At the close of the first day of the 19th congress of the Colombian Chamber of Infrastructure (CCI), the President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro, the Minister of Transportation, Guillermo Reyes, and the trade union leader, Juan Martín Caicedo, discussed the future of infrastructure in the country, especially to connect the country, with respect for the environment, contractual rigor and multimodality.
(Read: More than $5 billion in losses due to the closure of the road to Buenaventura).
At the entrance to the facility, Caicedo spoke about the importance of working on infrastructure as a vital axis of the economy, this aimed at the goal of the Government of seek social justice and peace, through tertiary pathways as the way to achieve it and the infrastructure guides it out of poverty. It is important to remember that currently in Colombia there are about 142,000 km of tertiary roads, of which about 24% are in poor condition.
“It has been shown that the works not only mark employment and economic dynamics, which will be essential to offer subsistence opportunities and social reintegration to the thousands of demobilized combatants in their own regions, but also to improve the quality of life of its inhabitants: the majority peasants, indigenous and Afro-descendants who, due to the lack of ways to get their agricultural products to the markets, have had to change their activities to illicit crops”, he acknowledged.
Financing fund for SMEs
On what is the responsibility of the union, Caicedo asked to work with small and medium engineering companieswhich represent 90% of affiliated companies.
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“The creation of a fund for the financing of SMEs that, under the leadership of the Chamber that I am honored to chair -and that thanks to the help of Bancoldex, Sumitomo Bank, the FDN and the CAF-, intends, in a very short time, to Leverage companies that require it, through loans with rates that are as favorable as they are competitive.The respective “intention agreement” will be signed here on Friday, he said.
“Let’s undertake a crusade so that full compliance with the specifications is not violated, as soon as it democratizes hiring, as part of its social background”, Caicedo pointed out, this in the middle of a petition to the non-violation of SMEs in the sector.
The executive president of the CCI spoke to President Gustavo Petro, pointing out that although the results of the ‘type specifications have been lapidary: due to this tool, the State has achieved savings close to $900 billionas a consequence of transparent and competitive processes,’ he said.
However, there are those who, through the law, have created a mechanism that is leaving the way clear so that those who intend to evade the standard specifications can do so through the deceitful use of inter-administrative contracts.
Caicedo, on the other hand, pointed out the importance of several works in the country, in this he pointed out the importance of the Pacific-Orinoquia corridor: Puerto Carreño-Buenaventura, a 1,490 km road that will connect to the Altillanura -The largest agricultural pantry in the country, with the Pacific coast.
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“We are talking about a work that, in one of its sections, precisely proposes the execution of a modern railway to cross the most mountainous portion of the layout. It will bring with it political meaning, given its contact with the Venezuelan border, and also unquestionable social and economic benefits, and even tourism.“, he pointed.
Regarding the fluvial projects: the APP of the Canal del Dique, APP of the Magdalena River and guaranteeing navigability in the port of Buenaventura, the infrastructure leader told the Government that could be your inheritance to the country, as a nod to the continuity of these projects that have had obstacles in their progress.
Joint work decalogue:
In summary, the union launched 10 proposals to work hand in hand with the government:
1. The development of multimodal infrastructure, linking highways and airports with rail and river modes
2. The unwavering commitment of the sector and the concessions with social and environmental sustainability.
3. The impact of infrastructure on other lines such as tourism, agriculture and foreign trade.
4. The development of social infrastructure: schools, hospitals, jails, irrigation districts and drinking water and basic sanitation.
5. Transparency in public procurement as a mechanism to democratize the participation of engineering companies.
6. The optimization of tertiary roads to connect rural areas with commercial hubs.
7. Technological innovation as a mechanism for constructive optimization and sustainability.
8. The financial and corporate strengthening of SMEs in the sector.
9. Infrastructure as a fundamental mechanism to consolidate peace.
10. Institutional strengthening through technical entities and highly qualified officials.
(See: 4G routes do not achieve the objective set for the year 2022, why?).
BRIEFCASE
