The reestablishment of relations with Venezuela They have been one of the most important turning points in the few months of the new national government.
With great detail, the symbolic act of the commercial reopening with the neighboring country, carried out in September, was promoted by the border crossing between Norte de Santander and TáchiraHowever, other points in common between the two countries have not received the same coverage.
(Read: Foreign Ministry of Peru is upset with Petro for defending Castillo).
Just under four days to complete the first quarter of the commercial reopening between Bogotá and Caracas, the results are not yet fully tangible within the main actors: the border population.
Such is the case of the department of La Guajira, on the border with the state of Zulia, through which the merchandise was transported before the reopening, through the Paraguachón-Guarero corridor.
According to a study carried out by the Chamber of Commerce of La Guajira, optimism for the formal return of trade with the neighboring country has been diluted over the months.
Venezuela-Colombia Border
The economic reality of the population on the northern border with Venezuela is based on an increase in informality, in the face of an uncontrolled migratory exodus and the lack of formal job opportunities for the population.
(Also: The road map for bilateral cooperation between Colombia and Venezuela).
Under this scenario, the study of the business organization, known as “Characterization of trade and perception of the reopening of the Colombian-Venezuelan border”, shows that by September, 73% of those surveyed considered this fact “favorable”, while another 72% saw it as “an opportunity for development”.
Now, for the current December, the general opinion has taken a turn. 61% of those surveyed consider the commercial opening with the neighboring country unfavorable for the commercial activity of Paraguachón, while 39% believe it favourable.
In parallel, regarding the development of their business, 44% of those surveyed believed that the reopening of the Colombian-Venezuelan border represents an opportunity and 38% a threat.
This contrasts too much with the results of the first survey carried out in September, where 72% of those consulted considered this reopening as an opportunity compared to 28% who saw it as a threat.
(See: For 2023, follow a rate hike strategy to control inflation).
Among other realities that the new edition of the survey shows are the benefits that have been achieved with this reopening of the border with Caracas.
Thus, for 13% of those surveyed, a greater influx of people has been noted in the border area of La Raya – Paraguachón. The same percentage indicated that there has been growth in trade. No.However, for 58% there has been no benefit.
And regarding the problems that have arisen, 31% of the businesses identified mobility difficulties due to the increase in cargo truck traffic. Another 22% spoke about insecurity, while 20% said that sales have decreased “because passers-by don’t stop in the area to buy”.
In line with the concerns, andl 6% indicated that there is no control by public entities. It is also worth noting that 14% of those surveyed indicated that no negative effect has been generated in the area.
“The articulation of the state authorities, the national and local government and public and private entities is necessary to attend to the main problems of safety (road and social) and mobility that so much affect the economy of the area”, requested the entity in the conclusions of the document.
The Chamber of Commerce of La Guajira also pointed out in this section that “there is still time” to create strategies with the objective of “discouraging passage through illegal trails; strengthen the creation of formal employment and promote the revitalization of sales in the sector in the short term” with a view to 2023.
BRIEFCASE
