EL UNIVERSAL

The Venezuelan government's threats and discrediting remarks against Colombia are seriously undermining bilateral trade, upon which Venezuela is highly dependent for purchases of food staples such as eggs, chicken, milk, and beef, among others; car parts and spare parts, assembled vehicles, apparel, and footwear.
 
Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos claimed "the Venezuelan people would be most seriously hit (by a breaking-off of bilateral relations), as they are faced with shortage. Many people are hit by food shortage, as food staples are missing in markets. Cutting trade with Colombia may result in serious damages," Colombian daily newspaper El Tiempo reported.

Venezuela is Colombia's second largest trade partner. Up to September 2007, Venezuelan imports from Colombia amounted to USD 3.24 billion, according to the Colombian Department of Statistics (DANE).

Up to September 2007, industrial and agriculture trade amounted to USD 3.02 billion and 223 million, respectively, based on the figures provided by DANE.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan exports to Colombia were USD 1.19 billion over the same period. Obviously, the bilateral trade balance favors Colombia.

Santos hoped "the trade and politic issues between our countries can be kept disconnected, just like it is the case of the United States and Venezuela, which continue to trade oil and goods."

However, the Colombian official added, "We do not know how people are going to react on the other side (the Venezuelan government), as they are unpredictable. Let us hope that trade relations are not harmed, as that would hit Venezuela, given the significant amount of products Colombia sells to that country and which cannot be replaced easily. I hope we are as mature and responsible as to keep trade apart from diplomacy."

Looking for food
Bilateral trade and the search of supplies in Colombia not only take place between big corporations; even consumers make purchases from Colombian suppliers, amid serious shortage in Venezuela.

According to El Tiempo, at least 15 percent of the customers of Colombian large chains of hypermarkets and supermarkets are Venezuelans.

A spokesman for one of these chains explained, "Our customers from Venezuela continue to buy products from us despite the fall of the Venezuelan bolivar to the Colombian peso. They come in the same number, but now they are buying large quantities of food."

In the meantime, on the border towns, the purchases of Venezuelan items by Colombian consumers -who used to cross the border to take advantage of the Venezuelan bolivar fall and price regulations in Venezuela- have plunged 70 percent. The drop comes because of the operations carried out by the Venezuelan National Guard troops and customs officials to stop food from fleeing to Colombia.
 
Waiting in line
Increased bilateral trade has also resulted in a higher number of people demanding flights to Colombia.

The only airline operating between the two countries is Avianca, as Aeropostal shut down its Caracas-Bogota flights, which together with growing trade, has resulted in reduced flights. According to El Tiempo, Avianca operates eight daily flights to Venezuela, but people have to wait some three to five days to catch a plane.
etovar@eluniversal.com

Translated by Maryflor Suárez R.
msuarez@eluniversal.com