Council on Australia Latin America Relations
Background to COALAR
The Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR) was formed in response to the Joint Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade - Trade Sub Committee report, "Building Australia's Trade and Investment Relationship with South America" (September 2000).
One of the report’s recommendations was to ‘establish a mechanism with funding to promote initiatives, provide leadership and display commitment to developing the relationship through tangible achievements,’ through a Australia – South America Foundation.
As a result, COALAR's formation was announced in March 2001 by the then Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
