Panama City, April 25, 2024 (AFP)
Venezuelan migrants and refugees boost Colombia's economy by more than $500 million a year, according to a study published Thursday highlighting some of the benefits of migration.
Around three million Venezuelans have left their crisis-hit country and gone to Colombia in search of a better life, the International Organization for Migration noted.
In contrast to the idea that they are a burden on society, about 90 percent of working-age Venezuelan migrants are employed, the report said.
"Migration acts as a driver of development" and "can foster growth" in the economy, IOM special envoy Diego Beltrand said.
In 2022, Venezuelan migrants and refugees gave a $529 million boost to Colombia's economy as consumers, workers and entrepreneurs, the study found.
The figure is projected to have potentially increased to around $800 million in 2023 with the full regularization of Venezuelans, it said.
According to the IOM, there are 7.7 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees in the world, of whom 6.6 million live in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Sumber : AFP