Colombia has a updated port policy after the National Council for Economic and Social Policy (Conpes) approves a document that outlines the route for the modernization and sustainability of port activity.
In this update it promotes the efficiency of the sectorSeeking that the country strengthen the principles of sustainability of its operation and adapt to the global environment and the Colombian territorial context.
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This document became a reality after analyzing technical studies carried out by the National Planning Department (DNP) and the transport ministryas well as having the accompaniment of technical instances of world trade, multilateral banking organizations and other specialized consultants.
Through this document, the port policy is aimed at carry out actions in six strategic axes for the system:
- Articulation of the port system with territorial planning instruments and the physical and environmental conditions of the coastline on the Colombian coasts.
- promotion of incorporation of good environmental practices and corporate social responsibility in the national port system.
- Updating of tariff regulation schemes and compensation in the ports of the country.
- Improvement in the conditions of the maritime access infrastructureterrestrial and fluvial to the port terminals.
- Updating of regulatory instruments of the Colombian port system.
- Strengthening of the institutional framework of the port sector aimed at facilitating the exercise of the port authority of the system.
Santiago Saldarriaga. WEATHER Archive
It will contribute to the promotion of the diversification of the country’s export basket
Through these axes, the port policy also seeks to energize and harmonize the institutionality of the system, with the aim of avoid duplication of functionsas well as the promotion of efficiency in the entities that are part of this sector.
In addition to this, the update will contribute to the promotion of the diversification of the country’s export basket through the facilitation of the export of food and renewable energies such as green hydrogen.
This Conpes is the roadmap for actions such as updating the regulatory scheme to meet the conditions of the current port business model, carrying out a study to demonstrate the structure of the port services market and make decisions about the current fee schedule and the establishment of a methodology for measuring and monitoring the carbon footprint of port activities, among others.
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arturo garcia
Investments close to 10.66 trillion pesos would be mobilized
To bring this process to a successful conclusion, the entities in charge of leading it will be the Ministry of Transport, the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI), the National Highway Institute (Invías) and the Superintendency of Transportation (Supertransporte). The National Planning Department will also monitor the implementation of the policy.
In this way, the fulfillment of these objectives will have a cost of 11,746 million pesos. Thanks to that, investments close to 10.66 trillion pesos would be mobilizedaccording to projections made by Cormagdalena and ANI.
In the private sector, it seeks to stimulate investments for 2.76 trillion pesos and in the public for 7.9 trillion pesos in the next 15 years that allow contribute to the efficiency of the port system.
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«Port development is vital to support economic activities in the area of territorial influence, since they are the bridge between maritime and land transport. The articulation of this infrastructure with land use planning helps regions develop competitive advantages and reach a higher degree of productive specialization«, said Juan Miguel Gallego, deputy general director of Prospective and Development of the DNP.
It should be remembered that the national port policy has allowed Colombia to adapt to changes in international markets. From there, productivity and internationalization of the Colombian economy.