Unanimously, the Second Committee of the House of Representatives approved in the third debate the bill through which the Agreement on International Cargo and Passenger Transport by Road between Colombia and Venezuela.
The objective of the initiative, signed in August 2014, is to create a legal framework that provides security to the transport sector of both countries for the entry and exit of goods.
(The conditions with which the US would lift sanctions on Venezuela).
He Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Germán Umaña Mendozahighlighted the importance of the Agreement given the agenda that the two countries have for the reestablishment of economic and commercial relations, which has been consolidated with the reopening of the Simón Bolívar, Francisco de Paula Santander and Atanasio Girardot international bridges, in Norte de Santander.
“We seek to guarantee a process of economic integration in which the security of all the actors involved is safeguarded, the terrestrial connection of the markets is expanded and trade in the region is expanded, thinking especially of the population of the border territories, which will be the main beneficiary in economic and social terms”, said Minister Umaña Mendoza.
(Monomers: what is their possible purchase by Colombia about).
The Agreement establishes, among other things, that the transporter must be a legal person, incorporated in one of the two countries; that the transport service can only be provided through authorized steps; that the documents for the land transport operation may be approved; that the immigration authorities will authorize the entry, stay and departure of passengers to the respective country with the presentation of the valid and current passport, the respective visa when the regular or national condition warrants it and the immigration card with the respective necessary immigration stamp.
Likewise, it contemplates that the authorities and national terrestrial organizations of the two countries must design and implement an automated system to keep the register of authorized transporters and vehicles and that once the transporter has been authorized by its state of origin, it must request, within a period of no more than 60 days, before the competent national authority or body of the other country, the Supplementary Service Provision Permit.
(Differences in the treatment of migrants between Canada and the US).
The bill will now go to the plenary of the House of Representatives for its final approval in the Congress of the Republic.
According to the trade portfolio, the total commercialization between the two countries (imports plus exports) by all means of transport and by the different steps (land, air and sea), reached US$47.4 million in January of this year for an increase of 42.7% compared to the same month in 2022.
(Colombia will intercede for Venezuela: it will seek to lift sanctions).
Taking into account only the passage through the three border bridges that connect the two countries through Norte de Santander (Simón Bolívar, Francisco de Paula Santander and Atanasio Girardot), between September 26, 2022, when the first two were reopened, and until last March 10, trade reaches $70.5 million.
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