Customs Union to promote ties with Pacific Alliance

18:24, 5 July 2013

MOSCOW. July 5. KAZINFORM Cooperation prospects between the Customs Union and the Pacific Alliance have been discussed at a meeting between Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Viktor Khristenko and Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia Sergio Diaz-Granados in Moscow on 5 July, the press service of the Eurasian Economic Commission informed.

The parties shared views on the Eurasian economic project and the activities of the Pacific Alliance. Sergio Diaz-Granados said that the Pacific Alliance, and Colombia in particular, would like to have closer ties with the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, BelTA published.

Viktor Khristenko emphasized that the Customs Union member states closely monitor integration processes around the world. "We adopt best practices and ideas while promoting the Single Economic Space, we should avoid mistakes made by other integration projects," he said.

The Pacific Alliance was formally launched by Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Chile in June 2012. The Pacific Alliance seeks to expand ties between Latin American countries and Asia Pacific. The alliance has a 207 million strong market. Its GDP accounts for 35% of GDP of the continent and export makes up 71% of the export of the continent. Costa Rica was officially invited to join the bloc. The observer status was granted to Canada, Japan, Guatemala, Panama, Spain, New Zealand, Australia and Uruguay.

Customs Union