Andean Community is an association of South American countries that promotes close economic ties among its members as a way to promote regional prosperity. Member countries also strive to improve their citizens’ standard of living through civic, educational, and labor projects. In Spanish, the language of the member nations, the association is called Comunidad Andina. Headquarters of the General Secretariat, the organization’s chief executive body, are in Lima, Peru.
The Cartagena Agreement of 1969 established the Andean Community. The founding members were Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Venezuela joined the group in 1973. Chile dropped out in 1976, and Venezuela withdrew from the group in 2006.
Since the association’s founding, members of the Andean Community have created a free trade zone and eliminated tariffs on goods traded within the area. They have also helped promote the flow of investments, people, and services across national borders. In addition, the member countries have tried to develop a common foreign policy to guide their negotiations with nations outside the group.
