Colombia and Ecuador will conduct a study to improve the infrastructure and operation of the Rumichaca and San Miguel border crossings with the objective of facilitating transportation and integration. The study will be supported by the Inter-American Development Bank.

The IDB approved a $400,000 technical cooperation donation to identify short-, medium- and long-term actions for expediting and optimizing use of the border crossings between the two countries and mitigating their impact on the local population.

Trade between Colombia and Ecuador goes mainly through the Rumichaca border crossing, located between the towns of Ipiales, Colombia, and Tulcán, Ecuador.

The San Miguel border crossing, located on the San Miguel river between the towns of San Miguel, Colombia, and Nueva Loja, Ecuador, is currently being developed. Once it is fully functional, this crossing area will be another key international link between Ecuador and central-eastern Colombia.

The study will analyze increased integration and harmonization of the administrative and operating procedures to prevent duplication on both sides of the border, thus decreasing the amount of crossing time. The report will also identify any work required to implement these changes.

This binational study will contribute to the physical integration of Colombia and Ecuador, as well as improve trade between the two countries. In addition, a support plan to be proposed for the border crossings and area of influence will improve quality of life for border-area residents of both countries.

The border crossings in this study are part of the project portfolio for the Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA), specifically the Andean Hub, which runs from Caracas, Venezuela, to La Paz, Bolivia, through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The IDB has supported IIRSA since its creation in 2000.

Funds for this study come from the IDB’s Fund for Technical Cooperation Operations for Infrastructure Integration Initiatives.