Luis Fernando JARAMILLO (Chairman, 2000-2002 a.i.)

Luis Fernando Jaramillo, Colombia, obtained a civil engineering degree from National University of Colombia in Medellin and also studied at the London School of Economics.

He started his career by working for the Colombian Institute for Land Reform (INCORA) (1962-1967), where he was Director General in charge during various periods. He was Vice President for Engineering and Maintenance of AVIANCA (1967-1969), Associate and Director General of Grancolombiana Engineering and Construction GRANDICON S.A. (1969-1976) and President of the Telecommunications Company of Bogota (1976).

Mr. Jaramillo worked for the Inter-American Development Bank (1976-1985), including as Director of Project Research. He was Director of the Presidential campaign for President Virgilio Barco (1985-1986). He was Minister of Public Works and Transport (1986-1989), Minister for Economic Development (1988), and Minister of Mining and Energy (1987-1989). In addition, he was Director of the Presidential Campaign for President Cesar Gaviria (1989-1990), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1990-1991), and Minister of Interior (1991). He was elected by the plenary session of Congress as Vice President of Colombia (1990-1992).

Mr. Jaramillo was Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations in New York (1992-1994) and Chairman of the Group of 77. He was Chairman of the National Committee of the Liberal Party (1995-1998), and Ambassador of his country to Spain (1998-1999).

He assumed the Presidency of the Organization of International Engineering, ODINSA Inc. from May 1999 to March 2011.

Mr. Jaramillo was elected the Convenor of the Council of Representatives of the South Centre in 1995, reelected for the second term in 1998, and for the third term in 2002. In 2000, after the death of Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere, Mr. Jaramillo was requested by the Board of the South Centre to take over as Chairman ad interim of the Board for the remainder of the term of Mwalimu Nyerere. Mr. Jaramillo occupied this post until the end of January 2002.

Mr. Jaramillo took part in a large number of international and South-South conferences and events, including summits and ministerial conferences of the Group of 77 and the Non-Aligned Movement.

He served on the boards of directors of a number of public and private companies and banks in Colombia. He also held a number of national and international honours and decorations.

Luis Fernando Jaramillo passed away on 23 November 2011.