Policy Analysis for Colombian River development. Characterization of the Amazon and Magdalena Rivers

Abstract

In Colombia, the plurality of public policies and the lack of interaction of the institutions involved in river development have not been unified and integrated to be at the forefront of the challenges demanded by the international, regional and local markets, since their inadequate management and lack of projection have prevented the use and exploitation of the Magdalena and Amazon rivers, among others, resulting in high transportation costs by land and air, knowing that river transportation is more competitive, clean, safe and beneficial for the social and economic development of the country. Therefore, this article poses the following question: To what extent have the river policies that Colombia has implemented in the Amazon and Magdalena rivers been useful for the country’s economic development in the 21st century? To answer this question, a qualitative documentary and descriptive research was carried out, which seeks to observe and analyze the most suitable mechanisms to turn Colombia into a nation that has a better participation in the global economic scenario, which in principle would be to articulate the actions that were identified as priorities in the Plan Maestro Fluvial of Colombia 2015.