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 analyse 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.

Resumen:
El objetivo general del texto es brindar una aproximación a los retos y las oportunidades que representa, para el Valle del Cauca y la Región Pacífica colombiana, la inserción al Asia-Pacífico. Para lo cual se plantean tres objetivos específicos: primero, analizar someramente el contexto económico comercial del Asia-Pacífico y América Latina, con especial énfasis en Colombia y los demás países de la Alianza del Pacífico (AP); segundo, estudiar las oportunidades y los retos para el Valle del Cauca y la Región Pacífica colombiana que plantea la puesta en escena del bloque comercial denominado Alianza del Pacífico; y tercero, indagar sobre los retos de competitividad y productividad que enfrenta el Valle del Cauca y que afectan el ambiente de negocios. El documento concluye que Colombia se encuentra rezagada en su inserción con la cuenca del Asia-Pacífico; también se plantea la necesidad de
abordar el tema de estudio desde un enfoque sub-nacional.

Author: Ricardo Coutin
Spanish Title: La inserción al Asia-Pacífico, oportunidades y desafíos para el Valle del Cauca y la región pacífica colombiana
Full document:2014, Coutin, La Inserción al Asia-Pacífico, Oportunidades y Desafíos para el Valle del Cauca y la Región Pacífica Colombiana

Abstract:
This article explains the possible drivers behind the establishment of the Pacific Alliance (PA) in South America, focusing on foreign economic policies and explaining the extent of policy convergence as a possible factor. In so doing, it examines on what basis these countries try to engage collectively with key Asian partners. A brief historical explanation might allow us to verify how non-legal elements have been politically and successfully networked with perfect timing. Policy convergence over strategies such as internationalisation and negotiation was a milestone in creating the PA itself, presidentially led by Chile, Colombia and Peru. However, Chile and Peru share a pro-Pacific profile in economic and political terms, while Colombia’s elites have traditionally ignored the Pacific Coast. These differences not necessarily impede the articulation of a collective cooperation strategy with Asia-Pacific, but it might slow down the Chilean eagerness to reach prompt accords with Asian partners. This article suggests that taking non-legal factors into consideration might allow a wider understanding of the reasons behind economic alliances’ formation. In so doing, International Political Economy’ theoretical richness might fill the gap that International Economy Law has to explain such phenomena.

Resumen:
Not available

Author: Angélica Guerra-Baron
Full document: The foreign policies convergence as a factor of the establishment of the Pacific Alliance