Santa Cruz – Mato Grosso: Road of Integration | Ruta de Integración

By El Diario:

They Will Execute the Santa Cruz – Mato Grosso Highway Project

  • The Government of Santa Cruz is promoting a project that will strengthen infrastructure, productive development, and regional connectivity.
International Summit on Regional Integration held yesterday in San Ignacio.

Through the International Summit on Regional Integration “Route of the Heart of South America,” national and departmental authorities from Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay ratified the execution of the Santa Cruz – Mato Grosso highway project, which will strengthen the economic and productive development of the region.

The governor of Santa Cruz, Luis Fernando Camacho, who led this meeting in San Ignacio de Velasco, recalled that the project began with a joint declaration in his first year of administration in 2021, thanks to the efforts of departmental assembly members Yely Baldivieso and Rony Justiniano.

“This is not only about roads, it is about development, opportunities, and dignity for our people. We believe that integration is not decreed, it is built with high-level dialogue, political coordination, political will, technical planning, and above all, a real will to execute. This summit is a strategic space to articulate road segments that will allow us to unite borders, markets, and people, laying the foundation for a logistical, productive, and bio-oceanic axis that projects our region to the world,” he said.

He highlighted the presence of the Minister of Public Works, Mauricio Zamora, as a guarantee to turn agreements into concrete works, ensuring integration and real benefits for the people and providing legal certainty for those who invest in this land.

“May the route of the heart of South America also be the route of development, integration, and the future. My commitment as governor of Santa Cruz remains firm to move forward on the things that truly matter. I said it and I will keep repeating it: if it is for Santa Cruz, count on me,” he stated.

CONCLUSIONS

At the end of the Summit, the conclusions were read, in which the governments of Mato Grosso, Paraguay, and Santa Cruz committed themselves to promote integration through the execution of joint projects in different areas: priority areas of cooperation, infrastructure, construction, improvement and maintenance of highways, border bridges, and logistics corridors that strengthen regional connectivity.

They also agreed to support trade and customs facilitation, assist in speeding up procedures and processes, and promote regional markets and fairs, as well as the protection of natural reserves, integrated management of shared water basins based on climate change, and reforestation.

They further agreed to strengthen culture, education, and human development, including student exchange programs, promotion of culture, sustainable tourism, and reinforcement of the traditional identity of their peoples.

Finally, regarding security and health, they agreed on coordination and prosecution of cross-border crime, response to health emergencies, and management of water resources.

Present at the event were the senator of the Federative Republic of Brazil, José Esteves de Lacerda; the vice-governor of the State of Mato Grosso, Octaviano Piveta; the governor of the department of Alto Paraguay, Arturo Méndez; the Paraguayan national deputy, José Rodríguez; Bolivia’s Minister of Public Works, Mauricio Zamora; as well as national deputies and departmental assembly members from Santa Cruz.

HIGHWAY PROJECT

The binational highway San Ignacio de Velasco – Mato Grosso Border has a length of 150 km with an approximate investment of 199 million dollars.

This road constitutes a strategic access route that will connect quickly and safely the communities of Cochabambita, Cotoquita, San Antonio de La Enconada, Totaisito, Santa Martha, Consuelo, Miraflores, Laguna Santa Rosa, Mercedes Solís, Buena Hora, San Lorencito, Ascensión de Macoño, Merceditas, and Marfil with the provincial capital.

The bio-oceanic route that will link Mato Grosso with San Ignacio will also connect Roboré – Charagua – Paraguay, with a length of 137 km and an approximate investment of 179 million dollars.

This project will energize border trade, strengthening regional integration and projecting itself as a key engine for economic growth and sustainable development of the province and the department.

It will optimize and speed up the transport of strategic agricultural products such as soybeans and cattle, as well as other goods, strengthening logistics chains and taking advantage of the productive vocation and economic potential of Mato Grosso and Santa Cruz. (Santa Cruz, agencies)

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