Northern region IIRSA investments slated at US$14bn - Regional

"IIRSA is an inter-governmental initiative that began in 2000 when governments across South America convened to identify the most pressing infrastructure projects that transcend borders," a planning ministry spokesperson told BNamericas.

IIRSA representatives convened this week in Manaus - the capital city of northern Brazil's Amazonas state - to plan projects in the Amazonas, Guianese Shield and Peru-Brazil-Bolivia hubs through 2010, the spokesperson said.

IIRSA identified 94 essential projects across the three centers that will be prioritized in the coming five years. Projects include implementation of intermodal transport corridors, improvements to highway and railway infrastructure and connections to ports across the region.

Investments in the Amazonas hub, which aims to integrate Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, are slated at US$2bn; while the Guianese Shield hub, which includes Brazil, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela, are estimated at US$366mn; and the Peru-Brazil-Bolivia hub investments are approximately US$11.6bn.

The entire IIRSA portfolio for 335 projects across 10 hubs is estimated at US$37.4bn through 2010.

The Inter-American Development Bank, along with the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) and the River Plate basin development fund Fonplata, are helping IIRSA's 12-member countries push forward the projects.

Of the US$37bn total price tag, about US$20bn is likely to be carried out under public-private partnerships.