Gerardo Vargas – SPEAKERS

PRESENTATION

The importance of an Appellation of Origin for Colombian Emeralds: A strategy to protect and promote this special gem. The appellation of origin is a protective mechanism against infractions of origin and any misuse of the good name and reputation of this precious Colombian gem. It is also a promotional tool that can be deployed nationally and internationally to add value to emeralds and drive sales through the revitalization of existing and opening of new markets, as well as galvanising comlementary industries such as tourism and the Orange Economy.

Business administrator with post-graduate qualificiations in Strategic Management and Strategic Thinking & Perspectives, who has over 15 years’ experience working across the public and private sectors in areas including promotion, internationalization, tourism and intellectual property. He is currently co-founder and CEO of the EGREGOR Consulting Group, whose work focuses on Country Promotion & Intellectual Property, Tourism & the Orange Economy and Destination Marketing. He has previously worked as Director of Internationalization and Deputy Director of Tourism in Bogotá’s Mayor’s Office and as a consultant to a number of different private and public sector organizations including the Ministry of Environment & Sustainable Development, the National Agency for Environmental Permits (ANLA), Bogotá’s Housing & Planning Departments, the National Federation for Palm Oil Producers (FEDEPALMA) and the Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) among others.
He has also co-authored a number of papers on different areas of the economy and is a member of the World Future Studies Federation (a UNESCO Partner headquartered in Paris and founded in 1973) as well as of the Círculo Latinoamericano de Prospectiva (CLAP).

He brings his extensive experience to the emerald sector with a view to enhancing, promoting and internationalizing the gem within new and existing markets, thereby strengthening its global positioning. The strategy will be implemented via different methods of protection for the gem and its promotion not only in different international markets, but also different sectors including the creative and cultural industries – tourism, fasion design and MICE events.