4. Each Party shall regularly review the information and links on the website referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 to ensure the information and links are up-to-date and accurate.
5. To the extent possible, each Party shall make the information in this Article available in English. If this information is available in another authentic language of this Agreement, the Party shall endeavour to make this information available, as appropriate.
Article 12.4. Subcommittee on SME Issues
1. The Parties hereby establish the Subcommittee on SME Issues (SME Subcommittee), comprising national and local government representatives of each Party.
2. The SME Subcommittee shall:
(a) identify ways to assist SMEs in the Parties? territories to take advantage of the commercial opportunities resulting from this Agreement and to strengthen SME competitiveness;
(b) identify and recommend ways for further cooperation between the Parties to develop and enhance partnerships between SMEs of the Parties;
(c) exchange and discuss each Party's experiences and best practices in supporting and assisting SME exporters with respect to, among other things, training programs, trade education, trade finance, trade missions, trade facilitation, digital trade, identifying commercial partners in the territories of the Parties, and establishing good business credentials;
(d) promote seminars, workshops, webinars, mentorship sessions, or other activities to inform SMEs of the benefits available to them under this Agreement;
(e) explore opportunities for capacity building to facilitate each Party's work in developing and enhancing SME export counselling, assistance, and training programs;
(f) recommend additional information that a Party may include on the website referred to in Article 12.3;
(g) review and coordinate its work program with the work of other subcommittees, working groups, and other subsidiary bodies established under this Agreement, as well as of other relevant international bodies, to avoid duplication of work programs and to identify appropriate opportunities for cooperation to improve the ability of SMEs to engage in trade and investment opportunities resulting from this Agreement;
(h) collaborate with and encourage subcommittees, working groups and other subsidiary bodies established under this Agreement to consider SME-related commitments and activities into their work;
(i) review the implementation and operation of this Chapter and SME-related provisions within this Agreement and report findings and make recommendations to the Commission that can be included in future work and SME assistance programs as appropriate;
(j) facilitate the development of programs to assist SMEs to participate and integrate effectively into the Parties' regional and global supply chains;
(k) promote the participation of SMEs in digital trade in order to take advantage of the opportunities resulting from this Agreement and rapidly access new markets;
(l) facilitate the exchange of information on entrepreneurship education and awareness programs for youth and women to promote the entrepreneurial environment in the territories of the Parties;
(m) submit on an annual basis, unless the Parties decide otherwise, a report of its activities and make appropriate recommendations to the Joint Committee; and
(n) consider any other matter pertaining to SMEs as the SME Subcommittee may decide, including issues raised by SMEs regarding their ability to benefit from this Agreement.
3. The SME Subcommittee shall convene within one year after the date of entry into force of this Agreement and thereafter meet annually, unless the Parties decide otherwise.
4. The SME Subcommittee may seek to collaborate with appropriate experts and international donor organizations in carrying out its programs and activities.
5. In order to implement this Chapter in an efficient and effective way, and to facilitate communication for any matter covered by this Chapter, the Parties hereby establish the following contact points:
(a) for Colombia: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism; Chief of Sectorial Planning Advisory Office; and
(b) for the UAE: Foreign Trade Sector, Ministry of Economy, or its successor.
6. The contact points shall be responsible for:
(a) receiving and channelling the project proposals presented by the Parties;
(b) informing on the project proposals status;
(c) monitoring and assessing the progress in the implementation of trade related cooperation initiatives; and
(d) other tasks on which the Parties may agree.
Article 12.5. Non-Application of Dispute Settlement
A Party shall not have recourse to dispute settlement under Chapter 18 (Dispute Settlement) for any matter arising under this Chapter.
Chapter 13. ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Article 13.1. Objectives
1. The Parties shall promote cooperation under this Agreement for their mutual benefit in order to liberalise and facilitate trade and investment between the Parties and foster economic growth.
2. Economic cooperation under this Chapter shall be built upon a common understanding between the Parties to support the implementation of this Agreement, with the objective of maximising its benefits, supporting pathways to trade and investment facilitation, and further improving market access and openness to contribute to the sustainable inclusive economic growth and prosperity of the Parties.
Article 13.2. Scope
1. Economic cooperation under this Chapter shall support the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation and utilisation of this Agreement through activities that relate to trade and investment.
2. Economic cooperation under this Chapter shall initially focus on the following areas:
(a) manufacturing industries;
(b) agriculture, forestry, and fisheries;
(c) trade and investment promotion;
(d) human resource development;
(e) tourism;
(f) information and communications technology;
(g) the promotion of electronic commerce;
(h) intellectual property rights;
(i) financial services; and
(j) trade in environmental goods and services.
3. The Parties may agree in the Annual Work Program on Economic Cooperation Activities to modify the above list, including by adding other areas for economic cooperation.
Article 13.3. Annual Work Program on Economic Cooperation Activities
1. The Subcommittee on Economic Cooperation shall adopt an Annual Work Program on Economic Cooperation Activities (Annual Work Program) based on proposals submitted by the Parties.
