Peru is one of the four member countries of the Andean Community, which has its headquarters in Lima
Background
The Andean Community, abbreviated CAN, is a trade bloc of four countries - Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The Headquarters of CAN are located in Lima, Peru. Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay are associate members, while Panama, Mexico, and Spain are Observers. Regional integration in the Andean countries began with the signing of the Cartagena Agreement by Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru in 1969, creating the Andean Pact with the objective of creating a Customs Union and a Common Market. Chile withdrew in 1976 and Venezuela, which joined the Pact in 1973, withdrew in 2006. In 1979 the Andean Council of Foreign Ministers, the Andean Court of Justice and the Andean Parliament were created. In 1996 the Protocol of Trujillo renamed the Pact as the Andean Community and converted the Board of the Cartagena Agreement into a General Secretariat based in Lima, Peru. In 2001 the Andean Passport was created, enabling citizens of member states to travel between the countries without visa.
In plain words
CAN Andean Community — The South American trade bloc of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, with its headquarters in Lima.
Cartagena Agreement the 1969 treaty that created the Andean Pact — The treaty whose signing began Andean regional integration, aiming at a customs union and a common market.
associate member associate membership of a bloc — A country linked to a bloc by agreement without being a full member of it.
Customs Union customs union — An arrangement in which members drop tariffs among themselves and apply a common tariff to outsiders.