JORGE CARDENAS: A LEGACY OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION WITH THE COLOMBIAN-JAPANESE CHAMBER.
- Leslie Benítez
- Apr 30
- 4 min read
The Colombian-Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry received with deep sadness the news of the passing of its honorary member of the Board of Directors, Mr. Jorge Cárdenas Gutiérrez.
He began his career at the National Federation of Coffee Growers in 1963 as Assistant Manager, rising to General Manager in 1988, a position he held until 2022. During his tenure, he was recognized for strengthening the coffee industry and consolidating Colombia's international presence as a leader in coffee production.
The Colombian-Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry received with deep sadness the news of the passing of its honorary member of the Board of Directors, Mr. Jorge Cárdenas Gutiérrez.
He began his career at the National Federation of Coffee Growers in 1963 as Assistant Manager, rising to General Manager in 1988, a position he held until 2022. During his tenure, he was recognized for strengthening coffee institutions and consolidating Colombia's international presence as a leader in coffee production.
His history with Japan began decades ago, at a time when building international relations required more than diplomacy: it required vision, respect, and a genuine openness to other worlds. Through his leadership of the Federation, and as a respected figure in the business world, Jorge Cárdenas not only supported the creation of commercial ties, but also cultivated a relationship based on values that Japan deeply values: perseverance, honor, and long-term collaboration.
Coffee officially arrived in Japan at EXPO OSAKA 1970, and Emerald Mountain Coffee, the Federation's representative brand in Japan, began selling its coffee in the Colombian Pavilion. In March 1973, the FNC Freeze-Dried Coffee Factory (now Buencafé) began operations in Chinchiná, Colombia, with an annual production capacity of 1,800 metric tons of instant coffee. In 1974, as part of a campaign, Japan became the first country to which Buencafé instant coffee was exported. The following year, 1975, Hokuyo Shoji Co., Ltd. (now Mitsubishi Foods Co., Ltd.) began exporting Buendía instant coffee. Japanese imports of instant coffee grew significantly in the 1970s, from 2,970 tons in 1970 to 6,333 tons in 1980.
Beyond the recognition and positions that accompanied his career, for the Chamber, Mr. Jorge Cárdenas was, above all, a bridge between two cultures, a silent promoter of friendship and cooperation between Colombia and Japan.
A close friend of Luis Fernando Gutiérrez, a founding member of the Colombian-Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Jorge Cárdenas shared long conversations with him about the economy and opportunities for international expansion. From the National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC), Cárdenas fostered interest in opening the Japanese market to Colombian coffee, making the FNC the Chamber's first official affiliate.
After retiring from the Federation, Mr. Cardenas moved his offices to the same building and floor where the Chamber's headquarters were located before its relocation to the current building. It was common for Chamber staff to meet Mr. Cardenas in the hallways, sharing conversations about the economy, Japan, and memorable personal anecdotes. In 2020, during the General Assembly, the Chamber honored him with a special tribute in recognition of his invaluable contribution to strengthening bilateral relations. Similarly, in December 2020, he received the Grand Cross of Boyacá from former President Iván Duque, the highest decoration awarded by Colombia.
In 2022, during the tribute to the life of Mr. Luis Fernando Gutiérrez, a series of videos were made with testimonies from his closest friends. Among them, Mr. Jorge Cárdenas recounted how they met, how the Federation supported the Chamber from its beginning, and recalled intimate experiences between two great figures of the Colombian economy.
As an honorary member of the Chamber, Mr. Jorge Cárdenas was a generous advisor, always willing to share his experience and historical perspective on the path taken in Colombian-Japanese relations. Those who had the privilege of knowing him and working alongside him will remember him not only as a great leader, but as a human being who understood that true bonds are forged through sincere gestures, honest conversations, and shared dreams. His legacy will live on in every project that seeks to bring Colombia and Japan closer together, and his example will continue to inspire us to always look beyond our borders.
Today, rather than mourning his passing, we want to express our gratitude for his legacy. The strength of the ties between our two nations is, in part, his legacy. From the Colombian-Japanese Chamber of Commerce, we send our deepest condolences to his family and reaffirm our commitment to continue building the paths of friendship he helped pave.
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References:
Entrevista a Jorge Cárdenas Gutiérrez, entrevistado por Andrea Lluch, Bogotá, Colombia, 31 de octubre de 2022, Creating Emerging Markets Oral History Collection, Baker Library Special Collections and Archives, Harvard Business School.
Federación Nacional de Cafeteros.
Cámara Colombo Japonesa de Comercio e Industria.
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