Aiming at cultural and tourist exchange, the reopening of the border crossing between Argentina and Paraguay took place this Monday, through the cities of Ituzaingó and Ayolas, respectively, on the crest of the dam. Yacyretá. This international reactivation was led by the Minister of National Security, Patricia Bullrich, and the Minister of the Interior of Paraguay, Enrique Riera.
On the occasion, Governor Gustavo Valdés called to “raise the borders in Mercosur” and “embrace the future in the opening of crossings, inauguration of ports and construction of routes”, in pursuit of the development of both jurisdictions.
It should be noted that this official rehabilitation – which was also attended by the Minister of the Interior of Paraguay, Enrique Riera and the governor of the Misiones Department, Richard Ramírez – occurs four years after the closure caused by the pandemic.
This Step will offer growth potential that will consolidate it as a strategic axis for binational connectivity.
The reconnection between the communities of Ituzaingó and Ayolas already registered a reopening on November 20, facilitating not only cultural and tourist exchange, but also the decongestion of other border crossings.
At the moment, the Pass that operates over the Yacyretá hydroelectric dam is enabled from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“Today is a historic day, always opening bridges is a way to unite people,” the Argentine Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, began by saying. At the same time, he criticized the fact that this border crossing was closed for several years: “During the pandemic it was understandable, but it was a long time ago and it was not opened on a whim.”
“It was a step that had already been done, the only thing missing was the decision so that tourism and commerce could pass through here. They told us that 30 people were going to pass, but recently there was an international match (the final of the Copa Sudamericana between Racing and Cruzeiro) and more than 3,000 people crossed,” the minister said.
Bullrich gave the example of the Port of Ituzaingó as a key work at an industrial level, which will benefit from this opening. “It is a port that will make production and food cheaper for all citizens. “An investment of more than 50 million dollars could not have a closed bridge.” Continuing, he stated that Argentina’s strategic vision cannot be limited only to the ports of Buenos Aires or San Lorenzo, but also consider all ports in the country.
For his part, Governor Gustavo Valdés highlighted the “unbreakable will of the Argentine and Paraguayan people to embrace each other again at this Yacyretá dam. A will that is superior to the bureaucracy that did not allow us to give each other that hug.”
For Valdés, the people of Corrientes and Paraguay have “cultural, historical ties and language identity” and he emphasized: “We are the only province of Argentina that has Guarani as an official language, we share music, families and visions, but fundamentally the desire of progress that no one is going to stop.”
“Today we are witnessing the reopening of a vital border crossing for the entire region, for the departments of Misiones and Ñeembucú in Paraguay, for the provinces of Corrientes and Misiones,” said the president, making it clear that it is necessary “to start looking at each other.” brothers to be able to raise borders in Mercosur and stop looking askance at each other between Paraguayans and Argentines, to together embrace the future.”
Meanwhile, in another section of his words, the governor pointed out that Argentina is signing historic Mercosur agreements with the European Union, with all that this implies in the opening of crossings, inauguration of ports and construction of routes, all actions that ” “They will result in us having better logistics for our products and the region.”
Continuing with his concepts, Valdés thanked the presidents of our country, Javier Milei, and of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, for exhibiting “common visions, fraternal embraces and the vocation to build a future of greatness for both countries.”
Enrique Riera Escudero
The Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Paraguay, Enrique Riera Escudero, also spoke, firstly expressing his approval, in these terms: “What better than level 70, with the roar of the turbines behind, to find ourselves at celebrate a very important event such as the reopening of this border crossing.”
The official from the neighboring country did not hesitate to affirm that the “friendship between Argentina and Paraguay is historic, we already have so many things in common, much more than many other peoples in Latin America” and valued that “we are lucky to have two presidents (Peña and Milei) who are very clear about where they want to take us as brother peoples.”
“From now on, thousands of Paraguayans and Argentines will be able to pass through this dam, seeking health, commerce, culture, improving education and growing together,” concluded Riera Escudero.
Source: Ambito
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