Facilitation and Digitalisation of Foreign Trade in the Andean Community
On 18 November 2021, the Andean Community (CAN) signed an agreement with the Development Bank of Latin America for the implementation of Andean Community Interoperability - INTERCOM. This technical cooperation agreement aims to aid in trade facilitation and digitization between the Member States of the Andean Community – Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
INTERCOM will aid regional integration through a reduction in non-tariff barriers to trade. The implementation of this digital infrastructure that will allow for the instant exchange of information between the Customs Authorities of the four Andean States and boost intra-regional trade. Taking advantage of this potential offered by digitization will lead to reduced transaction costs and timeframes for foreign trade in the bloc, and will be particularly beneficial for SMEs. This Agreement furthers the Andean Digital Agenda and will increase the regional bloc’s competitiveness internally and also worldwide.
After signing the Agreement, Secretary General of the Andean Community, Jorge Hernando Pedraza, stated that:
“INTERCOM joins today other great achievements made by the CAN in the last three years, such as the norm that eliminates international roaming costs, the Andean Migration Statute, the decision that facilitates the circulation of vehicles for private use by tourists and the Andean Environmental Charter, all of which shows us that, in the midst of a pandemic, it is possible to turn the crisis into a great opportunity”
Source: Comunidad Andina.