Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia advance in management model for the Paraguay River Waterway

Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia are advancing in negotiations to create a joint management model for the Paraguay River Waterway, an important river transport route in South America and a key piece for logistical integration between countries in the region. In a meeting held via videoconference on May 14, representatives of the three nations discussed the terms of an international agreement aimed at shared governance and the future concession of the waterway.

The proposal aims to strengthen regional integration and increase the efficiency of waterway transport, boosting trade between countries and contributing to the development of communities that depend on the river.

During the meeting, the Paraguayan government presented an update to the waterway management model, focusing on modernizing the concession process and improving coordination between countries that share the waterway.

According to the national secretary of Waterways and Navigation, Otto Burlier, the initiative seeks to expand cooperation between countries. “The proposal seeks to increase coordination between countries and ensure more efficiency in navigation and cargo transportation along the waterway, with regulatory predictability and legal certainty throughout the concession,” he stated.

The project envisages the provision of essential services for navigation, including beaconing, nautical signaling, hydrological monitoring, operational communication and maintenance of navigability conditions. The implementation of technologies aimed at monitoring vessel traffic and environmental monitoring is also planned, with the aim of increasing the efficiency and safety of operations.

Among the proposals under analysis is the creation of a trilateral mechanism to monitor the concession, establishing common rules for operational coordination, inspection and management of the waterway corridor. Negotiations are led by the Ministry of Ports and Airports, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ) and the Investment Partnership Program (PPI).

The expectation is that a new round of negotiations will be held in the second half of June, aiming to consolidate an agreement between the three countries.

Waterway

The Paraguay River Waterway is responsible for the movement of approximately 10 million tons of cargo per year, including grains, ores, fuel and food. The logistics corridor connects producing regions in the Brazilian Center-West to the La Plata Basin markets, contributing to the reduction of transport costs and the strengthening of South American economic integration.

The initiative is also aligned with the Federal Government’s strategy of expanding the participation of waterway transport in the national logistics matrix, a modality recognized for its energy efficiency and lower environmental impact when moving large volumes of cargo.