Mission inspects progress of CVIS works

(Cusco/Madre de Dios, September 2010).– A CAF delegation – formed by Infrastructure Vice President Antonio Juan Sosa, and CAF representative director in Peru Eleonora Silva Pardo – visited Madre de Dios and Cusco departments to monitor the progress of construction of the Southern Interoceanic Highway, and work on the productive projects executed to improve the quality of life of the populations in the area of influence of the road corridor.

The members of the CAF mission arrived in the city of Puerto Maldonado (section 3 of the Southern IIRSA) where they inspected progress on the laying of the platform of the Billinghurst bridge, over Madre de Dios River, in Tambopata province. The 722-meter bridge will interconnect the border localities of Puerto Maldonado and Iñapari.

The delegation checked on the results of the "Tambopata National Reserve Buffer Zone Consolidation Project" implemented by the CAF Environment Department and the Pronaturaleza NGO, with the objective of introducing good practices in ecotourism, and developing products to encourage forest conservation. The project benefits 200 families from three native peoples and 3,700 comuneros from five local communities.

The CAF officials also inspected the state of section 2 of the highway linking Puente Inambari - Qincemil - Marcapata - Ocongate - Urcos. In Cusco department, they inspected the state of the road, and visited the Cuyuni Ausangatec Hatun Pukaran viewpoint, where local comuneros operate restaurants, sell textile crafts and offer experiential tours for national and foreign visitors.

Thanks to the "Project to build productive capacities,” executed by the Odebrecht Association and supported by the CAF Social Sustainability Department, ten craft associations in the Ausangate area have been given training to improve the quality and diversify crafts, complying with standards of ecological production and fair trade, which are sold to tourists visiting the viewpoint.

These projects are part of the South Interoceanic Initiative (iSUR), which is a strategic alliance formed by Odebrecht, Conirsa, Conservation International, ProNaturaleza Foundation, IDB and CAF. The initiative contributes to sustainable development and conservation of ecosystems in the sphere of influence of sections 2 and 3 of the South Interoceanic Highway, with the aim of using the infrastructure as a tool for integration.