Date: 27 January 2014
Place: Bogota, Colombia
Public officials representing the city of Bogotá and the Departamentos of Cundinamarca, Tolima, Boyacá, and Meta signed an agreement that will help strengthen the regional agenda of Bogotá and its area of influence. The Mayor of Bogotá, the governor of Cundinamarca, the governor of Tolima and governor of Boyacá, signed the intergovernmental agreement as an effort to continue the process of the creation of the Special Administrative and Planning Region (RAPE) Central Region.
The intergovernmental agreement between the territorial entities is supported by a technical and legal framework that sets the ground to create the most prospers and stable region in Colombia in terms of sustainable economic and social development while preserving the fragile ecosystems of the region.
UNCRD will continue supporting this process of regional integration by providing technical assistance to the involved entities. The signing of this agreement is a firm step towards integration in the region, but it also poses challenges in terms of reaching consensus on important regional issues such as food security, providing a balanced intermodal transportation and logistics systems, ensure the water supply for the region, and topics related to climate change and protection of the Ecological Regional Structure (ERS). The role of UNCRD is key on providing assistance and facilitating dialogue between the four Departamentos and the City of Bogotá as the process of forming the first Administrative and Planning Region (RAPE) Central Region in Colombia continues and consensus is needed on the key issues mentioned above.
(Office: UNCRD Latin America and the Caribbean Office)