Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia are advancing negotiations for the creation of a joint management model for the Paraguay River Waterway, an important inland waterway transport route in South America and a key piece for logistics integration among countries in the region. At a meeting held by videoconference on May 14, representatives of the three nations discussed the terms of an international agreement aimed at shared governance and future concession of the waterway.
The proposal aims to strengthen regional integration and increase the efficiency of inland waterway transport, boosting trade among the countries and contributing to the development of communities that depend on the river.
During the meeting, the Paraguayan government presented an update to the waterway management model, focusing on modernizing the concession process and improving coordination among the countries that share the navigable route.
According to the national secretary of Waterways and Navigation, Otto Burlier, the initiative seeks to broaden cooperation among the countries. "The proposal seeks to expand coordination among the countries and ensure greater efficiency in navigation and cargo transport along the waterway, with regulatory predictability and legal certainty throughout the concession," he stated.
The project provides for the offering of essential services for navigation, including buoyage, nautical signaling, hydrological monitoring, operational communication and maintenance of navigability conditions. Also foreseen is the implementation of technologies aimed at monitoring vessel traffic and environmental monitoring, with the objective of increasing the efficiency and safety of operations.
Among the proposals under analysis is the creation of a trilateral mechanism to monitor the concession, establishing common rules for operational coordination, oversight and management of the waterway corridor. The negotiations are conducted by the Ministry of Ports and Airports, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Agency for Aquatic Transport (ANTAQ) and the Investment Partnerships Program (PPI).
The expectation is that a new round of negotiations will take place in the second half of June, aiming to consolidate an agreement among the three countries.
Waterway
The Paraguay River Waterway is responsible for moving approximately 10 million tons of cargo per year, including grain, ore, fuel and food. The logistics corridor links producing regions of the Brazilian Center-West to markets in the Plata Basin, contributing to reducing transport costs and strengthening South American economic integration.
The initiative is also aligned with the Federal Government's strategy to expand the participation of inland waterway transport in the national logistics matrix, a mode recognized for its energy efficiency and lower environmental impact in moving large volumes of cargo.
