John Negroponte, United States Deputy Secretary of State, visited
an IOM project near Bogotá yesterday which focuses on the
economic reintegration of ex-combatants.

The project, funded by the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID), is part of a demobilization and
reintegration programme that started in mid 2006 within the
framework of a peace process between the Colombian government and
illegal armed groups and is aimed at strengthening institutions
critical to the successful reintegration of ex-combatants.

Working with the Colombian government's Office of the High
Counsellor for Reintegration, IOM also provides assistance to
communities receiving ex-combatants.

The project visited by John Negroponte provides training for
employment in the clothing industry and the setting up of a
manufacturing plant expected to benefit up to 255 people including
ex-combatants and members of host communities.

It also involves active participation by private enterprise and
the civil society with institutions such as the Fundación
Compartir and the Minuto de Dios organization taking over the
training of personnel and the operation of the factory
respectively. Companies such as General Motors and the Home Center
store chain will also be commercial partners. The Office of the
High Counselor for Reintegration is providing more than USD 94,000
to set up the clothing factory.

During his visit, Ambassador Negroponte spoke with some of the
beneficiaries of the projects and stressed the contribution of
USAID and IOM to the process of reintegrating ex-combatants. The
Presidential High Counselor for Reintegration of People and Groups
in Rebellion, Frank Pearl, who accompanied the visit, stressed the
importance to the Colombian government of the international
community's contribution to the reintegration process of more than
30,000 ex-combatants over the last two years.

For further information, please contact:

Jorge Andres Gallo

IOM Colombia

Tel: + 57 1 622 7774

E-mail: "mailto:jgallo@oim.org.co">jgallo@oim.org.co