ANDEAN GROUP

Spanish Grupo Andino, also called Andean Pact, South American organization founded to encourage industrial, agricultural, social, and trade cooperation among members. Formed in 1969 by the Cartagena Agreement, the group originally consisted of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile; Venezuela joined in 1973, and Chile withdrew in 1977. Several subgroups include the Andean Group Commission, the Andean Reserve Fund, the Andean Development Corporation, and various councils dealing with such issues as trade, monetary exchange, economic planning, tourism, and social affairs. Many of its initial aimse.g., the establishment of a customs union and the development of ambitious industrial programswere significantly modified in 1987 by ratification of the so-called Quito protocol.