GROW YOUR COMPANY GLOBALLY FROM DUBAI
Join our event, ‘Made For Trade Live’ in Bogota, held in partnership with Bogota Chamber of Commerce and UAE Embassy in Bogota to find out how to easily set up, run, and expand your business in Dubai with DMCC – the world’s #1 free zone.
A global hub for innovation, growth, and trade – Dubai’s attractive policies, proximity to surrounding markets, centralized time zone, lifestyle and business opportunities make it one of the world’s best destinations to do business. Ideally located in the heart of Dubai, DMCC’s award winning community offers businesses easy access to industry-specific ecosystems, world-class infrastructure, bespoke services and exclusive networking events to support your success.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
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Ahmed Bin Sulayem
Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
DMCC
Speaker Profile
Ahmed Bin Sulayem
Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,DMCC
Ahmed Bin Sulayem is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC and has driven its growth from a start-up of 28 member companies in 2003 to the world’s leading free zone in 2023 with 24,000+ member companies from 180 countries, employing over 80,000 people.
Tasked with enhancing commodity trade flows through Dubai, DMCC has introduced to the market a number of value-added products and services under Mr Bin Sulayem’s leadership. In 2023, DMCC has been named the ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ by The Financial Times fDi Magazine, for a record ninth consecutive year.
Mr Bin Sulayem oversaw the exponential growth of the DMCC Free Zone master development in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), a 200-hectare business and residential community in Dubai of over 100,000 people living and working across 87 towers. Mr Bin Sulayem also oversees the development of DMCC’s latest real estate project; the much-anticipated Uptown Dubai district.
Mr Bin Sulayem currently serves as the Chairman of the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) and the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX).
The Kimberley Process officially appointed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the first and only Arab country to Chair the Kimberley Process in November 2015. Shortly after, the UAE Ministry of Economy officially appointed Mr Bin Sulayem as the UAE’s Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2016.
H.E. Mohamed Alshamsi
Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Colombia
Speaker Profile
H.E. Mohamed Alshamsi
Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to ColombiaHis Excellency Mohamed Alshamsi is a prominent diplomat with extensive experience in international relations and diplomacy. His academic career includes a double bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Studies from the Ohio State University, USA, and a master's degree in International Relations with a specialization in dynamics of cooperation, conflict and negotiation from the Alfonso X El Sabio University in Madrid, Spain. In addition, he has received training in national security, human rights and diplomacy at renowned institutions such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. and the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research.
He began his career in the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, rising quickly thanks to his dedication and skills. He has held leadership roles in various embassies and ministries, serving as Deputy Head of Mission in Buenos Aires and Madrid, Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy in Beijing and Counselor in the Office of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. His career also includes experience as Consul General in Barcelona. He was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Peru from 2020 to 2024. He was recently appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UAE to the Republic of Colombia, 2024.
During his career, H.E. Mohamed Alshamsi has participated in numerous international conferences and meetings, representing the United Arab Emirates on crucial issues on the global agenda. His outstanding work has been recognized with the decoration of the Order "The Sun of Peru" in the degree of "Grand Cross", awarded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Peru. His commitment to diplomacy and his ability to establish constructive relations have contributed to the strengthening of bilateral ties between the United Arab Emirates and various countries.
H.E. Mohamed Alshamsi is an ambassador committed to promoting the interests of the United Arab Emirates internationally and fostering cooperation and understanding between nations. His dedication and experience make him an asset to Emirati diplomacy on the world stage.
H.E. Mohamed Alshamsi is fluent in native Arabic, advanced English and intermediate Spanish.
Ovidio Claros Polanco
Executive President,
Bogotá Chamber of Commerce
Speaker Profile
Ovidio Claros Polanco
Executive President,Bogotá Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Ovidio Claros is a lawyer from the Universidad Libre. He has postgraduate studies in Public Law at the National University of Colombia, in Health Services Management at the Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, and in Environmental Law at the Universidad del Rosario. He also completed an executive master’s degree in marketing management at the School of Industrial Organizations in Madrid (Spain).
He has served as a magistrate of the disciplinary chamber of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, the highest judicial authority in Colombia; as comptroller of Bogotá; a Member of the House of Representatives; and taught law in many universities.
On October 2, 2023, he became Executive President of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce.
MARÍA MÓNICA CONDE BARRAGÁN
Vice-president for International Relations and Cooperation,
Bogotá Chamber of Commerce
Speaker Profile
MARÍA MÓNICA CONDE BARRAGÁN
Vice-president for International Relations and Cooperation,Bogotá Chamber of Commerce
Industrial Engineer and specialist in Marketing, Los Andes University, with a bilingual master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), Monterrey Institute of Technology. She has extensive experience leading business units, market research in the national and international business context, defining tactical plans and project procedures, directing the international relationship policies, developing transfer services models, and implementing financial and technical cooperation strategies.
Since 2005, she has been working at the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce - BCC, a private non-profit organization that seeks to build a sustainable and prosperous Bogota - Region, set out to foster the creation of companies, defend the interests of the city's business owners and entrepreneurs, and take part as an advisory body and government consultant.
