Guairá, Paraguari department hwy. works begin

Paraguay's public works ministry has kicked off US$35mn-worth of repairs and paving works on highway stretches in Guairá and Paraguari departments, the ministry announced. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) is helping finance the works that will be carried out on the Paraguari-Tebicuary and Villarrica-La Colmena stretches. According to a ministry socio-economic study, the works will directly benefit 400,000 residents in a region that annually moves an average of US$169mn in agriculture and livestock production. Some 15,000 vehicles/day are expected to use the stretches in 2005.