COLOMBIA: MAKTOUM FOUNDATION ENTREPRENEURS

UNCLAS BOGOTA 002195

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EEB/TPP/MTA FOR SKAPLITT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA: MAKTOUM FOUNDATION ENTREPRENEURS
CONFERENCE

REF: STATE 62387


1. (SBU) Post has consulted internally in response to reftel
and suggests current Barranquilla Mayor Alejandro Char Chalub
and Colombian businessman and philanthropist Samuel Azout.


2. (SBU) Prior to his 2007 election as Mayor of Barranquilla
(one of three major ports on Colombia's Caribbean Coast and
the country's fourth largest city),Alejandro Char was the
chief executive of a construction company, Alejandro Char and
Company. Char graduated from the Universidad del Norte as a
civil engineer and has a management degree from the
Universidad de los Andes as well as a Masters in Project
Management from Georgia Tech University. Since taking office
earlier this year, Mayor Char has actively pursued an agenda
of public accountability and investment promotion for the
city of Barranquilla. He was born in Colombia in 1966 to a
family of Lebanese descent. Contact information: (personal
telephone) 011-573-311-660-8081; (office telephone)
011-575-340-1177.


3. (SBU) Previously the Chief Executive Officer of Carulla
Vivero, Colombia's second-largest supermarket chain, Samuel
Azout now serves as Chairman of the Board of Fundacion
Carulla. The Fundacion Carulla, one of Colombia's largest
philanthropic foundations, has fostered reconciliation and
reintegration among a wide variety of vulnerable populations
impacted by Colombia's civil conflict. Mr. Azout received a
undergraduate degree from Cornell University and a Master's
in Public Administration from Harvard University. He was
born in Colombia of Lebanese descent. Post notes that Mr.
Azout is in his early 50s. Contact information: (email)
samuelazout@post.harvard.edu; (tel) 011-573-311-230-3030.


4. (SBU) In the event that Department provides subsequent
guidance permitting posts to consult externally with local
contacts, EMBASSY Bogota may be able to identify additional
potential invitees.
BROWNFIELD