Central America is in the midst of developing its infrastructure and is capitalizing on the region’s geographic location and economic growth to implement plans for maritime and land transportation links between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In addition to the expansion of the Panama Canal and the start of construction on the Nicaragua Canal, there are plans to build a land corridor through Guatemala.
Guatemala's Interoceanic Corridor, valued at 8,000 million euros, is an initiative aimed at reducing the cost and transit time of the Panama route, as well as positioning itself as an alternative to ships that, even after the Panama Canal expansion project is completed, will not be able to pass through it.
The corridor will be a dry channel of 372 kilometers long with two railroad lines, a highway designed primarily for freight transport, oil and gas pipelines, an electricity generation and distribution network, and a fiber-optic network. Two ports are planned for construction on both sides of the corridor—the largest in Central America—capable of handling ships carrying more than 14,000 containers.
The project will achieve reduce logistics costs by up to 30% to connect the two oceans, and it will compete directly with the rail lines that cross the United States and represent a 26% of World Trade.
Construction is expected to begin in 2016 and be completed in three years. This new route will bring significant benefits to the country and the entire region, positioning the corridor as a driver of growth and a source of opportunities.
