On
May 31, 1999, in Ottawa, the governments of
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and
Venezuela --the Andean Community Member
Countries-- and Canada signed the
Cooperation Understanding on Trade and
Investment between the Andean Community and
the Government of Canada.
In
that Understanding, the parties agreed to
step up and strengthen their economic
relations; promote the liberalization of
trade and investment; and seek more
participation and a closer association of
the private sectors, among other things.
A
Consultative Group on trade and investment
was formed, made up the Ministers
responsible for international trade or their
representatives from the two parties, as
provided for in the Understanding.
An Action Plan was
also adopted, containing the following
priorities:
The Andean
Community and Canada have been working
toward closer friendship and cooperation and
to strengthen their economic and trade
relations. 
