Intern/Josir Cegarra
After a year and a half of the reopening of the passage through the international bridges that connect Venezuela with Colombia, through the state of Táchira and the department of Norte de Santander, businessmen and merchants from the Pedro María Ureña municipality report that there is not the economic growth they expected.
Those interviewed agree that in addition to migration and the country’s economic depression, they have also been affected by the increase in public service rates and the tax burden, without leaving aside the competition for product prices in the neighboring country. .
Electrical failures, although less frequent than before, are still a problem for merchants. The Plasticos Shalom company estimates that each two-hour failure costs them four hours of production due to the time needed to restart the machines. Furthermore, the constant changes in voltage damage the equipment and generate economic losses, which is why they are forced to acquire power plants, which results in the illegal purchase of diesel and greater investment.
Luz Dary Parada is a clothing manufacturer, she makes shoes and clothing in general. He says that weeks go by when he has no sales and he hoped that with the border reopening his trade would improve, but the opposite has been the case. “It is a constant fight, although we continue to bet on the country, it has not been easy,” he says.
Its raw material is mainly from Colombia, although it also buys fabric from Venezuelan companies to try to comply with its acquisition regulations, but it states that it is more expensive to obtain it from this side of the border.
He reports that he has sales within the country, But he assures that his clients face problems when traveling to the border, because although they travel with permits and invoices, some have been detained and searched at checkpoints, which would influence them not to return to Táchira.
Mery Gómez, has been with La Auténtica Charcutería for eight years, where sales were better in 2023 than in the current year. Despite this, his Colombian customers have increased, because as he says, “Colombians really like Venezuelan delicatessen and with the bridge open, they can come in their cars to buy.” The constant blackouts have caused damage to refrigerators and coolers, generating a constant expense, which is added to the monthly electricity payment that can vary between 100 and 200 dollars.
Parallel shift
For the Aldara Group, a shoe manufacturing company, the parallel change is one of the aspects that affect the economy of companies, by influencing the payment chain of suppliers and buyers. They claim that not being able to access dollars from the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) affects them.
Eleyben Valencia is a representative of the Adara Group. As an accountant, she tries to stay up to date with tax aspects, but she finds it difficult. It proposes that an expansion of minor imports be carried out, but for commercial purposes. Make it easy to import foreign products, enter supplies into Venezuela legally with an invoice, pay the tax and be able to obtain a real cost structure, since it highlights that the legalization of Colombian products is complicated.
Valencia reaffirms that quality continues to be the principle of the Venezuelan businessman, but consumers prefer to go to Colombia for low prices, even if the quality is lower. He hopes that the banks will provide real support to the businessman, that the loans will be granted to people who really want to invest. He assures that there are differences in opportunities in Colombia, where he obtained credit through banks. “No one knows what one suffers, what one has, what one owes, the entire process behind a trade”
Pharmacies
Sales in the pharmaceutical industry have also been affected, because due to costs, citizens prefer to purchase products in Cúcuta. Luz Karime has a pharmacy in Ureña, she assures that sales have fallen and that the tax burden has increased. He denounces that municipal rates are high compared to the income that merchants have, which has led to the closure of businesses and an increase in unemployment.
Karime is also a physiotherapist. In this area, the arrival of Colombian patients benefits them due to the high health costs in the neighboring country, but the fear of suffering abuse of authority by Venezuelan military and police officials sometimes paralyzes them. Nor does he understand why if the border is open there is no free transit of ambulances between both countries.
Given this panorama, various businesses in the municipality express that it is necessary to study and consider the Organic Law of Coordination and Harmonization of the Tax Powers of the states and municipalities, which aims to guarantee the coordination and harmonization of the tax powers of the regions, by establishing principles, parameters, limitations, tax rates and applicable rates.
The merchants and businessmen of the Pedro María Ureña municipality in the state of Táchira are concerned about the constant modification of the payment frequency of the industry and commerce license, which went from annual to semiannual and now to monthly; in addition to the detailed analysis of sales books by the Mayor’s Office as a mechanism to determine the amount to be paid. They wonder where these resources go, since they do not see them invested in the locality.
#Merchants #businessmen #Ureña #improvements #economy
The current economic landscape in the municipality of Pedro María Ureña, Táchira State, reveals significant challenges faced by local businesses following the reopening of the Venezuela-Colombia border. Business owners across various sectors, including clothing manufacturing, delicatessen, pharmaceuticals, and shoe production, express their concerns about declining sales and increasing operational costs.
Luz Dary Parada, a clothing manufacturer, reports ongoing struggles despite expectations that border reopening would improve business conditions. Her reliance on Colombian raw materials, although necessary for complying with local regulations, has proven financially burdensome. Sales within Venezuela remain low, partly due to clients facing difficulties and potential risks while traveling to the border.
Mery Gómez of La Auténtica Charcutería notes that while sales in 2023 were better, current trends show a decline. Nonetheless, she highlights an increase in Colombian customers attracted by Venezuelan delicacies. Issues like frequent power outages have compounded problems, damaging refrigeration equipment and increasing monthly bills.
The Aldara Group, a shoe manufacturing company, cites the challenges posed by the parallel currency exchange influencing supplier payment structures. Eleyben Valencia from the group emphasizes the need for simplified import processes to legally bring products into Venezuela, as accessing dollars remains a significant challenge.
In the pharmaceutical sector, Luz Karime, a pharmacy owner, confirms declining sales as customers opt for purchases in Colombia, where prices are more competitive. She also notes rising tax burdens and municipal rates contributing to business closures and job losses. Although some benefits arise from Colombian patients seeking cost-effective healthcare, systemic issues, including concerns over law enforcement actions, hinder progress.
Business operators are calling for a reassessment of tax policies and their implementation to foster a more conducive environment for trade. Continuous changes in tax frequency, as well as the lack of visible investment in local infrastructure, contribute to growing dissatisfaction among entrepreneurs. As they navigate these hurdles, the collective sentiment underscores a need for both government support and systemic reforms to stabilize the economic situation in the region.
