Colombia seeks to reduce economic impact of row with Venezuela

President Alvaro Uribe on Saturday called on his countrymen to help northeast border areas reduce the economic impact caused by the country's diplomatic row with neighboring Venezuela.

"We will consume the merchandise of Cucuta to help save the jobs of our fellow citizens on the border," Uribe said at a traditional-style communal council meeting.

Cucuta is the capital of the North Santander province that borders Venezuela and whose economy is dependent on tourism and exports to Venezuela.

Juan Fernando Cristo, a senator from North Santander, told reporters after the meeting that the province expects President-elect Juan Manuel Santos to take measures to reduce the economic impact of the diplomatic crisis after he takes office on Aug. 7.

"Once the new president takes office, we'll ask him to declare economic and social emergency for this border area and take relevant measures," said Cristo.

Since Venezuela "froze" political and economic relations with Colombia on July 28, 2009, Colombia's income from exports to Venezuela has barely reached 650 million U.S. dollars, compared to 6 billion dollars in 2008.

After Venezuela severed diplomatic relations with Colombia on Thursday, Colombian experts expected a further decline in exports to Venezuela, which would result in bankruptcy of export-oriented companies and huge job losses.

Source: Xinhua