Freddy Rojas Parra, new CAF Representative in Colombia

The president of the Andean Development Corporation (CAF), Enrique García, named Freddy Rojas Parra as the new CAF representative in Colombia. Rojas Parra replaces Luis Palau Rivas who was appointed CAF representative in Ecuador.

Making the appointment, the president of the multilateral organization recalled that last October the CAF signed a joint declaration with the Colombian Government in which it expressed willingness to grant the country financing of US$3.5 billion for the 2003-2006 period. Colombia is currently the main beneficiary of the Corporation’s loans.

The new representative in Colombia is a Venezuelan who has a long record in the public and private sectors in his country. Rojas Parra held the posts of minister of Development, of Industry and Commerce, and of Finance. He was coordinator of the economic cabinet and a director of the Central Bank. He also headed the Foreign Trade Institute (ICE) and was the minister who founded the Foreign Trade Bank (BANCOEX).

As business leader he was president of Fedecámaras and director of the Venezuelan Confederation of Industry (Conindustria), as well as director of various regional and international business associations. He has also headed several private companies in the industrial, commercial and insurance and banking sectors in Venezuela.

After joining the CAF in 1999, Freddy Rojas represented the Corporation in Ecuador for three years.