Continued support for cross-border integration

To facilitate processes of binational integration, especially in the Andean Community countries, three integration organizations – CAF, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (INTAL) – presented a document entitled Program for Integrated Development Colombian-Venezuelan Border to the government authorities. The respective technical units can now analyze and enhance the recommendations. The study relates to the border between Tachira state and Norte de Santander department.

The organizations which sponsored the study selected – for a first stage – the Colombia-Venezuelan border because it is one of the most dynamic in Latin America in relation to trade, and movement of people and vehicles.

The document contains strategic recommendations on how to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of the area. These range from preservation of natural resources and the environment to services – basically upgrading road infrastructure. CAF is firmly committed to cooperating with achieving sustainable development and ending the physical isolation and separation which still persists in the region.

The socio-labor area was analyzed with the help of the Latin American Institute of Social Research (ILDIS), and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation of Germany.

The document was presented today in CAF headquarters in Caracas in the presence of the governors of Tachira state and Norte de Santander department, Ricardo Méndez and Sergio Entrena, respectively, together with the Colombian ambassador in Venezuela, Mario Suárez Mello, and the Venezuelan ambassador designate in Colombia, Fernando Gerbasi, along with representatives of chambers of commerce and integration of both countries, Valmore Acevedo (Venezuela) and Germán Jaramillo (Colombia), and of the sponsoring organizations.

The participants agreed that the document was a milestone in furthering relations in the border area of the two countries, where similar problems need joint solutions. They also agreed to make a detailed analysis of the study which covers a number of areas – especially socioeconomic – and is not limited to areas related to trade.

CAF President & CEO Enrique García, of Bolivian nationality, said it was important to identify points of agreement on cross-border integration, "not an easy task – because it means leaving aside individual postures and overcoming short-term problems which obstruct progress – but in the long term it leads to success, as demonstrated by the formation of modern economic spaces, specifically the European Union, where unaccountable difficulties had to be overcome."

He added that the institution he heads has valuable experience in financing infrastructure in its shareholder countries, notably in the areas of road and transport, energy and telecommunications. In recent years CAF has financed 50 physical infrastructure and border integration projects for US$1.80 billion, of which 15 (US$700 million) relate to the private sector, which will be actively integrated into the process of developing cross-border integration.

This year CAF has granted a pre-investment loan to the Republic of Venezuela for US$1,700,000 to partially finance technical, economic and environmental feasibility studies, and final engineering for construction and/or rehabilitation of four Colombian-Venezuelan integration highways to be executed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), the CAF chief added.

Lastly, in the integration area – García said – CAF had sponsored publication of the book: Long-term agenda for Colombian-Venezuelan relations, in the framework of Latin America and hemispheric integration processes, which was launched in Venezuela yesterday in CAF headquarters. The work brings together the recommendations of a prominent group of researchers from both countries and is considered an important bibliographical reference for the success of integrationist processes.