NESTOR OSORIO LONDOŃO

Dr. OSORIO obtained a Degree in Law from the University del Rosario in Bogotá in1970. In 1974 he obtained the title of Doctor in Administrative Law at the University of Paris and the Diploma of the International Institute of Public Administration

From 1974 to 1978, he held the posts of Legal Advisor, Secretary General and Deputy Director at the Colombian Planning Department. Between 1978 and 1994, he worked as Head of the Colombian Mission to the International Coffee Organization (ICO) on issues related to international trade in coffee. He was also the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the ICO, Director of the European office of the Colombian Coffee Federation in Brussels, General Manager of “Cafémondial” and was also representative for Colombia to both the International Cocoa and the International Sugar Organizations. He has been a member of the Colombian delegation to several Conferences of the United Nations, UNCTAD and GATT-WTO

From August 1994 to December 1999 he was the first Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the World Trade Organization. In this capacity he served as Chairman of the WTO Trade Policy Review Body; Chairman of the International Textiles and Clothing Bureau and Chairman of the WTO Committee on Agriculture. As Chief Trade Negotiator, Ambassador OSORIO LONDOŃO was actively involved in Ministerial Conferences and many multilateral trade negotiations.

Subsequent to relinquishing his position as Ambassador, he assisted developing countries on the preparation of trade negotiations in agriculture in his capacity as international consultant of FAO and UNCTAD. In addition, between 2000-2002 he was Special Advisor of the Colombian Government on coffee and trade affairs.

Dr. Osorio has been the Executive Director of the International Coffee Organization since 1 March 2002 and in May 2007, the International Coffee Council unanimously decided to renew his term of office for a further five years until September 2012.