President of Paraguay invites Bolivia to be part of the bi-oceanic corridor

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The president of Paraguay, Mario Abdo Benítez, invited Bolivia to be part of the bi-oceanic corridor during the commemoration of the 87th anniversary of the cessation of hostilities in the Chaco War held in Villa Montes, Tarija.

During his speech, the Paraguayan president invited the Bolivian president, Luis Arce, to participate in the meeting that the leaders of Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile will hold in the coming months to discuss the route of the highway that will link part of the region from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Read also: Check out our coverage on Paraguay

“I take the opportunity to advance an invitation. In a few months, where we will also invite the president of Argentina, Chile and the Federative Republic of Brazil, to sign the contracts for the last section of the bioceanic and work with his cabinet so that Bolivia can be part of that great connectivity that will allow the entire the region a logistics corridor that goes out to the large Pacific markets faster, less expensive and efficient for the production of the region”, affirmed the Paraguayan president.

Abdo Benítez stressed that in tribute to the fallen of the Chaco War, infrastructure works are being built, such as the bi-oceanic highway that “will become the southern Panama Canal.”

Benítez reported that the contracts for the construction of the Carmelo Peralta-Porto Murtinho bridge have already been signed and the first section of the corridor of more than 200 kilometers has been completed.

The president also highlighted that Paraguay proposes bilateral complementation on the gas issue.

“We are working, President, so that this great wealth that the Bolivian people have, gas, can complement the Paraguayan economy,” he said.

The Paraguayan head of state also pointed out that his government is working so that Bolivia has access to the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway through Puerto Busch, and to develop common agrarian policies and strengthen cooperation programs.

“It’s been a long time that Paraguayans and Bolivians have turned our backs on each other, and I am convinced that this is the time to trace a common destiny and walk together to strengthen the region and the hemisphere,” he added.

More: Bolivia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.