The Executive Director of ANPYN, Iñaki Arreseygor, met with representatives from the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA), the Argentine Rural Society (SRA), the Rosario Stock Exchange, the Chamber of Port and Maritime Activities, the Navigation Center, the Chamber of Private Commercial Ports, the Argentine Oil Industry Chamber (CIARA), and the Argentine Shipping Chamber, as well as representatives from the provinces of Chaco, Entre Ríos, Formosa, and Santa Fe, following the opening of the final stage of bids for the privatization and modernization of the Main Waterway.
Representatives of the provinces and private users presented their views regarding the development of the current bidding process and reaffirmed their support for the various assessments carried out by ANPYN, highlighting their technical soundness and transparency.
As lobbying efforts and malicious media campaigns intensify, users emphasized the need to promptly award the contract and immediately begin the work that will reduce logistics costs for the country.
It is worth noting that earlier this week they had already expressed their position through a joint statement in which they declared: “Given the strategic importance of this waterway for national industrial production, users are convinced that no more time can be lost and that Argentina’s competitiveness cannot continue to be put at risk.”
On Tuesday, ANPYN began the technical analysis of the proposals submitted in Stage 3 of the evaluations, after completing the first two (technical) stages without any objections. In these stages, the companies Jan de Nul and DEME met the requirements established in the bidding terms and conditions. The evaluations followed international best practices for transparency recommended by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Stage 3 analyzes the bidders’ tariff proposals. Since both companies offered the minimum possible rate, it was confirmed that Argentine producers will benefit from a reduction of nearly 15% in logistics costs.
During the meeting, held at ANPYN headquarters, progress was made in defining the operation of the Oversight Council, with the goal of having it fully established by the start of the new concession.
This process includes the formal appointment of representatives from the different provincial jurisdictions, productive sectors, and technical agencies that will permanently participate in the council, with the aim of establishing its regular operational structure.