Colombia’s Huila department hosted ExpoExterior 2026 in Neiva for the first time, drawing over 4,000 attendees and 40 institutions from 14 countries. Officials delivered 130 English-language scholarships and linked local youth to global opportunities. The event aligns with Governor Rodrigo Villalba Mosquera’s “Por un Huila Grande” development plan.
Over two days, Neiva became a hub for global educational opportunities. ExpoExterior 2026 featured business roundtables, academic meetings, and a central session linking Huila youth to universities, embassies, and international organizations.
The Huila Governorship, under Governor Rodrigo Villalba Mosquera, drove the event within its “Por un Huila Grande” development plan. Youth from municipalities including Algeciras, Garzón, Pitalito, San Agustín, La Argentina, Íquira, and Tesalia took part, broadening reach beyond the capital.
Partners such as SENA, the Huila Chamber of Commerce, and regional universities enabled access to academic programs, exchanges, and international jobs. The “Proyecta tu Futuro” contest awarded a local talent an experience in Canada.
“The Huila cannot keep viewing global opportunities as distant. Our youth have the talent and capacity to go far, and from the government we are creating the conditions for them to achieve it,” stated Governor Rodrigo Villalba Mosquera. The effort aims to close social gaps through education as a driver of development.
