Four "mega-projects".

FOUR "MEGA-PROJECTS". Guatemala's President, Oscar Berger, has announced four "mega-projects" that will be undertaken during his term. The four projects are: (1) a peripheral inter-oceanic ring highway; (2) the construction of an industrial fishing port in Champerico; (3) a new international airport near Guatemala City; and (4) the sanitation of Lake Amatitlan:

The Port of Champerico Mega-Project has been estimated to cost US$100 million. It will consist of a number of infrastructure buildings for maritime and port-related use, to cover the Western region of the country. The project consists of: construction of a wavebreaking wall; a fishing and tourism-oriented dock; 3-service as an international fishing port; plans for organization and assistance to fishing companies in the region; a free trade zone and industrial park for the processing of sea products;

The Lake Amatitlan Environmental Project (cost: US$55 million) is comprised of four individual projects that will address the issues of the lake's heavy pollution and the lack of an adequate water supply in the densely-populated Amatitlan Lake area;

The International Airport is a US$1.2 billion project involving the construction of a new international airport, to be located in the central region of Guatemala, 80 kms from the capital city. This project will be overseen by the Executive Unit of the New Guatemalan Intercontinental Airport (UNEPRA), a division of the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (MCIV), established by Government Decree 954-2004. Bidding is scheduled to open in 2006;

The Inter-Oceanic Ring Highway involves the construction of three sections of a four-to-six lane highway that will connect the Atlantic Highway with the Pacific Highway. Total investment: US$89 million.;

Pre-feasibility studies have been conducted by the Megaproject Office of Guatemala and the Empresa Portuaria de Champerico, with donated funds. This project will require further feasibility studies and construction. Details: (1) Dr. Luis Flores Asturias, Commisioner, Oficina de Megaproyectos or: Ing. Luis Angel Bolanos, Manager, FIS--Fondo de Inversion Social, Edificio Los Arcos, 2 Ave. 20-13, Zona 10. 01010 Guatemala, Guatemala. Tel: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail]. Web: www.fis.gob.gt; (2) U.S. companies may also wish to contact the Commercial Service of the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala: Ana Maria Solares. Commercial Specialist. Foreign Commercial Service. U.S. Embassy Guatemala. Tel: [phone], ext. 4310. Fax: [phone]. [e-mail] And Mr. Javier Fortin. Commercial Specialist. U.S. Embassy Guatemala. Tel: [phone], ext. 4490. Fax: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail]