July 2, 2026.- As part of the Pacific Alliance’s anniversary celebrations, a panel discussion titled “The Pacific Alliance at 15: Integration, Global Reach, and Cooperation for the Future” was held in Bern on May 26, with the support of the World Trade Institute and the University of Bern.
The initiative generated widespread interest among the academic community, students, international relations specialists, and members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Switzerland.
The panel, moderated by Professor Rodrigo Polanco, academic coordinator of the World Trade Institute’s (WTI) advanced master’s programs, featured the participation of Ambassador François Voeffray, Under-Secretary of State for the Americas and the Caribbean at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, as well as the ambassadors of Chile, Carla Serazzi Chang; from Colombia, Francisco Echeverri Lara; from Mexico, Cecilia Jaber; and from Peru, Julio Garro Gálvez. The diversity of perspectives allowed for a multifaceted examination of the Pacific Alliance’s progress, challenges, and opportunities after fifteen years of existence.
During the panel, Mexico’s Ambassador Cecilia Jaber presented a comprehensive overview of the Alliance’s evolution, as well as the priorities of the current Pro Tempore Presidency. She emphasized that the goal is to consolidate the PA’s international profile through closer dialogue with observer states, including Switzerland, which was recognized as a distinctive feature of the bilateral relationship and of that country’s sustained interest in the mechanism.
Subsequently, each of the ambassadors presented, from their country’s perspective, the main areas of cooperation and the benefits derived from the Pacific Alliance.
On behalf of Colombia, Ambassador Francisco Echeverri Lara presented the management of the Cooperation Fund, as well as its results in the areas of youth, education, and gender, along with initiatives for economic and tourism promotion.
Chile’s representative, Ambassador Carla Serazzi Chang, highlighted the importance of deepening economic integration and expanding market access, as well as advancing the diversification of international partnerships. She also emphasized the importance of strengthening the Alliance’s outreach to strategic partners, with a view to consolidating its position on the global stage.
On behalf of Peru, Ambassador Julio Garro Gálvez addressed economic integration and its effects on investment and entrepreneurship, as well as opportunities for youth and productive sectors, with an emphasis on inclusion and regional cohesion.
For his part, Ambassador François Voeffray, representing Switzerland as an observer state, outlined his country’s priorities and thematic approaches to cooperation with the Pacific Alliance.
To conclude the event, a culinary showcase featuring dishes representative of the four member countries of the Pacific Alliance was offered, conceived as a space for cultural diplomacy that complemented the academic dialogue. The activity highlighted the culinary richness of Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Peru as an expression of identity and a tool for cultural outreach, contributing to the consolidation of a comprehensive dimension of the mechanism’s international presence.
COMMUNICATIONS PPT 2026 PACIFIC ALLIANCE