Peru and Bolivia announce new border cooperation agreements

Peruvian Foreign Minister Carlos Espá and his Bolivian counterpart, Héctor Huanca, met at the Desaguadero International Bridge in the Puno region to strengthen bilateral coordination and border services.

The officials announced several measures to facilitate trade and movement between the two nations. This includes the upcoming activation of the Collpa (Tacna) – Thola Kollo (La Paz) border crossing, which is expected to reduce transit times and costs for goods and tourism.

To optimize logistics, the countries launched an electronic exchange of phytosanitary certificates (e-Phyto) between Peru's Senasa and Bolivia's Senasag. This digital system aims to streamline the movement of agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Additionally, authorities plan to transition the Desaguadero Binational Border Care Center (Cebaf) toward 24/7 operations. Updates to its organizational regulations are expected to reduce waiting times by 20%. The meeting also included an interoperability agreement to improve coordination between the various institutions managing the border, such as police, migration, and naval forces.