Bolivia asks Chile to speed up border crossing after truckers' complaints

Bolivia's government has formally requested Chile to implement measures to speed up transit at the Pisiga-Colchane border crossing. The plea comes after complaints from truck drivers who report that between 400 and 500 trucks have been stranded for days due to the nighttime closure of the Chilean customs facility.

The Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it is engaged in diplomatic efforts and coordination with Chilean authorities to alleviate the delays. Chile has informed Bolivia that the temporary restrictions at Colchane are due to infrastructure maintenance and improvement work. Consequently, the border complex will operate only from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM local time until November 30.

Bolivia's Foreign Ministry acknowledged the impact of these restrictions on international transport. It has urged Chilean authorities to enhance the operational capacity of the border complex, optimize control and dispatch processes, and reduce waiting times. The ministry also emphasized its commitment to resolving the issue through dialogue and bilateral cooperation to safeguard Bolivian international transport interests and ensure the continuity of foreign trade.

Alvaro Ayllón, president of the Heavy Transport Chamber of La Paz, highlighted that the nighttime closure has caused significant problems for transporters. He noted that the Pisiga-Colchane complex is already a bottleneck for Bolivian foreign trade due to its small scale. The sector has appealed for the complex to operate 24 hours and for alternative waiting areas for trucks during maintenance, but has yet to receive a response.