2. Each activity in an Annual Work Program developed under this Chapter shall:
(a) be guided by the objectives agreed in Article 13.1;
(b) be related to trade or investment and support the implementation of this Agreement;
(c) involve both Parties;
(d) address the mutual priorities of the Parties; and
(e) avoid duplicating existing economic cooperation activities.
Article 13.4. Competition Policy
1. The Parties recognise the importance of general cooperation in the area of competition policy. The Parties may cooperate to exchange information relating to the development of competition policy, subject to their domestic laws and regulations and available resources. The Parties may conduct such cooperation through their competent authorities.
2. The Parties may consult matters related to anti-competitive practices and their adverse effects to trade. The consultations shall be without prejudice to the autonomy of each Party to develop, maintain and enforce its domestic competition laws and regulations.
Article 13.5. Resources
1. Resources for economic cooperation under this Chapter shall be provided in a manner as agreed by the Parties and in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Parties.
2. The Parties, on the basis of mutual benefit, may consider cooperation with, and contributions from, external parties to support the implementation of the Annual Work Program.
Article 13.6. Additional Bilateral Instruments
The activities undertaken under this chapter shall not affect other cooperation initiatives based on bilateral instruments between the Parties.
Article 13.7. Subcommittee on Economic Cooperation
1. For the purposes of the effective implementation and operation of this Chapter, the Parties hereby establish a Subcommittee on Economic Cooperation (the Subcommittee).
2. The Subcommittee shall undertake the following functions:
(a) monitor and assess the implementation of this Chapter;
(b) identify new opportunities and agree on new ideas for prospective cooperation or capacity building activities;
(c) formulate and develop Annual Work Programme proposals and their implementation mechanisms;
(d) coordinate, monitor, and review progress of the Annual Work Programme to assess its overall effectiveness and contribution to the implementation and operation of this Chapter;
(e) suggest amendments to the Annual Work Programme through periodic evaluations;
(f) share information and coordinate with such mechanisms to ensure effective and efficient implementation of cooperative activities and projects;
(g) cooperate with other Subcommittees and/or subsidiary bodies established under this Agreement to perform stocktaking, monitoring, and benchmarking on any issues related to the implementation of this Agreement, as well as to provide feedback and assistance in the implementation and operation of this Chapter; and
(h) report to and, if deemed necessary, consult with the Joint Committee in relation to the implementation and operation of this Chapter.
Article 13.8. Non-application of Chapter 18 (Dispute Settlement)
A Party shall not have recourse to dispute settlement under Chapter 18 (Dispute Settlement) for any matter arising under this Chapter.
Chapter 14. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Article 14.1. Tourism Responsibility
1. Parties undertake to promote and facilitate initiatives that contribute to:
(a) improving education and responsibility of tourists and tourism professionals regarding:
(i) respect for local religion and customs;
(ii) protection of the environment, wildlife, and ecologically sensitive areas; and
(iii) preservation of natural, cultural, and archaeological sites, including, when that implies, self-restraint, and a lesser or less intensive use of relevant sites;
(b) adequately informing incoming and outgoing tourists about applicable laws and regulations regarding trafficking of protected species, antiques, and other cultural property, drugs, and prohibited substances; and
(c) preventing abuse of human beings and infringements of personal integrity, including when committed by its tourists abroad, and to raise awareness of outgoing and incoming tourists of the offensive nature of such behaviour.
2. The Parties shall cooperate to contribute to the work of international organisations on the issues covered by paragraph 1.
3. Each Party to facilitate that its suppliers of tourism and travel services to adopt codes of conduct, guidelines, self-regulation, and related enforcement mechanisms to promote non-discriminatory practices regarding the issues addressed in paragraph 1.
Article 14.2. Tourism Infrastructure and Sites
Parties shall cooperate with a view to promote design and management practices of tourism infrastructure in such a way as to protect natural, cultural, and archaeological heritage and preserve wildlife, endangered species and landscape, particularly in sensitive areas such as coastal areas, mountain areas, arid areas, wetlands, forests, and lakes.
Article 14.3. Travel Security Information and Warnings
1. A Party issuing travel security information and warnings to its natural persons in respect of the security situation in another Party shall endeavour, with a view to be as specific as possible according to best practices, to, inter alia:
(a) limit the scope of warnings, if applicable, to specific regions or locations;
(b) describe the type of risk; and
(c) recommend appropriate security measures to be taken.
2. A Party that has issued a travel security warning in respect of another Party shall, upon request by that other Party, review the security situation in that other Party and update its warning accordingly. When the former Party considers that the circumstances that motivated the issuance of its warning do not longer exist, it shall withdraw the warning.
3. For the purposes of this Article, "travel security warning" means an announcement via Internet sites or other mass media by an authority of a Party to its natural persons.
Chapter 15. TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT
Article 15.1. General Provisions
1. The Parties affirm their commitment to promote sustainable development and climate change management.
2. The Parties underline the benefit of bilateral cooperation on aspects of environmental issues as part of a global approach to climate change management and food sovereignty.
