Gustavo Petro’s victory has raised expectations among Venezuelan businessmen and unions. His representatives believe that an important stage is opening that will give way to fruitful commercial relations, especially commercial ones.
This Wednesday the elected president of Colombia wrote on Twitter that he had talked with the Venezuelan government to reach agreements on the reestablishment of relations on the border.
For the Federation of Chambers and Associations of Commerce and Production of Venezuela (Fedecamaras), the activity on the border has already begun to be activated and therefore the same should happen at the national level.
Carlos Fernández, president of Fedecamaras, in conversation with TIMEinsisted that trust is one of the first things that must be regained among the business community in order to move forward, so expectations grow.
positive expectation
“It has generated a positive expectation. We are called to build a common destiny. We believe that one of the fastest things is for consular relations to be resumed,” emphasizes Fernández.
Binational trade was an important source of income for Venezuela. At its best, it reached about 7,300,000 dollars, recalled Luis Alberto Russián, president of the Venezuelan-Colombian Chamber of Economic Integration (Cavecol).
“We are moderate enthusiasts. Having a new president in Colombia with the profile of Gustavo Petro will facilitate the issue of rebuilding the relationship. We believe that we must have a broad agenda that goes through a reciprocal protection agreement.”
Russián lamented that due to the deterioration of relations, the closure of the border and the economic crisis, Colombian companies have closed in Venezuela, of which as of this date there is no record of how many exist. In Cavecol, Avianca, Alpina and Mazda converged, to name a few of those based in Colombia.
Currently, of the 87 companies that make up Cavecol, at least 10 are from New Granada. Russián agrees with the president of Fedecamaras in insisting that trust is important to restore trade and review existing agreements such as Partial Scope Agreement number 28, which was signed by both countries.
To the commercial expectation is added the interest of the airlines. For example, Wingo requested the Colombian Civil Aeronautics to reactivate flights to Venezuela with a frequency of seven weekly flights.
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