of 1995 or Páez Law, which boosted the economic and productive sector of the department.
Tribute to Juan Cristóbal Velasco Cajiao, former president of the board of directors and business leader of Cauca, the executive president and the president of the board presented him with the recognition.
Likewise, from his business vision, Velasco Cajiao has been leading projects with the Cauca Chamber of Commerce, with the Trade Council and the construction sector, as well as the projects of the Cauca Family Compensation Fund (Comfacauca), which generate, in addition to employment and well-being, an important investment for Cauca that allows progress towards an economic and social dynamic in favor of Payaneses and Caucanos.
He has carried out his work from different positions and boards of directors of public and private, regional and national entities. Likewise, his commitment to education stands out, in this field the creation of the Comfacauca Technological Institute of Higher Education in Popayán, Santander de Quilichao and Puerto Tejada, today the Unicomfacauca University Corporation. In addition, management and execution of international technical cooperation projects.
It has promoted social responsibility, seeking the integrality of unions with a common goal in pursuit of improving the living conditions of workers, their family groups and communities in vulnerable situations.
He currently directs projects with significant investments, such as the construction of the Caña Dulce recreational park in Santander de Quilichao and the new administrative headquarters of Comfacauca in Popayán.
