After the "Border Agreement" event held in the Colombian city of Cúcuta, Colombia's Germán Umaña has reiterated that the reopening of the border with Venezuela "will be soon, in the short term," but that the "adequate security, comprehensive and diplomatic conditions" must be guaranteed first.

At the event, government representatives of the two countries met in a step towards the reestablishment of trade relations between both countries, which have been broken since 2019. It will also mean the reopening of international bridges, which have been closed for seven years as of Friday, Aug. 19.

For his part, Guillermo Reyes, Colombian Minister of Transportation, said that mobility is what is fundamental to reestablishing trade relations between Colombia and Venezuela.

"Mobility is centered between the four bridges (connecting the two countries), all of which are in structural conditions for their use, both vehicular and pedestrian," added Reyes.

The official said that they are drawing up "the budgets, in the hands of the National Roads Institute (Invías) for the repowering of the bridges, as well as for the necessary interventions that may be required."

In addition, he visited the international bridge Tienditas, which has not been used since it was completed in 2016 at a cost of $36 million and is located about 10 kilometers from the main border crossing, the Simon Bolivar Bridge.

He also indicated that, "rail and river transport between both nations will also be sought." 

"Today begins the expectation of reopening the border. This will be a gradual, safe and comprehensive opening. We hope that these political and commercial relations will transcend to the territories to generate development mechanisms that will reactivate trade," said Silvano Serrano, the governor of Norte de Santander.

The president of the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Production (Fedecámaras), Carlos Fernández, called the reestablishment of relations important for "a cultural, scientific and commercial exchange between both countries."

"The idea is that we can become partners, as allies, in a more organic relationship that transcends the commercial," he said at the press conference.