3. The Parties reaffirm their goal of protecting their respective environment by:
(a) ensuring that their respective laws and policies covered by this Chapter provide for and encourage the protection of their environment;
(b) striving to continue to improve their respective laws and policies on the protection of the environment;
(c) recognising the crucial role of water in sustainable development and the need to protect water resources;
(d) prioritizing climate change management and food sovereignty policies; and
(e) according importance of balance between economic development, international and domestic trade, investment, the preservation and management of natural resources, and the achievement of food sovereignty in view of the urgent need for the effective implementation of the national climate change management policy.
4. The term "protection of the environment" means:
(a) the prevention, abatement, or control of the release, discharge, or emission of pollutants or environmental contaminants, including greenhouse gases;
(b) the management of chemicals and waste or the dissemination of information related thereto;
(c) the conservation and protection of wild flora or fauna, including endangered species and their habitats, as well as protected areas;
(d) the prevention of a danger to life or health from environmental impacts; and
(e) special protection to vulnerable areas such as moorlands (páramos), rivers, oceanic and sea reserves, national parks, and jungles.
Article 15.2. Transparency
In accordance with their respective law, policies and practices, the Parties undertake to ensuring transparency within their respective jurisdictions in the context of this Chapter, on their national policies related to food sovereignty, climate change management, and protection of the environment in a manner that suits the national interest of each Party.
Article 15.3. Right to Regulate
1. The Parties reaffirm the right of each Party on the following:
(a) set its own policies and priorities for the protection of the environment, food sovereignty, and climate change management; and
(b) establish its own levels of protection relating to the environment, food sovereignty, and climate change management.
2. The Parties agree that each party fully retains its own right to regulate and impose appropriate measures with respect to mining, as well as exploring, and producing minerals, gas, or petroleum, in moorlands (páramos) rivers, oceanic and sea reserves, national parks, jungles, and other vulnerable ecosystems and their buffer zones.
Article 15.4. Cooperation
1. The Parties recognise the importance of cooperation on environmental issues in order to achieve the objectives of this Chapter. Accordingly, the Parties agree to dialogue and to consult with each other with regard to environmental issues of mutual interest. Each Party may, as appropriate, invite the participation of its social partners or other relevant stakeholders in relevant cooperation projects and in identifying potential areas of cooperation.
2. In implementing paragraph 1, the Parties may cooperate on issues of mutual interest in areas such as:
(a) improved understanding of the effects of responsible and sustainable practices that protect the environment;
(b) dialogue and information-sharing on national policies related to food sovereignty and climate change management;
(c) dialogue and information-sharing on preserving natural habitats and resources for future generation; and
(d) monitoring and reviewing the impact of the implementation of this Agreement on the protection of the environment.
3. The Parties shall strive to strengthen their cooperation on environmental issues of mutual interest in relevant bilateral and multilateral fora in which they participate under multilateral environmental agreements.
Article 15.5. Means of Cooperation
The Parties may cooperate on issues of mutual interest to promote the objectives of this Chapter through actions such as:
(a) the exchange of information on best practices, events, activities, and initiatives;
(b) technical exchanges, research projects, studies, reports, conferences, and workshops; and
(c) other forms of cooperation that the Parties deem appropriate.
Article 15.6. Promotion of Trade and Investment Favouring the Environment
Recognising the importance of promoting the protection of the environment, the Parties endeavour to:
(a) promote and facilitate foreign investment and trade in, and dissemination of, goods and services that contribute to the protection of the environment, including those goods and services subject to ecological schemes;
(b) promote trade and investment in goods and services that contribute to the protection of the environment, such as renewable energy and energy-efficient products and services;
(c) promote a more resource-efficient and circular economy;
(d) promote life-cycle management of goods and of environmentally friendly product value chains, including end-of-life management, recycling, and reduction of waste; and
(e) encourage cooperation between enterprises in relation to goods, services and technologies that contribute to the protection of the environment.
Article 15.7. Water and Related Natural Resources
In accordance with their national law, (1) the Parties recognise the crucial role of water in sustainable development and the need to protect water resources for the well-being of their citizens. By incorporating water management into land management policies, the Parties aim to ensure that water sources are preserved and accessible to all in light of the food sovereignty policy.+
Article 15.8. Exclusions
1. This Agreement does not apply, in any part of it, to the following subjects:
(a) the subsoil, mining, and hydrocarbon industries, water sources and resources, and environmentally protected areas like jungles, moorlands (páramos) rivers, oceanic, sea reserves, and national parks. By excluding the subsoil and mining industries, this Agreement recognizes the importance of responsible and sustainable practices that protect the environment;
(b) national policies related to food sovereignty and climate change management. The exclusion of national policies related to food sovereignty and climate change management underscores the recognition of the Parties' right to prioritise their food security and address the global climate crisis in a manner that suits their national interests; or
(c) measures adopted or maintained by the Parties for the protection of the environment or their natural resources, including those necessary to comply with greenhouse gas emissions targets as set out in international environmental agreements entered into by the Parties.
2. All aspects pertaining to the above-mentioned excluded matters are within the exclusive jurisdiction of each Party. The decisions adopted by the Parties on these matters cannot be challenged under this Agreement.