Investment in transport infrastructure in Colombia during the 2007-10 period will total US$10bn, national planning department head Carolina Rentería told BNamericas.
The amount includes investments in roads and highways, ports, airports and railways, said Rentería.
About 50% of the US$10bn will be covered by the public sector, especially road and highway projects, which include the country's complementary corridors for competitiveness, designed to connect major highway and rail corridors to all departments and major municipalities, she said.
The remaining US$5bn will be covered by the private sector through concession initiatives that include ports - which by law are handled by the private sector - airports and major highway initiatives.
In terms of the advances in the national development plan, Rentería said they are going as expected, and major investments have already been made. If all goes well, the US$10bn investment goal could even be surpassed, she added.
The development plan was designed by the country's transport and public works ministry, together with the national government, to increase competitiveness, which leads to economic growth and the reduction of poverty.
The plan seeks to improve national and international connectivity, reduce cargo transport time and costs, improve logistics and boost trade both within the country and on an international level, President Álvaro Uribe told BNamericas in a past interview.
Colombia's exports are mainly destined to Venezuela and the US. The country is looking to diversify its market to increase trade and improve the economy, while reducing its dependence on a few countries, said Uribe during a meeting with textile and clothing exporters earlier this year.
In the meantime national, regional and local government officials are working together with the private sector to improve and optimize production, promoting Colombia as a stable and high-potential investment and productive market.
The public and private sectors are also involved in a number of advertizing campaigns, led by the "Colombia es Pasión" initiative, to promote Colombian products internationally, national export promotion agency Proexport's head of international strategic development, Natalia Jiménez, told BNamericas.
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