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The growth in manufactured products as a percentage of the goods traded among the Andean countries, which reached 84 percent in 2005, up from 48 percent in 1970.
 

Advances in harmonizing economic instruments and policies: provisions for preventing and correcting distortions in competition and for determining origin, technical and health provisions, and provisions on a common classification and on valuation, among other things, in addition to common foreign investment, intellectual property and other regimes.
 

The incorporation into the organic structure of the Andean Integration System, of the Andean Presidential Council and the Andean Council of Foreign Ministers, as the policy-making bodies for the process.
 

The creation, by the Andean Presidents at their IX Summit, of the Andean Community Advisory Council of Treasury or Finance Ministers, Central Banks and Economic Planning Authorities with the mandate to move ahead in harmonizing macroeconomic policies.
 

The relaunching of the Business and Labor Advisory Councils, newly equipped with mechanisms and a working program that will allow them to play a larger role in integration decision-making.
 

The approval of a General Framework of Principles and Provisions for Liberalizing Trade in Services in the Andean Community, which will allow for the free circulation of services by the year 2005 at the latest.
 

The reinforcement of the Andean Integration System (AIS) through the approval, by the Ministers of Health of the Subregion and Chile, of the Hipólito Unanue Convention's attachment to the AIS.
 

The signing of an agreement between the Andean Community and the United States for the establishment of the Andean-United States Council that will boost exports and attract investments.
 

The signing, by the Andean Community and Canada, of the Cooperation Understanding on Trade and Investment, under which the parties agreed to intensify and strengthen their relations.
 

The approval, by the Andean Council of Foreign Ministers, of the Community Policy for Border Integration and Development, as an essential element for reinforcing and consolidating the integration process.
 

Signature of a new automobile complementation convention, which will make it possible to use the Andean market to better advantage and lay the foundations for a healthier development of the sector in the subregion.
 

The Additional Protocol to the Cartagena Agreement, "Andean Community Commitment to Democracy," was signed, through which Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela established that "democratic institutions and a constitutional state that are fully effective" are "essential" conditions for cooperation and integration and agreed that its provisions will be applicable if the democratic order is disrupted in any of the Member Countries.
 

The approval and entry into force of the Partial Economic Complementation Accords between the Andean Community and Brazil, and between the Andean Community and Argentina, in 1999 and 2000 respectively, which brought the establishment of a free trade area between the two blocks a step closer.
 

Adoption of a new common system for industrial property, considered to be one of the most highly developed in the hemisphere, which adapts the standard to the relevant stipulations in the World Trade Organization (WTO).
 

Signing of the Protocol of Substitution of the Simón Rodríguez Convention, an ideal forum for tripartite participation -- governments, entrepreneurs, and workers -- to promote social and labor integration in the Andean Community.
 

Approval of the Andean Cooperation Plan for the Control of Illegal Drugs and Related Offenses, which includes aspects of prevention, prohibition, reduction of illegal crops and alternative development, as well as the control of the diversion of chemicals, money laundering, and trafficking of arms, ammunition, and explosives.
 

A step of utmost importance towards the free circulation of individuals has been taken with the creation of the Andean Passport by 2005 at the latest, and the recognition of National Identification Documents, which will enable nationals of Andean countries to travel as tourists within the subregion, simply carrying their national IDs.
 

Substantial impulse has been given to border integration and development with the approval of community standards that provide for the creation of Border Integration Zones (BIZ) and Binational Border Service Centers (BBSC) in the Andean subregion.
 

Approval of the Bylaws of the Court of Justice of the Andean Community, which will strengthen the community system for settling disputes, and help expedite, update and make more effective the processes of this SAI body.
 

Approval of the Andean Charter for Peace and Security lays down the principles and commitments for formulating a Community security policy in the subregion, establishing a peace zone, regional efforts in the war against terrorism and the limitation of foreign defense spending, controlling conventional weapons and transparency.
 

Creation of a Working Group on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as “a consultative level in the framework of the Andean Integration System, to promote the active participation of indigenous peoples in matters linked with subregional integration, in their economic, social, cultural, and political environments.”
 

Approval of the Regional Strategy on Biodiversity for Tropical Andean Countries, the first such community strategy to be adopted by a group of countries signatories of the Convention on Biological Diversity, with a view to facilitating the concurrent action of the States, indigenous communities, native communities, Afro-American communities and local communities, the private sector, the scientific community, and civil society, regarding this issue.
 

The CAN presidents adopt the “Andean Charter for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights,” as an instrument containing general principles, regulations, areas, and mechanisms that will guarantee the observance, respect, promotion and defense of human rights in the subregion. They stipulate that the binding character of this Charter shall be decided by the Andean Council of Foreign Ministers in due course.
 

The start-up of Ecuador and Colombia’s interconnection constitutes the first step in the electric integration of the Andean Community countries.
 

The entry into effect of the Sucre Protocol introduces major amendments into the existing text of the Cartagena Agreement and establishes new mechanisms to intensify integration.
 

Approved regulatory instruments permit the unimpeded movement of workers within the Andean Community, guaranteeing their social security and security and health at work.
 

Adoption of the Andean Plan for the Prevention, Combating and Eradication of Small, Light Weapons makes the Andean Community the first integration process in the world to be endowed with a binding instrument on the subject.
 

Creation of an Andean Cooperation Mechanism on Consular Assistance and Cooperation will make it possible for, among other things, the foreign consulates of the CAN countries to coordinate efforts to protect the fundamental rights of Andean nationals. 
 

