Some 50 groups have purchased bidding rules from Paraguay’s public works and communications ministry for a series of works under the US$190mn western integration corridors programme.

 

The works aim to improve and consolidate the most important road corridors in Paraguay’s sparsely populated western departments to advance development in that area and facilitate the flow of products from its agricultural centres.

The works are split into six contracts that involve basic works, drainage improvement and road paving in the departments of Boqueron and Alto Paraguay, which will take between 12-36 months depending on the contract. Each contract will cost an average of some US$10mn.

The majority of groups that purchased bidding rules are local, but there are also Argentine, Brazilian and Peruvian companies.

Offers were due December 16, and the ministry expects to award contracts in the first half of 2003.

The Inter-American Development Bank is helping finance the programme with a US$100mn loan, along with US$60mn from the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) and US$30mn in local counterpart funds.