The integration to the Asia-Pacific region: opportunities and challenges for the Department of Valle del Cauca and the Colombian Pacific region

Abstract

This paper discusses challenges and opportunities for the Valle del Cauca department and the Colombian Pacific Region with regards to its incidence in the Asia-Pacific basin. The aim of the author is three-fold: firstly, to briefly analyze the trade and economic context of the interactions between Asia- Pacific region and Latin America, placing a special emphasis on Colombia and the other three countries members of the Pacific Alliance; second, to explain the opportunities and the challenges that the Valle del Cauca department and the Colombian Pacific Region face following the formation of the Pacific Alliance trading block; and third, to inquire into the topics of productivity and competitiveness in the Valle del Cauca department and its business environment. The author argues that, when compared to the other members of the Pacific Alliance countries, Colombia is far behind in its process of integration with the Asia Pacific basin and calls for the need of applying more widely a subnational approach in order to better understand the dynamics of the interactions between Latin American regions and the Asia-Pacific.