The signing of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement by the Andean Community and the European Union expands cooperation to new areas, creating conditions to negotiate an Agreement of Association which would include a Free Trade Agreement.
 

The signing of the Free Trade Agreement by the Andean Community and Mercosur makes it possible to take a qualitative leap in the process for the creation of a South American integration space.
 

Launching of the Project for the Support of Trade Negotiations (PANC) by Andean Countries.
 

Creation of the Consulting Council of Municipal Authorities in order to encourage actions aimed at strengthening cities as players of the integration process.
 

Adoption of a new common system to avoid double taxation and to prevent tax evasion in Andean countries.
 

Having approved the Guidelines of the Common Policy on Security, the CAN is the only integration system, aside from the EU, to have a common security policy.
 

Decision to establish an Andean Peace Zone that will give the Andean Community a tool for maintaining peace and peaceful coexistence among the Andean nations.
 

Andean economic and financial integration is advanced with the approval of the hemisphere’s only legal provisions that harmonize Excise type and Value Added type taxes.
 

Deeper relations between the CAN and other Latin American countries in all spheres as a result of the agreement at the Quito Presidential Summit to start steps toward an association with Mexico and an FTA with Central America, and the CAN’s participation in the infrastructure projects provided for in the Puebla-Panama Plan for its link-up with the South American IIRSA program.
 

Decision to boost Andean integration through the adoption of the new Strategic Design that will deepen trade integration, give priority to socially inclusive competitiveness, reinforce Community efforts; and deepen political cooperation and further the implementation of a Community social agenda.
 

The Integrated Social Development Plan (Decision 601) allows Andean countries to confront poverty and social exclusion and inequality as a Community.
 

A step closer to the establishment of the South American Community of Nations with the formalizing of the agreements signed by the CAN and MERCOSUR countries.
 

The Andean Community is the first regional group in the world to adopt a Community provision for the control and surveillance of chemical substances used in the illegal manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
 

More firmly established and stronger mechanisms to guarantee the unimpeded movement of people throughout the Community with the approval of the participation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Decision 503.
 

The South American Community of Nations is established as a major program of decentralized development that will be constructed through the progressive convergence of the CAN and MERCOSUR, with the addition of Chile, Guyana and Suriname.
 

The Andean Community is on the way to entering into an Association Agreement with the European Union, as a result of the launching of the joint evaluation of Andean integration within the framework of the meeting of the Mixed Andean-European Commission, in Brussels.
 

Adoption of a Community decision to protect and promote free competition in the Andean subregion in response to the requirements of the current stage of integrated trade opening and globalization.
 

Approval of a Working Plan to deepen trade integration in the Andean subregion. This is the CAN’s most important program on the subject in the last ten years.
 

Start-up of the joint assessment of the Andean integration process with a view to a future association between the Andean Community and the European Union that would include a Free Trade Agreement.
 

Installation of the Advisory Council of Municipal Authorities (CCAAM), thereby broadening the social base of the Andean integration process through the addition of new actors.
 

Conferring of Associate Membership status in the Andean Community on Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay in response to the request put forward by these Mercosur Member States.
 

Bolivia’s adherence to Community legislation that establishes the common rules for the interconnection of the subregion’s electric systems and the exchange of electricity among the Community Member Countries.
 

Approval of a new Andean Alternative Development Strategy that reinforces the principle of shared responsibility and adopts an integral and sustainable approach.
 

Approval of the establishment of a Rural Development and Agricultural Productivity Fund for the comprehensive and equitable promotion of rural areas.
 

A fully constituted and perfected Andean trade area (ZLCA) as of Peru’s completion of the tariff reduction process stipulated in Decision 414 on January 1, 2006.
 

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the CAN and Venezuela, through which the two parties agree to maintain the trade advantages received and granted under the Andean Liberalization Program. 
  

The approval of  Chile’s incorporation into the CAN as an Associate Member Country, at a meeting in New York City of the Andean Council of Foreign Ministers in enlarged session with the CAN Commission. 
 

Creation of the Network of Andean Academic Institutions and Social Organizations (RAAOS) for the purpose of supporting the development of the social dimension of the Andean and South American integration process.
 

Start of negotiations between the Andean Community and the European Union for the establishment of the Association Agreement between the two blocs, resting on three pillars: Political Dialogue, Cooperation and Trade.
 

Establishment of the Consultative Council of the Andean Community Indigenous Peoples as a consultative body within the framework of the Andean Integration System, in order to promote the active participation of the indigenous peoples in matters relating to subregional integration.
 

Formulation and presentation of “21 proposals for the twenty-first century” by over 1,550 participants at the International Meeting on Climate Change “Clima Latino,” as a contribution to a Latin American Strategy to be presented at the various events that will be held on Climate Change. 
 

Holding of historic meeting of civil society of the four Andean countries at the CAN General Secretariat to discuss and formulate proposals on the negotiation of an Association Agreement between the CAN and the EU.
 

Execution of “Action with Civil Society for Andean Regional Integration (SOCICAN)” Project to promote the participation of civil society in the integration process through a Biddable Fund.   
 

Implementation of DROSICAN Project to contribute toward preventing and controlling the possible effects of synthetic drug supply and demand. 
 

Execution of Biocan Project to help improve the quality of life of Andean-Amazon populations through the conservation and sustainable use of the biological diversity in a way that is equitable and respectful of the cultural diversity.