Waterway: Terms for the new concession are being debated

A new meeting focused on the debate over the future bidding process for a new waterway concession was held in Paraná, Entre Ríos. It was organized by the Entre Ríos government, headed by Rogelio Frigerio, and the director of the National Agency of Ports and Navigation (ANPyN), Iñaki Arreseygor.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the future terms of a new concession for the waterway with authorities, users, private sector representatives, and universities. The discussion focused on two key areas: the economic and control aspects of the VNT, as well as the environmental considerations of canal management.

"We are willing to do whatever is necessary to ensure that Entre Ríos becomes part of the Waterway, as we believe we deserve," the president stated, highlighting the region's strategic importance in the context of the new concession.

The event, held at the Paraná Provincial Convention Center, is a continuation of the so-called Interdisciplinary Roundtables for the River Development of the Main Waterway.

Representatives from UNCTAD also attended the meeting as observers. They will oversee the consultation process and the subsequent preparation of the bidding documents, as well as their progress through the selection of bids and the launch of a new concession.

The presentations also highlighted the need to achieve a rate that guarantees the continuity of the works and allows for a balance in the different stages of development, benefiting the competitiveness of Argentine foreign trade and domestic production.

Likewise, " various strategies were considered to ensure environmental protection of the waterway at every stage of the concession, analyzing technical aspects of dredging and beaconing, and the creation of new overpass zones and holding bays ," it was stated.

The National Ports and Navigation Agency will continue the dialogue, with the goal of consolidating a transparent and participatory bidding process that guarantees the highest international standards of service provision, promoting the competitiveness of Argentine foreign trade and domestic production.