At Colombia-Venezuela border, a trade revival is eagerly awaited

FILE PHOTO: People cross the Simon Bolivar International Bridge on the border between Colombia and Venezuela as Colombia's President-elect Gustavo Petro aims to normalize relations and encourage trade with Venezuela, as seen from Villa del Rosario, Colombia June 28, 2022. Picture taken June 28, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Eduardo Ramirez

CUCUTA, Colombia/SAN ANTONIO, Venezuela (Reuters) - Colombia's leftist president-elect, Gustavo Petro, pledged on the campaign trail to end neighboring Venezuela's isolation, normalize relations with the socialist government in Caracas, and get trade flowing.

For locals on both side of the border, that can't come fast enough.