Chilean President Gabriel Boric is visiting Brazil to meet with Lula da Silva and take a significant step toward implementing the Bioceanic Road Corridor . This megaproject seeks to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans , enabling more efficient trade in the region .
The initiative, which involves collaboration between Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil , promises to transform the commercial dynamics of South America by creating a 2,400-kilometer land connection between ports on both oceans .
In a previous presentation, Boric highlighted the importance of the project for regional development , stating that it will enhance the public infrastructure necessary for its operation.
The Bioceanic Road Corridor, considered a potential competitor to the Panama Canal , will involve a route that begins in southern Brazil , crossing the Paraguayan Chaco , and continuing towards northwestern Argentina through the provinces of Salta and Jujuy , until finally reaching the ports of northern Chile , such as Antofagasta, Mejillones and Iquique.
Boric stated that this initiative will allow for " improved logistical efficiency, reducing operating costs and transportation times ," which will result in economic benefits not only for Chile but for all the countries involved in the project.
According to data from Xinhua , the official state news agency of the People's Republic of China , the initial investment for the development of this corridor amounts to 10 billion dollars.
In line with this, in November of last year, leaders of the four countries met in Asunción, Paraguay, where they signed agreements to accelerate the corridor's implementation. The necessary work was established to advance toward its completion by 2026.
The importance of the Bioceanic Road Corridor is particularly notable for Paraguay, one of the main drivers of the initiative. The corridor is expected to reduce logistics costs for Paraguayan exporters by 25%, especially for key products such as soybeans , of which the country ranks fourth in the world in exports .
" This project will allow us more direct access to the Pacific, without depending on the Panama Canal ," said official sources from the Paraguayan government.
The Corridor 's development will also benefit Chile , whose authorities have launched an action plan to accelerate the project's progress . According to Economy Minister Nicolás Grau, this megaproject is "key to regional integration and economic development."
This corridor is expected to not only strengthen trade between the countries involved, but also boost growth in regions such as Salta and Jujuy in Argentina, Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil, and the Antofagasta and Tarapacá areas in Chile .
However, the success of the Bioceanic Road Corridor is not without challenges . Customs and health regulations must be agreed upon to facilitate the safe and efficient transit of goods across borders .
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