Trade with Colombia falls down 76 percent in January

Disagreements between governments increase the decline of binational activity

The Venezuelan-Colombian Economic Integration Chamber (Cavecol) urges companies to improve relations with their business environment (File photo)

Economy
As reported by Luis Alberto Russián, the chief executive of the Venezuelan-Colombian Economic Integration Chamber (Cavecol), preliminary figures show that at the end of January the binational exchange of goods and services declined 76 percent, compared with 2009 results.

Strained diplomatic relations between the governments of Colombia and Venezuela have been the main factor in the decrease of trade during the first month of the year. President Hugo Chávez decided to freeze commercial relations with its neighboring country after several disagreements with Colombian President Álvaro Uribe.

The Cavecol representative said that after the nationalization of French-Colombian retail chain Éxito, companies must improve relations with their business environment.

stejero@eluniversal.com

Suhelis Tejero Puntes
EL UNIVERSAL

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