The Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (IPDAL) today, 26 November, at the Hotel D. Pedro in Lisbon, presented the IPDAL–Vista Alegre Award to the Colombian diplomat Pedro Agustín Roa Arboleda, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening relations between Portugal and Latin America.

With more than 26 years of career experience, Roa Arboleda joined the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1999. He holds a degree in Architecture from the Universidad de los Andes, a diploma from the San Carlos Diplomatic Academy, and is a former scholarship holder of the Institut International d’Administration Publique (IIAP) in Paris. In 2012, he took part in the Senior Government Programme at the Universidad de los Andes.

He represented Colombia at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, and served in the embassies in Mexico, Peru, Germany and Portugal. At the Ministry, he worked as Coordinator of Disarmament Affairs, Chief of Diplomatic Protocol, Chief of Staff to the Minister, and Adviser to the Directorate of Human Rights and IHL.

In 2023, he was honoured by his country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Award for Best Officer of the Diplomatic and Consular Career, and in 2024 he was promoted to the rank of Ambassador.

The distinction awarded today by IPDAL highlights the importance of his professional trajectory and the impact of his work in deepening political and diplomatic dialogue between Portugal and Colombia.