An on-line forum allowing Colombians at home and abroad to interact
and communicate is being launched today by the Colombian Foreign
Affairs Ministry and IOM Colombia.

The "http://www.redescolombia.org">www.redescolombia.org 
portal includes the latest technologies for setting up virtual
social and community networks which will enable users to find
fellow Colombians in the countries where they live and carry out
joint projects and promote initiatives of interest to the
communities in Colombia and abroad.

Additionally, users will be able to have a personal space or
profile page with their photo, résumé, interests, and
organizations to which they belong in addition to being able to set
up photographic galleries, blogs and travel logs.

The website "http://www.redescolombia.org">www.redescolombia.org "is
undoubtedly a space for national unity, where our compatriots who
have left the country will find an additional reason to be
connected to their families and to the development of their
country," said Fernando Araújo Perdomo, Colombia’s
Minister of Foreign Relations and whose government is working to
establish a comprehensive policy on migration that includes its
citizens living abroad.

"The role of diasporas in the human, social and economic
development of countries, poverty reduction, reconstruction and
growth is attracting considerable interest at the global level.
Integrating migrants into local development projects that represent
true added value for national economies is a central point in
migration management. This is because it establishes effective
cooperation between the countries of origin and destination to
support diasporas in contributing towards development," said
José Ángel Oropeza, IOM Chief of Mission in Colombia
which provided its experience on migration issues to the project.
"With a large Colombian diaspora, it’s important to harness
their development potential."

According to the latest census carried out in 2005, more than
3.3 million Colombians (approximately ten per cent of the total
population) reside abroad. According to the Banco de la
República, Colombians sent home USD 3.89 billion in
remittances in 2006, sending an additional USD 2 billion in the
first half of 2007.

For further information, please contact:

Jorge Gallo

IOM Colombia

Tel: +571 622 7774

E-mail: "mailto:jgallo@iom.int">jgallo@iom.int