Sitionuevo hopes for US$40mn port

The municipality of Sitionuevo in Colombia's Magdalena department intends to go ahead with the construction of a US$40mn multipurpose port on the Magdalena river to boost commercial in the area, El Heraldo reported. "The project will focus on the creation of a port, a 500m quay on the banks of the Magdalena river and a 40ha area to be developed as an industrial estate with a free-trade zone," said former head of the Barranquilla port authority, Ciro Avila, who is leading the project. The port area has a natural draught of 40ft meaning there is no need to carry out dredging works. The port will receive bulk cargo, liquids, and containers. Avila said that the national government hopes that through Cormagdalena (the autonomous regional corporation for the Magdalena river) it can deliver a resolution to give a 20-year concession to develop the port, according to the newspaper. The project would take up to 10 years to develop.