Charlotte community leaders inaugurate Colombian Chamber of Commerce of the Carolinas
Why it matters: CACC will strengthen ties between Colombia and the U.S. through entrepreneurship, education and business development, according to the organization's president, Fredy Romero, and vice president, Natalia Silva.
Driving the news: On June 28, local business owners, public servants and community leaders packed the Jack S. Brayboy Gymnasium at Johnson C. Smith University for the nonprofit's inauguration and ceremonial ribbon cutting.
"This chamber will help transform ideas into opportunities, and opportunities into lasting impact," said Colombian presidential candidate and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luis Gilberto Murillo.
JCSU and CACC share similar values, such as collaboration, community engagement, higher education and environmental justice, JCSU President Valerie Kinloch said in a speech to the attendees.
Catch up quick: Following last year's announcement by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Charlotte was approved to receive a Colombian consulate, community leaders behind the efforts to get the consulate here began forming the group that is now known as the CACC.
The ultimate goal as an organization is to share resources and exchange information between entrepreneurs, community leaders and civic servants between the U.S. and Colombia.
Zoom out: Part of that information exchange will happen directly through JCSU and the Technological University of Chocó in Quibdó, Colombia.
This includes fostering foreign exchange programs between the two schools, Silva told Axios.
"We are not just building bridges with our Colombian community. We are creating opportunities where the world will be better because of our partnership," Kinloch said.
Zoom in: CACC is also facilitating the work of Charlotte-based nonprofit United Firefighting Training Network Corporation, which travels to impoverished countries to lead training sessions with donated equipment.
What's next: The plan to bring a Colombian consulate to Charlotte is currently stalled, Silva says. It's another mission the CACC has — to meet directly with the Colombian DIAN (National Directorate of Taxes and Customs) to expedite the process of bringing the consulate to Charlotte.
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