China’s ambitious rail project in Brazil: West-East Integration Railway inaugurates first section
The first section of Brazil’s West-East Integration Railway (FIOL) was inaugurated in Ilhéus, Bahia state, Brazil.
The 126-kilometer section was built by China Railway No.10 Construtora de Brasil (CREC-10 Brasil), a Chinese company commissioned for the project.
The construction took 36 months to complete. This section is part of the first phase of FIOL, with four lots in total.
FIOL I spans 537 kilometers from Ilhéus to Caetité in Bahia, serving as an important logistics corridor capable of handling up to 60 million tons of cargo annually.
After completing all three phases, the FIOL will be connected to the North-South and Central-West railroads, forming Brazil’s national rail network.
During the inauguration ceremony, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized the need for increased investment in Brazil’s rail sector.
He stated that such investment could enhance the competitiveness of Brazil’s steel industry and create more job opportunities for the citizens.
Li Haifeng, the executive chairman of CREC-10, expressed the company’s commitment to building the FIOL to high standards and sustainability for the benefit of the local population.
He also highlighted the contribution of Chinese quality to the project and its alignment with the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Belt and Road Initiative, also known as One Belt, One Road, is a series of intercontinental trade and infrastructure projects initiated by China in 2013.
It aims to strengthen connections between the People’s Republic of China and over 60 countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
CREC-10 has been actively involved in Latin America since 2005 and has established expertise in various sectors such as mining, forestry, and railroads.
The company maintains offices and working groups in Peru, Venezuela, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico.
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