LAW 773 OF 2002

(November 14)

Official Journal No. 45,003 of 19 November 2002

PUBLIC POWER-LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

For which rules are given regarding the administration, manufacture, processing, exploitation and marketing of the salts produced in the sea salt flats located in the municipality of Manaure, Guajira and Salinas de Zipaquira and other provisions are dictated.

The Congress of Colombia

DECRETA:

ARTICLE 1o. AUTHORIZATION. Authorize the National Government to create a mixed economy company, as a concessionaire, linked to the Ministry of Development, whose main object will be administration, manufacturing, exploitation, processing and marketing of the salts produced in the sea salt of Manaure, Guajira, activities currently developed by the Institute of Industrial Development, IFI, under the contract of delegated administration concluded with the Nation on 1. of April 1970.

ARTICLE 2o. DELIVERY OF ACTIVE. Within three (3) months of the entry into force of this law, the Institute of Industrial Development, IFI, in the name of the Nation will deliver, as the initial capital of the new society, the entire assets linked to the contract of administration delegated as regards the sea salt of Manaure, Guajira, to the association of traditional indigenous Wayuu authorities in the area of influence of the Salinas de Manaure, "Sumain Ichi", by 25%, to the Ministry of Economic Development as representative of the Nation in the new society 51%, and 24% remaining to the municipality of Manaure, Guajira. These transfers will be made to the parties here referred to as partners of the new company without involving them for any cost.

At the time of the establishment of the joint economy company, which is authorised in Article 1. of this law, the participation of the association "Sumain Ichi" shall not be less than 25% of the subscribed and paid capital. Once this percentage has been established, it may vary as well as that of the other shareholders in the company.

The profits made by the municipality of Manaure, Guajira, as a consequence of the participation in this society will be aimed at addressing the costs that the water supply in its territory implies through the unconventional system of the windmills.

ARTICLE 3o. DELIVERY OF THE ASSETS INVOLVED IN THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC SERVICES. Within three (3) months of the entry into force of this Law and in order to ensure the continuity of the provision of public services of education, health, water supply and basic sanitation of the Middle and High Guajira, the Institute of Industrial Development, IFI, in the name of the nation will deliver the assets involved in the delivery of these public services to the administrations municipal authorities responsible for their provision and on whose territory they are located assets, according to the definitions and legal procedures in force. The National Government will deliver the assets involved in the provision of public water provision services in optimal operating conditions.

PARAGRAFO. The totality of the assets linked to the delegated management contract, signed between the Nation and the Institute of Industrial Development, IFI, referred to in Article 1. of this law, which are not related to the provision of public services or to the exploitation of the national Salinas of Manaure, Guajira, will also be transferred to the name of the Nation, by the Institute of Industrial Development, IFI, the municipal administrations where they are located.

ARTICLE 4. TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMPANY. The constitution of the Salinas Maritima de Manaure Society, Sama, will be exempt from any taxes, fees or contributions of the national order that are required for the constitution of such companies.

ARTICLE 5o. ADMINISTRATION OF THE CATHEDRAL OF SALT OF ZIPAQUIRA. By means of this law and from its entry into force, in favour of the municipality of Zipaquira, Cundinamarca, the administration of all the income produced by the exploitation Tourist of the Cathedral of Salt of Zipaquira, as well as those coming from the other goods that make up this tourist complex. These resources will be used by the municipality, as a priority, for the maintenance and optimal operation of the Cathedral as a Tourist-Religious Monument and to promote the productive and tourist development and its works of infrastructure of the local and regional order, in harmony with the provisions of Law 388 of 1997 on Plans and Programmes of the Territorial Order at municipal, departmental and national level.

ARTICLE 6o. REPEAL. This law governs from the date of its publication and repeals the rules that are contrary to it in particular those established in the Decree-Law numbers 1376 of 1994 and 1223 of 1995.

The President of the honorable Senate of the Republic,

Luis Alfredo Ramos Botero.

The Secretary General of the honorable Senate of the Republic,

Emilio Ramon Otero Dajud.

The President of the honorable House of Representatives,

William Velez Mesa.

The Secretary General of the honorable House of Representatives,

Angelino Lizcano Rivera.

COLOMBIA-NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

Publish and comply.

Dada in Bogotá, D. C., on November 14, 2002.

ALVARO URIBE VELEZ

The Minister of Finance and Public Credit,

Roberto Junguito Bonnet.

The Minister of Economic Development,

Cecilia Rodríguez González-Rubio.