en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Government of Salta Province and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) have jointly submitted a research report titled "The Capricorn Bi-Oceanic Corridor: Opportunities and Challenges for Territorial Development," analyzing the impact of regional integration on northern Argentina and South America, with a focus on infrastructure, logistics, and connectivity related to production and mining growth.
Road and rail connectivity has become one of the main challenges supporting mining growth in Salta and the region. This corridor connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, traversing four countries—Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Brazil—and spanning over 800 kilometers across the province, positioning itself as a key route for mining exports in northwestern Argentina.
The event brought together provincial officials, mayors, chamber of commerce representatives, technical organizations, and international experts. Participants included Ignacio Lupión, Minister of Production and Mining of Salta Province; Roberto Dib Ashur, Minister of Economy and Public Services; Ricardo Villada, Coordinator of Political Relations and Planning of the Governor's Office; and Romain Zivy, Director of ECLAC Argentina.
The Capricorn Bi-Oceanic Corridor integrates the territories of these countries through a network of highways and railways connecting Atlantic and Pacific ports. In Salta, the corridor traverses over 800 kilometers of the province, primarily composed of National Route 51 and the C-14 railway branch line, infrastructure considered strategic for transporting mining exports from the Puna region to Pacific ports in Chile.
During the opening session, Minister Lupión noted that Salta is the Argentine province with the largest territorial area crossed by this corridor and emphasized its role in regional logistics integration. In this context, provincial authorities stressed that the growth of mining activities has increased demand for road and railway infrastructure projects to ensure the transport of supplies, equipment, and mineral products. National Route 51 is one of the main corridors to the Salta Puna, connecting the provincial capital with San Antonio de los Cobres and the Sico Pass on the Chilean border.
Minister Dib Ashur stated that technical studies prepared by international organizations are being used to support securing external financing for corridor-related infrastructure projects. The province is advancing agreements with multilateral institutions to finance various sections of National Route 51, which is considered a priority project for mining logistics and the development of the Bi-Oceanic Corridor.
In April of this year, the Government of Salta Province confirmed progress in negotiations with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to finance approximately $100 million for works on National Route 51. The project includes paving, route improvements, and strengthening road infrastructure on sections used for mining freight transport. The corridor also includes the rehabilitation and modernization of the C-14 freight railway system, which is integrated into the Belgrano Railway network. This line connects northwestern Argentina with Pacific ports via the Socompa Pass and is part of the historical infrastructure used for mining transport in the Andean region.
During the event jointly organized with ECLAC, Coordinator of Political Relations and Planning Ricardo Villada reviewed the historical context of regional integration projects promoted from northern Argentina and highlighted the participation of municipalities, chambers of commerce, and technical organizations in the corridor planning process. The research report submitted by ECLAC analyzes opportunities and challenges related to territorial development, mining growth, energy transition, and new international logistics dynamics, while also addressing foreign trade, strategic infrastructure, and regional coordination among the provinces and countries involved in the corridor.
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