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Santos invites Spanish firms to improve Colombia infrastructure
TUESDAY, 19 JULY 2011 08:17 MATT SNYDER


President Juan Manuel Santos invited Spanish construction corporations
to partner with Colombian firms to revamp Colombia's infrastructure,
Colombian media reported Monday.

Santos addressed representatives from 80 Spanish corporations
yesterday at the Colombia-Spain Forum on Infrastructure and Housing.

The president encouraged Colombian and Spanish firms to form
connections so that they might partner and compete for an impressive
array of Colombia public building projects scheduled to begin in the
near future. The governemnt is expected to spend $17.6 billion on
infrastructure in 2014 and $56 billion over the next 10 years.

"I understand that 170 billateral connections have already been made,"
Santos said, at the close of the forum. "Of these 170, if just 20%
result in partnerships and work, that would be wonderful."

Both Santos and Transportation Minister Germain Cardona highlighted
the opportunities for foreign construction firms in improving what
they regarded as Colombia's dilapidated infrastructure. "We want tot
get a message not only to Spain, but to the world that good
partnerships with Colombian firms have a lot to do because the backlog
on infrastructure is evident," said Cardona. Santos noted that
Colombia's infrastructure was "the most backward," and "needs more
stimulus, more investment."

Jose Blanco, the Spanish minister of development, was also in
attendence and noted the dynamism of Colombia's economy and society
and praised the "relevance of Colombia internationally." Blanco added
that many Spanish companies were interested in new construction
projects in Colombia. "There are many Spanish companies that want to
cooperate with Colombia to promote this ambitious government
infrastructure plan."

Minister Cardona invited Spanish firms to submit bids for the initial
stage of the infrastructure plan that will be worth $681 million.

Jay Rouse
Strategic Campaigns International
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Washington, DC 20007

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