Quito mayor courting US$2bn for first stage of infra project portfolio

The mayor's office of Ecuador capital Quito has an infrastructure project portfolio of US$6bn for the next four years. Of the amount, around US$2bn corresponds to initiatives that should start up in 2024.

Quito mayor Pabel Muñoz said that the project portfolio could be carried out through public-private partnerships, concessions and public funds, through credits from multilateral banks. He invited multilateral and private banks, builders, suppliers and project developers to participate in the various processes.

During the Invest in Quito 2023 event, held with potential investors from various sectors on Monday night, Muñoz said the planned works aim to turn the capital into a metropolis that is the engine of development for the country, a pole of attraction for investors and tourists, and a safe city for its inhabitants.

The first package of US$2bn includes a program to decontaminate Quito’s rivers, with the construction of urban wastewater treatment plants for the Monjas River and Valle de Tinallo involving US$438mn; urban wastewater treatment plants in Tumbaco for US$85.2mn; and comprehensive management of solid waste equipment for US$28mn.

Additionally, one of the key projects for Quito is the new environmental complex for the treatment of solid waste, which includes a better management model for garbage collection, recycling, electricity generation and leachate treatment, among other aspects.

The investment in the complex will be decided when the project is structured.

An investment of US$198mn is estimated for potable water initiatives and US$48mn for sewerage programs, for which there will be public investment.

Additionally, it is estimated that US$280mn will be invested in road repairs and maintenance by 2027.

The project portfolio also includes the modernization of the trolleybus system, with the purchase of 53 new public transport units requiring an estimated US$33mn; modernization of the fare collection system involving US$9mn; and the implementation of an intelligent transportation system for US$50mn.

Other initiatives include two for environmental conservation, in Ilaló and Atacazo, for which investment amounts have not yet been estimated.

Also planned are the rehabilitation and expansion of Simón Bolívar and Ruta Viva avenues.

The productive development secretary of the municipality of Quito, Paulina Prócel, said that in August and September they will seek to simplify procedures and review the regulations, while in the last quarter of the year they will review, with the private sector, projects that are halted and other projects proposed by the private sector, both local and foreign companies.

Photo: Mayor Pabel Muñoz during the Invest in Quito 2023 event.