As part of the cooperation activities between the regions of Coimbra (Portugal) and Valle del Cauca (Colombia), a delegation of 13 members from Coimbra, mostly comprised of municipal authorities and mayors, carried out their study visit to Valle del Cauca on March 28th through March 30th, 2022.
Both regions seek to exchange knowledge and good practices to boost their economic reactivation based on strategic sectors and potential attractions, including natural and cultural elements, and the productive capacity of goods and services. During the study visit, delegates had the opportunity to identify in-person common challenges and synergies connected to their agricultural and tourism vocation.
Specifically, Coimbra delegates visited strategic locations to learn first-hand about the development of tourism products linked to grape transformation and wine production in Valle del Cauca. Additionally, delegates learned about cultivated varieties with export potential (coffee, cocoa, and tropical fruits), local honey, and different agro-industrial applications of sugarcane products.
Potential cooperation between the regions was identified in the following fields:
- Marketing and digitalization strategies for tourism promotion: gastronomy, cultural and natural heritage.
- Astro-tourism development (Starlight Tourist Destination).
- Implementation of sustainable processes in agro-food chains to increase added value in the global markets through the incorporation of quality and sustainability certificates.
