Venezuela invests 23 mln dollars along border with Colombia

Venezuela has invested 100 million bolivares (23.2 million U.S. dollars) in projects on the border with Colombia since January, Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday.

The money has been earmarked for projects related to network services, housing, culture, sports and education, which have benefited over 1,700 people, Maduro said.

He also said the investment has been used mostly in the southwestern state of Tachira, which is one of the most volatile border zones for both countries.

Maduro announced a plan to beef up security in the border state in coordination with the Interior and Justice Ministry, as well as with the Defense Ministry.

He will meet his Colombian counterpart, Maria Holguin, at the end of September to discuss strategic issues.

Last month, Venezuela has agreed to cooperate with Colombia in all areas, including jointly cracking down on cross-border crimes.

Much of the 2,200-km Venezuelan-Colombian border is rugged terrain where guerrillas, drug traffickers and paramilitary fighters are active.

Source: Xinhua