Support for development of La Libertad region in Peru

(Trujillo, September 15, 2009).- CAF director-representative in Peru Eleonora Silva Pardo, and the president of La Libertad regional government, José Murgia Zannier, signed two important agreements to finance the feasibility study for the Calemar-Abra El Naranjillo highway, and the pilot project of sustainable tourism and territorial economic development in the locality of Magdalena de Cao, on Los Moche archaeological route.

Silva Pardo said the Calemar-Abra El Naranjillo section, which includes Calemar Bridge, was an emblematic project for the region given its long-awaited implementation. The highway will connect Bolivar province, which has an area of 1,718.86 km2, with the rest of the department, benefiting over 18,000 inhabitants. The province is located in the east of La Libertad department and borders on the Cajamarca and Amazonas regions.

At present access to the remote Bolivar province is by the Celendín (Cajamarca Region)-Balsas (Amazonas Region) highway, which requires a 25-hour trip covering approximately 600 km crossing Cajamarca and Amazonas departments to then reenter La Libertad territory, after following part of the left bank of the immense Marañon river, in the section which unites Balsas district (Amazonas) with the San Vicente de Paúl (La Libertad).

"The feasibility study to be financed by CAF funds covers improving the route and connecting it to the region, shortening the trip by 200 km and 10 hours, which will cut transport costs. The project will connect the population centers of "ceja de selva" and La Libertad sierra, improve travel safety, and stimulate and integrate the economy of Bolivar province with the main markets of La Libertad region," the CAF officer said.

Promoting sustainable tourism

Silva added that the Sustainable Tourism and Territorial Economic Development Project, which CAF will support on the Los Moche archaeological route, is a local economic development initiative by a public-private partnership.

The CAF representative explained that the project included valorization - as a pilot project - of Magdalena de Cao village, which includes improving the tourism offering (building up crafts, gastronomy, lodging networks and training of local tourism guides), developing a harmonious urban image (urban planning, improvement of streets and facades, tree planting, signposting, regulations, tourism investments).

"This is an initiative led by La Libertad regional government with the participation of Magdalena de Cao municipality, Minka NGO, Wiese Foundation, Promperú and Mincetur. The latter institution has declared this project emblematic and a model for other villages on the North Peru archaeological route," he said.

La Libertad Regional President Murgia Zannier thanked CAF for financing the two operations. It is not only economic-financial collaboration, but also "cooperation with a view to the future development of La Libertad region."

Both the financing of the highway feasibility study and the sustainable tourism pilot project are part of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by CAF and La Libertad regional government in October 2007, with the objective of supporting decentralized initiatives aimed at developing essential infrastructure and public services in an effort to foster economic, social and environmentally sustainable activity in the region.