“(…) The borders of Pisiga and Tambo Quemado are going to be opened seven days a week, 365 days a year,” the president of Bolivia’s National Customs, Karina Serrudo, said.

The official considered that the decision will provide unlimited access in terms of schedules to the maritime ports of the Pacific, the ports of Arica and Iquique will be open for the entire Bolivian importing and exporting sector, she stressed.

At a press conference, in the presence of Chilean authorities and Bolivian business people, Serrudo explained that 45 percent of trucks carrying Bolivian export and import loads pass through the borders of Pisiga and Tambo Quemado every day.

Of an average of 1,880 trucks of imports or exports handled by Customs in a day, at least 850 pass through the borders of Pisiga and Tambo Quemado towards several ports, she reported.

“That is why, Chile and Bolivia have agreed to open these borders in an unrestricted manner,” the executive emphasized, “is a historic event for all Bolivian foreign trade.”

Serrudo stressed that with this agreement, the beneficiary will not only be Bolivian foreign trade, but also the tourism sector, since visitors will be able to travel from Bolivia to Chile and vice versa all day, which is currently only possible for 10 hours.

“We are going to promote tourism with this unrestricted opening of the Tambo Quemado and Pisiga border with the Republic of Chile. And this will mean that festivals like the Oruro Carnival, or places like Uyuni, can be visited by all people (…),” she stated.

From a commercial point of view, the agreement will place Bolivia in a strategic position for the transit of goods between the Pacific and the Atlantic.

jg/jav/ro/jpm