Bi-Oceanic Corridor Project Presented in Trinidad and Tobago
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During theFifth Summit of the Americas held in Trinidad and Tobago between April 17-19,2009, Corporación América with Eduardo Eurnekian, presented the Bi-Oceanic Corridor Project that willconnect MERCOSUR to Asian markets.
FormerSecretary of State and actual Special Advisory of Corporación América, RafaelBielsa, was in charge of the presentation during the II Hemispheric Private Sector Forum held in Port of Spain as one of theForums previous to the Summit. Bielsa was part of the panel “LargestInfrastructure Projects in the Americas “ with Inter-American Development Bank(IADB) President, Luis Alberto Moreno, and Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF)President & CEO, Enrique García. IADB and CAF are both the main financiersof the project.
With aninvestment of U$3.000 million, the Bi-Oceanic Corridor will link, trough abroad gauge railroad system, the cities of Luján de Cuyo in Mendoza with Los Andesin the 5th Region of Chile. The 52 Km. tunnel will be built 2.300 meters above sealevel and will be open 365 days a year.
“Thisproject can be compared to the Suez and Panama Canals because it will be thefirst tunnel linking two oceans and five countries, including Uruguay, Braziland Paraguay”, said Bielsa during his dissertation.
This tunnelis not only a door for MERCOSUR to international markets such as China,Australia and West of USA and Mexico, but will also allow Chile to gain accessto European and African markets through the Buenos Aires Port.
Argentinaand Chile exchange 7,5 million tons a year trough the actual border crossing,Cristo Redentor. This crossing is 3.200 meters above sea level, and stays closedfor almost 2 months a year due to climate. Estimations calculate that in year2020 these countries would reach, thanks to the Bi-Oceanic Corridor, abilateral exchange of 20 million annual tons.
Already sixcompanies integrate the holding that participate in the tunnel construction.The Brazilian construction company Odebrecht has lately joined the ChileanInterocéanica, the Argentinean José Cartellone Civil Constructions, the SpanishCOMSA, and the Italian GEODATA.
As for thesteps to follow, former Secretary of State Rafael Bielsa said that “the holdinghas signed memos of understanding and the initiative has been declared ofnational interest by both the Argentinean and Chilean governments”.
