The Andean Community has begun a process of reviewing and comparing criminal regulations to harmonize penalties for organized crime among Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. This initiative arises in response to growing concern over transnational crime affecting the region. The organization's Secretary General, Gustavo Gutiérrez, explained that joint border operations have already been coordinated and an academic observatory has been created to analyze the phenomenon. He also indicated that a concrete proposal has been presented for member countries to evaluate the standardization of crimes and penalties, which will require complex legislative reforms.
Another key area was the development of the Andean Regional Electricity Market, whose objective is to enable automated buying and selling of electricity among Andean countries. This measure aims to prevent crises like the one Ecuador experienced in 2024 by allowing a rapid response to energy deficits without bureaucratic obstacles.
In the commercial sphere, CAN recorded a surplus of USD 4.299 billion in 2024. Total exports reached USD 165.290 billion, and although intraregional trade fell by 2.5%, there remained a high component of manufactured products, reflecting added value in the region. Ecuadorian exports of home appliances and Colombian exports of medicines were examples of this.
Tourism was also a key area. Colombia was the only country that managed to recover pre-pandemic figures, while Ecuador faces additional challenges such as the security crisis. Gutiérrez highlighted initiatives such as Caminos Andinos, a platform that seeks to promote non-traditional destinations.
