When talking about means of transportation in Colombia, the two most developed are air, in some cities, and land, since a large part of the goods and passengers in the country are moved by this means. Likewise, it has been mentioned quite a bit that there is an outstanding debt with trains and railway networks, which are more efficient even though they require a large investment.
However, recently the maritime transport model was put on the table and river, especially the ports, which for the Attorney General’s Office require urgent modernization if the country’s competitiveness is to be increased and new sources of development and growth for the regions are to be generated.
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During a recent meeting with members of the port industry, Attorney Margarita Cabello highlighted the vital importance of the Colombian port system for the national economy, although she warned that it is currently misaligned with global and territorial dynamics.
Cabello Blanco expressed that there is a disarticulation between territorial planning and the development of port infrastructure, adding that the dependence on the mobilization of coal and oil, the insufficient digital transformation towards smart ports, climate risks, among others, They are factors that negatively impact Colombia’s competitiveness at the international level.
Ports.
“It is key to guarantee that our products reach their destinations more quickly and efficiently, which depends on having a modern and well-maintained transportation infrastructure,” said this official.
Dredging to increase depth and improve navigability, The generation of new connections and their storage capacities, logistical movement and integration with various transportation systems are some of the shortcomings that analysts currently highlight regarding ports in Colombia.
Additionally, according to the Attorney General’s Office, there is an urgent need to modernize technological systems in customs, particularly those related to the National Tax and Customs Directorate – Dian, taking into account that according to the Port Traffic Statistical Bulletin 2024, Colombian port areas mobilized In the first half of the year, a total of 90.4 million tons, with the Caribbean region standing out with 88.4% of the total mobilized (80 million tons).
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In this sense, the Attorney General urged to rationalize and simplify the procedures associated with foreign trade, highlighting that “it is essential to eliminate obstacles bureaucratic processes that only generate operational complications and open doors to corruption.
Another highlight was the call to the national government and the competent entities to prioritize the modernization and adequate maintenance of logistics infrastructure, insisting that the conditions of roads, ports and transportation routes must be improved.
Margarita Cabello, attorney general
Attorney’s Office
The Minister of Transportation was also present at this event, María Constanza García, who in addition to the challenges posed by the attorney general’s office, asked to review how this market is opened so that more women can participate in it and generate a more inclusive environment for all Colombians.
“Let us review how we also manage to include the gender perspective in the activities of the port sector, in logistics activities. For my part, I am very pleased to have accompanied Asoportuaria in this forum, to have had the opportunity to talk with other women about the experience in the development of this sector and to see the challenges they face in order to continue moving forward,” said García Alicastro.
Although in Colombia there are important advances on the Caribbean Coast with regard to ports, the Government itself and the companies that are part of this industry have recognized on more than one occasion that there is a potential in the Pacific that is not possible. is taking advantage, beyond Buenaventura, Therefore, it is necessary to propose investment projects towards this part of the country.
