Chile unveils ‘bioceanic road corridor’ plan to fanfare

Chile presented on Monday the infrastructure works plan for the so-called “Corredor Bioceánico Vial” (“Bioceanic Road Corridor”), a road that will link the north of the country with Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil to form a new trade route between the Atlantic and the Asia-Pacific.

The project has been in the pipeline for a decade and is considered one of the most important infrastructure projects in Latin America, extending 2,400 kilometres. 

The route connects the ports of southern Brazil with those of northern Chile, crossing Mato Grosso do Sul, the Paraguayan Chaco and the northern provinces of Salta and Jujuy in Argentina, according to its designers.

“This is good news, because it is real and concrete integration,” said President Gabriel Boric, presenting the “Bioceanic Corridor Action Plan” on Monday at the La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago

The plan includes the development of 22 infrastructure projects in Chile to improve roads, the establishing of new customs and police checkpoints, as well as upgrading the ports of Iquique, Mejillones and Antofagasta in the north.

The amount of investment in the committed works was not detailed.

According to the Chilean government, this corridor represents a significant improvement over existing routes.

It is expected to reduce transport between the Mediterranean regions of Brazil and Paraguay and Asia-Pacific countries such as China, South Korea and Japan by up to 10 days.

The programme will be one of the main points of discussion during Boric's official visit to Brazil next week.

– TIMES/AFP