Colombia’s trade minister will travel to Caracas in February to meet with his Venezuelan counterpart and evaluate the payment of debt to Colombian exporters.
Trade Minister Sergio Diaz-Granados told press Sunday he “will travel on February 14 to continue the process of the payment of debt.”
Colombian exporters claimed Venezuelan importers owe them $800 million after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez imposed a trade block in July 2010 following clashes with Colombia’s then president Alvaro Uribe.
According to Venezuela’s currency watchdog, Colombian exporters will only receive $600 million after a revision to filter “simulated imports,” “overbilling and other perversions in order to obtain (foreign) currency.” According to Venezuela, $500 million of this debt has already been paid.
However, according to Diaz-Granados, only $300 million has been paid, and many exporters are left empty-handed.
The minister said he was confident Venezuela will pay back 100 percent of the debt because it is “fundamental” for a “healthy” relation between the two neighbors.