Currently, she leads the Vice-presidency of International Affairs and Cooperation of the BCC, designan and directing the International Relations procedure of the entity, creating benefits inside the organization, and promoting effective relationships that create value and position the services portfolio of the BCC in the international sphere. She also works to build up an influential network of international partners to achieve projects that help them design and implement business strategies for MSMEs in the Bogota - region.
Carmen Caballero
President,
ProColombia
Speaker Profile
Carmen Caballero
President,ProColombia
Carmen Caballero Villa is the president of ProColombia, with extensive experience in international affairs, business, and high-level executive management. She served as a Colombian diplomat in Spain for seven years. As the Consul General in Seville, she successfully strengthened commercial and cultural ties with Spain, leading various bilateral alliances in culture, migration, and tourism. She also played a key role in negotiating the International Treaty to Avoid Double Taxation and Prevent Tax Evasion with Spain and worked on identifying market opportunities and promoting the internationalization of companies. Additionally, she was active in Shareholders' Meetings and served as secretary and president of the Consular Corps of Seville, Spain.
As an entrepreneur, Carmen created and managed the five-star hotel Casa Imperial in the Historic Center of Seville for seven years. She also led the Projects and Interior Design Department of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, overseeing the restoration and conservation of luxury tourist establishments.
Carmen has also been an advisor to the Mayor's Office of Santa Marta, contributing to the Economic, Social, and Public Works Development Plan 2012-2015 'Santa Marta Equity for All - Children First,' and to the development of the 'Investment Promotion Agency for Santa Marta and the Region 2012.'
Born in Santa Marta, Carmen Caballero is a dentist by training, having graduated from the Metropolitan University of Barranquilla. She received the Great Cross of Bastidas in 2010, an award recognizing her outstanding economic and social contributions to the department of Magdalena.
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, President Caballero has focused on increasing non-mining energy exports and strengthening the internationalization of Colombian companies, especially SMEs in rural areas or municipalities with fewer than 200,000 inhabitants.
She has also worked to attract more foreign investment for social equity, human capital development, and sustainable growth, positioning Colombia as a hub for sustainable business in Latin America.
In tourism, her goal has been to promote Colombia as a destination for high-spending, environmentally conscious travelers. She emphasizes the cultural, peaceful, and vibrant aspects of Colombian destinations, with community participation being key to creating sustainable tourism experiences.
Juan Grillo
Colombia Representative,
World Logistics Passport
Speaker Profile
Juan Grillo
Colombia Representative,World Logistics Passport
With over 23 years of experience in supply chain and logistics management, Juan Grillo has demonstrated his leadership and expertise across a wide range of industries and geographies. He has lived and worked in countries such as Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates, among others, giving him a global perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in these markets.
He has held positions such as CEO, Regional Procurement Manager, and Commercial Manager, leading multidisciplinary teams in the oil, cement, and land, air, and maritime transportation sectors. In these roles, he developed effective commercial strategies that drove growth and expansion in international markets.
He founded a company dedicated to supporting Colombian entrepreneurs in exporting to various global markets, demonstrating his commitment to local economic development.
Currently, he works for the Government of Dubai at World Logistic Passport, supporting the implementation of a 100% free technological platform from Colombia, Mexico, and Chile. This platform provides benefits to exporters and importers looking to start operations to or from Dubai, including 20 allied countries enrolled in the portfolio.
Laura Aparicio
Designer
Speaker Profile
Laura Aparicio
DesignerLaura Aparicio's fashion heritage is the result of an engaging creative line: Bogotá - Milan. Colombian by birth, Italian by adoption, Laura Aparicio was born in Bogotá in 1991 but her passion for fashion led her, just nineteen, to Milan where she studied Fashion Design at the Marangoni Institute, one of the most prestigious international fashion schools.
After her graduation, in 2014 she joined the design team of Aquilano Rimondi - a luxury brand famous for its ability to focus on the quality of cuts, fabrics and details - working between Milan, Paris and Bogotá.
In 2016, she decided to dedicate herself to launching a special collection the namesake line: Laura Aparicio. The new line consists of sophisticated innovative pieces: effortless silhouettes inspired by South American culture, contemporary art, and architecture, with masculine cuts and hyper-feminine details.
The fashion of Laura Aparicio is made, since its launch, of pure and clean shapes. Cuts and lengths sought, dynamize silhouettes that highlight her personal perspective of the essential. A collection created by adding timeless pieces full of character, crossed by a personal style – never banal - in a constant dialogue between historical memories and flash of the present.
Mohammed Mohammed
Senior Manager, Corporate Sales - Americas & Oceania,
DMCC
Speaker Profile
Mohammed Mohammed
Senior Manager, Corporate Sales - Americas & Oceania,DMCC
Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed is a Senior Manager of Corporate Sales at DMCC, the world’s leading Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise.
Joining DMCC in 2014, Mohammed is responsible for promoting the benefits of doing business in Dubai and establishing a presence in DMCC. Building strategic relationships is a key focus for Mohammed, and so too is engaging with local and international business communities at key industry events throughout the year.
With over 16 years of business development and corporate sales experience, Mohammed has worked alongside a number of senior figures in both the public and private sectors of the United Arab Emirates. Mohammed earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the American University in Emirates.
