Minute by minute: this is how the reopening of the border with Venezuela progresses

This Monday September 26, at 9:00 a.m. m., the trucks will begin to transit the border between Colombia and Venezuela after its reopening. It was 2,595 days that the passage to the neighboring country lasted. With this, a new chapter begins in terms of commercial exchange between both countries.

(Read: ‘We are going to tear the border from gangsters’, Benedetti for reopening).

It is expected that at 9:20 this Monday morning the first truck will enter with Colombian merchandise to the neighboring country.

The formal act is thought to be carried out in the Simón Bolívar international bridge, in Villa del Rosario, with the presence of Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva and the Ministers of Commerce and Transport, Germán Umaña and Guillermo Reyes, and representatives of the Government of Venezuela.

Likewise, the president of Gustavo Petro confirmed his attendance.

“We celebrate what is coming to the border area and we welcome all Venezuelans who will arrive in Cúcuta; we are a territory of integration and brotherhood”, said the mayor of Cúcuta.

(Also: Reopening of the border: what is coming for Colombia and Venezuela).

10:00 a.m. Several are seen on the border cargo trucks ready for the commercial opening that is going to start. Likewise, the mayor of Cúcuta Jairo Yañez was present.

The arrival of Petro and those sent by Nicolás Maduro is still awaited.

9:05 AM m. Authorities report that the border crossings were already closed and from San Antonio, Venezuela, the authorities are approaching along with the trucks with merchandise that will leave that country for Colombia.

The pedestrian closure will be until 12 noon, when the opening protocol event is expected to end.

Simon Bolivar Bridge

Maurice Moreno. TIME

08:15 a.m. During the first hours of this September 26, Colombians and Venezuelans are seen coming and going from one side to the other at the border before the official reopening event.

It is expected that at 10:00 am the passage of the first trucks between the two countries. It is planned that there will be five on the Colombian side and five on the Venezuelan side, both with supplies, food and petrochemical material.

The crosswalk will be interrupted until 11 am Venezuela time, to carry out the passage of the gandolas and all the protocol acts.

(Keep reading: Colombia and Venezuela reopen the border after seven years).

On the Colombian side there are some 900 deployed policemen who will accompany the security activities.

BRIEFCASE