Colombia will come to the aid of Venezuela, providing basic products such as milk and flour to help stem the shortages crisis in the neighboring country, Colombia’s Agriculture Minister revealed on Thursday.
“The Venezuelan government has asked the government of President Santos for support” said newly instated Minister for Agriculture Fernando Estupiñan on Thursday, signaling that the government and President Santos “showed full willingness to collaborate in the supply of goods” to Venezuela
Shortages of basic goods in Venezuela have reached crisis points in the last week, and the Bolivian government also confirmed yesterday that they will be sending supplies of toilet paper and other hygienic products to Venezuelan capital Caracas in the next few days.
It is likely that Colombia will also come to the aid of Venezuela. According to Estupiñian, “the operational aspects are still being defined” but that President Santos is eager to help Venezuela with the shortages, despite political tension between the two countries in recent weeks.
MORE: Colombian plot to overthrow Venezuela government ‘no misunderstanding’: Maduro
The Head of the Venezuelan House of Representatives, Magdalena Pardo, described the shortages in her country as an opportunity for an increased market for Colombian products, saying that while the Venezuelan crisis will lead to less exportation to Colombia, there may be other alternatives that increase commerce.
Colombia’s Agriculture Minister, however, focused on the lessons Colombia can learn from its neighbor’s plight to ensure that Colombia does not suffer from shortages in the future.