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History and Objectives: The Andean
Community (Comunidad Andina - CAN) was established by the
Cartagena Agreement on 26 May 1969 as a regional
organization to establish economic, commercial,
industrial, agricultural, social integration and
cooperation among South American states. As the oldest
integration initiative in the region, the organization
was first called the Andean Pact and later renamed the
Andean Community (CAN) in 1996. Its General Secretariat is
located in Lima. In 2023, Ambassador Gonzalo Gutiérrez
Reinel (Peru) was elected Secretary General of CAN.
Ambassador Gutiérrez will hold this position until 2028.
Initially composed of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Peru
and Chile; Venezuela joined CAN in 1973 but withdrew in
2006, citing Colombia and Peru's signing of free trade
agreements with the United States; Chile also withdrew in
1976. Peru suspended its membership of CAN in 1992, before
fully joining CAN and the Andean Free Trade Area in 1997.
Among the prominent activities of CAN are the establishment
of an intra-community free trade area; the right of
citizens of CAN member states to travel between states
with only an identity document without the need for any
visa or passport, to have priority passage, to study, work
and live in other CAN member states; the abolition of
roaming charges in telephone services between CAN member
states; training and internship opportunities for
students in CAN member states; digitalization projects that
enable the harmonization and electronic exchange of
customs and foreign trade data between member states.
Türkiye applied for an observer member status at CAN in July
2022 and was accepted as an observer member on August
29,2022. In addition to Türkiye, Spain (2011), Morocco
(2020), Greece (2023), Panama (2023) and Dominican
Republic (2024) are observer members of CAN. Currently,
associate members of CAN include Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay,
Paraguay and Chile.
CAN has dialogue and cooperation agreements with various
countries, the EU and other regional organizations in
Latin America and the Caribbean.
CAN is chaired by one-member state each year in alphabetical
order. Colombia assumed the Pro Tempore Presidency of CAN
for the 2024-2025 period.
Türkiye-
Andean Community Relations
Türkiye was accepted as an observer member of CAN with the
Decision dated August 29, 2022 and maintains positive
relations with the members states of the Community
Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru. The activities of the
CAN are closely followed by Türkiye within the scope of
its activities to strengthen cooperation and develop
economic relations with Latin American countries.
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