Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos has proposed eight stimuli to better encourage floriculture in his country, in order to strengthen an industry that employs 140,000 people directly.
The president made his announcement from the Colombian capital Bogota at the General Assembly of the association of Colombian flower exporters, Asocolflores.
The eight initiatives include eliminating an import tax on agricultural chemicals and fertilizers, suspension of a decree obligating flower companies to hire apprentices and the allocation of over $6m to the industry by The Colombian Agricultural Research Corporation in order to achieve technological innovations and advancement.
In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture, which has already given nearly $520,000 to flower producers affected by the harsh rainy season, will continue its support for the industry.
Mr Santos said: "We know that well beyond the production and exports, the flower industry over many years has been a model of innovation, ecology and social responsibility. All these initiatives point to a message that I want to reiterate: The flower producers have had, do have, and will continue to have the support of the national government. It is a sector that we admire for its contribution to formal employment, for its dynamism in foreign trade, and because it shows the world the best image of Colombia."
