Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia advance plan for shared Paraguay River waterway management

Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia are moving ahead with plans for a shared management model for the Paraguay River Waterway, a strategic corridor for inland navigation in South America and regional logistics integration. Representatives from the three countries met by videoconference on May 14 to discuss an international agreement covering joint governance and a future concession for the waterway.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening regional integration, improving the efficiency of river transport, supporting trade between the three countries and promoting development for communities that depend on the river.

During the meeting, Paraguay presented a proposal to update the waterway’s management model, with a focus on modernizing the concession structure and improving coordination among the countries along the river corridor.

Otto Burlier, Brazil’s national secretary for waterways and navigation, said the proposal seeks to expand cooperation among the three countries.

“The proposal seeks to strengthen coordination among the countries and ensure greater efficiency in navigation and cargo transport along the waterway, with regulatory predictability and legal certainty throughout the concession period,” he said.

The proposal covers essential navigation services, including buoyage, nautical signaling, hydrological monitoring, operational communications and maintenance of navigability conditions. It also calls for the use of technology to monitor vessel traffic and track environmental conditions, with a focus on improving efficiency and operational safety.

The model under discussion includes the creation of a trilateral mechanism to monitor the concession, with common rules for operational coordination, oversight and management of the waterway corridor. The talks are being coordinated by Brazil’s Ministry of Ports and Airports, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Waterway Transportation Agency and the Investment Partnerships Program.

A new round of negotiations is expected in the second half of June, with the goal of consolidating a joint agreement.

Strategic importance of the waterway

The Paraguay River Waterway moves about 10 million tonnes of cargo a year, including grains, ores, fuels and food products. The corridor connects producing regions in Brazil’s Center-West to markets in the Río de la Plata basin, helping reduce logistics costs and strengthen South American economic integration.

The initiative is aligned with the federal government’s strategy to increase the role of inland waterway transport in Brazil’s logistics matrix. The mode is recognized for its energy efficiency and lower environmental impact when moving large volumes of cargo.

The project is also expected to benefit production chains and support the development of riverside communities by strengthening logistics infrastructure and regional connectivity.

Source: Informativo dos Portos

Sharing is caring!