The Energy Charter Secretariat, the Senate of the Republic of Colombia, the National Federation of Departments and the Externado of Colombia University are organising a joint conference on Wednesday 3 August 2016 at the Senate of Colombia in Bogotá. The purpose is to outline the energy market reforms and strategies in Colombia, and also to emphasise the measures for investment promotion and protection in Colombia and in Latin America generally. In a global system of energy governance, the Energy Charter provides a unique system for investment protection and as such it offers a very suitable platform to discuss any relevant issues regarding investment protection in energy. 

Having signed the 2015 International Energy Charter, Colombia is committed to provide a stable, attractive and transparent regulatory framework for cross-border trade, transit and investment. Colombia is a front runner in the creation of a level playing field and the enhancement of the rule of law in the energy sector. As a result, Colombia is paving the way for other countries in the region to embrace the same principles and standards. While around eighty countries across the world have signed the International Energy Charter, so far in Latin America only Colombia and Chile have done so. 

The principles of the International Energy Charter are universal and are therefore relevant for all countries across all continents, from Bogota to Tokyo. Indeed, this year the Ministerial Conference of the Energy Charter will be held under Japan’s chairmanship in Tokyo in November 2016. The title ‘International Energy Charter: from Bogota to Tokyo’ has the implicit message that global energy markets need to go hand-in-hand with global principles and frameworks.