OREANDA-NEWS. September 13, 2013. A delegation from ProExport Columbia spent the day in Chicago, meeting with staff from the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA).

The 84-person group was comprised of representatives from manufacturing, textiles and agricultural (perishables) industries.  They traveled to Chicago to discuss business opportunities between Chicago and Columbia.

A delegation from ProExport Columbia tours the airfield at O'Hare

CDA Commissioner

Rosemarie S. Andolino welcomed the delegates to Chicago and to O'Hare International Airport. "On behalf of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, we were very pleased that this delegation from ProExport  chose  to discuss new business opportunities between Chicago and Columbia in person,"  she said. "We look forward to a continuing dialogue about promoting global commerce for our world-class city."

Cortez Carter, CDA Managing Deputy Commissioner, Concessions, Real Estate and Planning, discussed in Spanish how to increase trade and to enhance coordination and new service between Columbia and Chicago. Andres Garcia, CDA Program Manager for the O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP) and Lawrence Rzewski, CDA Coordinating Planner, joined Carter and the delegation on a tour of O'Hare's airfield.

Carter also discussed the CDA's initiative to create a perishable cargo center at O'Hare International Airport.  The center is envisioned to include exports from South America, one of the largest flower exporters in the world.