Baranquilla: legislation will boost role
Legislation recently passed by the Colombian parliament may have the effect of boosting the importance of the Pacific coast port of Barranquilla. The new law makes it easier to put together viable public-private partnerships in the maritime sector meaning that privatisation of ports should become a lot easier. This, it is hoped, will attract more long term investment and boost operational productivity.
According to Abdullah Syaifuddin, president director of state-owned port operator PT.
Barranquilla is particularly well placed to take advantage of this given its geographical position close to the Panama Canal. With a private operator in place, it may well be able to attract transhipment container traffic to feed US West Coast ports and the AsiaPacific region. Its main competitor, Puerto Cabello in neighbouring Venezuela, suffers from having to operate against a volatile social background and with a comparatively weak economy.
Barranquilla also stands at the mouth of the Magdalena River which is being upgraded to extend the level of navigability. The 1600km waterway has undergone considerable modernisation over recent years, including bringing eight ports into play along the length of the Magdalena River.
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