Latin America is bringing people closer together. Infrastructure works are a fundamental part of integration and are a priority on government agendas in South America. A total of 115 of the 600 infrastructure and regional connectivity projects that make up the COSIPLAN Project Portfolio have been successfully concluded. This has implied an investment of over US$ 26 billion by the countries in the region.[1] Information on each of these projects is available on the COSIPLAN Project Information System, an open-access database that is continually updated by the countries of South America.
INTAL, as the secretariat for the COSIPLAN/IIRSA Technical Coordination Committee, has been providing support to the countries during the process of setting up the COSIPLAN Project Portfolio, updating it, and sharing the information within it. INTAL’s role includes the development, programming, and maintenance of the system. One of its focal points is providing quality information on concluded projects so as to make the outcomes and benefits of physical integration available to citizens.
The concluded projects are distributed throughout the nine Integration and Development Hubs. Some 20% of these projects are in the MERCOSUR–Chile Hub (23 projects), which represent 32% of investment expenditure. The total investment expenditure in the MERCOSUR–Chile, Amazon, and Peru–Brazil–Bolivia hubs represents 80% of the total disbursed to complete the works in question.
CONCLUDED PROJECTS BY INTEGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT HUB
(In % of investment and projects)
The country with the greatest number of concluded projects is Brazil, with a total of 28 projects for an investment of US$ 13 billion, around 50% of total expenditure. Although there are similar numbers of concluded projects in Argentina and Chile (21 and 20, respectively), investment expenditure is at 22% for Argentina and 3.5% for Chile.
CONCLUDED PROJECTS BY COUNTRY 
Approximately half of the concluded projects (45%) are roads, which include 15 paving works, 25 rehabilitation or expansion works on existing roads, 7 bridges, and 5 beltways. Investment in these projects represents 40% of the total expenditure. Concluded energy interconnection works accounted for nearly 14% of concluded projects, although these required over 30% of the total expenditure.
CONCLUDED PROJECTS BY SUBSECTOR
Some 82% of concluded works were financed with public funds. The public sector contributed 65% of the sum invested. The private sector financed 11% of projects, all of which are transportation-related, and its share of total investment was also 11%. Public–private initiatives financed 7% of projects, but they contributed 23% of total investment.
The vast majority of concluded projects are national (83%). These investments are important to regional physical integration in terms of how they contribute to transnational connectivity.
A few interesting examples of this now follow.
Connectivity between Ecuador and Peru
Projects from the Amazon Hub and the Andean Hub are involved in this connectivity initiative which includes seven concluded projects and two at a highly advanced stage.
The concluded road projects consolidate the coastal road corridor, raising transportation standards and facilitating access to border crossings. It should be stressed that the main Binational Border Service Center (CEBAF) Road Corridor No. 1 (Huaquillas–Aguas Verdes) is already operational and is facilitating trade in goods and the movement of persons between both countries.
CONCLUDED PROJECTS FOR CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN ECUADOR AND PERU
Connectivity between Argentina and Chile and between Paraguay and Bolivia
This connectivity initiative involves ten concluded projects from Group 1 of the Capricorn Hub in Argentina and Chile, where connectivity has been enhanced, while also indirectly influencing integration in Bolivia and Paraguay. These projects are strategically important to the development of areas that have been marginalized at the socio-economic level, and their implementation is contributing to achieving the group’s strategic goal. The initiative is multisectoral, as road, rail, sea, air, and energy interconnection works have been completed.
The Access Roads to the Paso de Jama Border Crossing Anchor Project and the Integrated (One-Stop) Border Control have been concluded. Both this border crossing and National Road no. 81 in Argentina are important for overland trade between Paraguay and Chile. Major ports on the Pacific Ocean complete this multimodal network.
CONCLUDED PROJECTS FOR CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN ARGENTINA AND CHILE
Connectivity between Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay
These links include projects from the MERCOSUR–Chile Hub and the Paraguay–Paraná Waterway Hub, with a total of seven concluded projects. Two related connectivity initiatives are involved: connectivity between Uruguay and Brazil and between Uruguay and Argentina. A further ten projects are at an advanced stage, and when they have been concluded they will contribute to achieving the strategic objectives of these groups.
The Upgrading Works for the Río Branco–Montevideo–Colonia–Nueva Palmira Road Corridor Anchor Project has also been concluded. This set includes all transportation subsectors so as to optimize the multimodal network that connects the territory in question.
CONCLUDED PROJECTS FOR CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, AND URUGUAY
Connectivity between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay
The projects listed here include projects from the Paraguay–Paraná Waterway Hub and the MERCOSUR–Chile Hub, representing a total of ten concluded projects and a further nine projects on which significant progress has been made. These projects are some of the most important forms of connectivity for overland trade within the hub. The Upgrading of National Route No. 14 to a Four-Lane Road between Paso de los Libres and Gualeguaychú has been concluded.
CONCLUDED PROJECTS FOR CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, AND PARAGUAY
Connectivity between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay
The projects listed here include projects from the Paraguay–Paraná Waterway Hub and the MERCOSUR–Chile Hub, representing a total of ten concluded projects and a further nine projects on which significant progress has been made. These projects are some of the most important forms of connectivity for overland trade within the hub. The Upgrading of National Route No. 14 to a Four-Lane Road between Paso de los Libres and Gualeguaychú has been concluded.
CONCLUDED PROJECTS FOR CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, AND PARAGUAY
The information reported here is a reflection of the efforts UNASUR countries have made to boost the integration of South America through infrastructure works. By the end of 2016, it is estimated that at least another 27 works could be finalized, which would consolidate connectivity, bring people together, and expand the opportunities available to them.
