Organized under the theme “Building Tomorrow,” the summit will focus on strengthening international economic cooperation, sustainable investment, technological innovation, institutional leadership and the growing role of emerging economies in shaping a more inclusive global economic order.
The summit, co-hosted by the City of Medellín, will take place at Universidad de Medellín and is expected to welcome more than 1,000 international participants. It represents an important opportunity to connect established economic powers with emerging markets in Latin America, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
Dr. Asif Iqbal’s participation reflects IETO’s continuing efforts to expand India’s economic diplomacy across Latin America, particularly through trade promotion, investment facilitation, industrial partnerships, technology cooperation and business delegation exchanges.
“I sincerely thank Mr. Frank-Jürgen Richter for establishing and nurturing Horasis as an extraordinary platform for international economic dialogue. At a time when the global economy faces geopolitical uncertainties, supply-chain disruptions and widening development disparities, Horasis plays a valuable role in bridging the gap between growing economies and established economic powers.
My experiences at previous Horasis conferences in Segovia and Málaga in Spain, Cascais in Portugal, Vietnam, and international engagements in Davos have demonstrated the positive results that can emerge when business leaders, policymakers and investors come together with a common purpose.
These platforms have helped us develop valuable international relationships, identify investment opportunities, strengthen institutional cooperation and advance discussions on practical cross-border partnerships.
The forthcoming Medellín Summit presents another important opportunity to translate international goodwill into tangible trade, investment and economic development opportunities, particularly between India and Latin America.”
— Dr. Asif Iqbal, President, Indian Economic Trade Organization and United Diplomatic Council
Dr. Iqbal further emphasized that international conferences should increasingly be evaluated not only by the quality of their discussions but also by their capacity to generate sustained institutional relationships, business opportunities and measurable economic outcomes.
Sustainability and environmental leadership will be represented by Gladys Martínez, President of the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense, Costa Rica; and Jojo Mehta, Chief Executive Officer of Stop Ecocide International, United Kingdom.
Among the other distinguished co-chairs are Rai Nandwani, Managing Director of Advane, Hong Kong; Sheikh Abdulla Zayed bin Saqr Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abdulla Bin Zayed Investment Group, UAE; Indirani Pal-Chaudhuri, Founder of Open Origin, USA; Girish Ramachandran, President of Growth Markets at TCS, Singapore; and Aldo Rubino, Founder and President of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
This diverse leadership reflects the international character of Horasis, bringing together individuals who influence investment flows, industrial development, innovation, governance, environmental policy and cultural cooperation.
Colombia Emerging as a Strategic Investment Destination
Colombia is increasingly attracting international attention as an investment destination due to its strategic location, access to both the Pacific and Atlantic maritime trade routes, agricultural resources, growing technology ecosystem and diversified industrial base. The country’s foreign investment agenda emphasizes sustainable economic transformation, increased industrial value addition and opportunities for international partnerships.
Among Colombia’s principal investment priorities are renewable energy and energy transition, agro-industrial development, food processing, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, technology services, digital infrastructure, tourism and transport connectivity.
For Indian investors, significant opportunities could emerge in pharmaceuticals, affordable healthcare, information technology, automotive components, engineering services, renewable energy, agribusiness, education and hospitality.
Medellín is particularly relevant as a centre for entrepreneurship, innovation, artificial intelligence and urban transformation. Its evolution into a technology-oriented business destination offers opportunities for collaboration with India’s startup ecosystem, research institutions and technology companies.
India–Colombia Trade Relations Offer Significant Growth Potential
INDIA–COLOMBIA BILATERAL TRADE | 2024–25
| Trade Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Bilateral Trade | $4.72 Billion |
| India’s Exports to Colombia | $1.47 Billion |
| India’s Imports from Colombia | $3.25 Billion |
India’s major exports to Colombia include motorcycles and other vehicles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, engineering products, cotton and iron and steel products. Colombia supplies India with petroleum, coal, precious stones, metals and other natural resources.
The continued expansion of bilateral trade demonstrates the commercial complementarities between the two economies and creates scope for greater diversification into higher-value manufacturing, digital services, green technology and knowledge-based industries.
Dr. Asif Iqbal observed that the relationship should increasingly move beyond conventional merchandise trade to include joint ventures, industrial investments, technology transfer, educational collaborations and direct institutional engagements.
IETO to Strengthen Economic Engagement with Latin America
Dr. Asif Iqbal’s forthcoming participation in the Horasis Global Summit 2026 is expected to reinforce IETO’s international outreach and contribute to its broader vision of positioning India as an active partner in global economic transformation.
The organization hopes to build on relationships developed through earlier international forums and explore new opportunities for trade missions, institutional partnerships and investment engagements across Latin America.
IETO reaffirmed its appreciation to Frank-Jürgen Richter and the Horasis leadership for their continuing efforts to unite decision-makers across national and economic boundaries, providing a platform where cooperation, innovation and shared prosperity remain central to the global development agenda.
The Medellín Summit offers another opportunity to advance the conviction that the future of the global economy must be shaped through greater connectivity, mutual trust, inclusive development and meaningful partnerships between nations.
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