“Colombia becoming a member of the LAC4 Centre marks a key milestone in expanding LAC4 network and partners across Latin America. Colombia’s MinTIC brings valuable perspectives and experience to bi-regional efforts in strengthening regional cyber resilience. The Ministry is well positioned to benefit from and contribute to knowledge exchange, capacity building and cooperation. We look forward to this collaboration that reflects both local needs and global standards, and engaging not only with public institutions, but also with Colombia’s dynamic private sector and academia. This new partnership also reinforces long-standing commitment of the EU in supporting open, secure, and inclusive digital development in the region.” – Liina Areng, Director of LAC4.

“Articulate coordination and cooperation make us stronger, which is why at the ICT Ministry we are convinced that the inclusion of this entity in the LAC4 in Latin America is a success, as it strengthens us institutionally and allows us to contribute more to this training and knowledge center. Since last year, with the Ministry’s incorporation into this regional entity, we have known of its potential to strengthen our work on issues such as cybersecurity and digital skills development, all of which are fundamental to our efforts to close the digital divide in Colombia.” – Julián Molina Gómez, ICT Minister.

The European Union ambassador, Gilles Bertrand declared: “Cybersecurity has become such a concrete and fundamental issue as the physical security of people and public spaces. The strengthening of cybersecurity is an indispensable condition for a digital transition that protects the rights of people and the proper functioning of our economies and our democracies. The entry of Colombia to the Center will allow the Center to strengthen In these issues.

LAC4 has 14 members in addition to Colombia, represented by respective national authorities or organisations: Antigua and Barbuda, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, the Netherlands, Panama, Uruguay, pan-regional RedCLARA, Cyber 4.0: Cyber Competence Center (Italy) and NUMU Group.

Established in 2022 in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, LAC4 is the flagship initiative of the EU CyberNet. LAC4 serves as a training and knowledge hub for sharing expertise in cybersecurity and cybercrime. It also seeks to facilitate practical collaboration between the LAC region and the EU; promoting the benefits of an open, free and inclusive cyberspace, and enhance cyber capacities within the LAC region.