A delegation from the Polytechnic University of Milan, a public Italian university, arrived in El Salvador over the weekend to share their knowledge on the megaproject known as the Pacific Train. They conducted a masterful presentation in the presence of Romeo Rodríguez, the Minister of Public Works in El Salvador.

Hoy el Ministro @RomeoHerrera1 recibe a una comitiva de @PolisMaking del Politécnico de Milán, una universidad pública italiana, que ha llegado al país para aportar sus conocimientos en el tema del Tren del Pacífico. pic.twitter.com/lHHY0yzlp7

— Ministerio de Obras Públicas (@ObrasPublicasSV) June 10, 2023

The official highlighted the impact of this megaproject and the main reasons behind its implementation. According to him, El Salvador and Central America face competitive disadvantages compared to other countries around the world. According to data from the Inter-American Development Bank, the average speed of transporting goods in the region is 17 kilometers per hour.

“Uno de los retos actuales es el transporte. El Salvador y Centroamérica tiene desventajas competitivas frente a otros países del mundo. Según @el_bid la velocidad promedio en que se transportan las mercancías es de 17 kilómetros por hora”, Ministro @RomeoHerrera1. pic.twitter.com/haFUZrFJIn

— Ministerio de Obras Públicas (@ObrasPublicasSV) June 10, 2023

“That is why we have developed a Regional Master Plan for Mobility and Logistics to improve the transit times of goods through customs, as well as railway, port, airport, and road projects,” he explained.

The Pacific Train will connect the capital city, San Salvador, with Acajutla, and may include an extension from the Port of Acajutla to La Hachadura, at the border with Guatemala. The design for the first phase of the project, which will require an investment of approximately $300 million, is already in place. Authorities have announced that its extension will be expanded in the future.

The aim of this project is to reduce the transportation time of goods, which currently takes about 45 days to reach the United States, to approximately two and a half days. This would have a direct impact on trade, as well as the economic development and growth of the country.

Rodríguez emphasized that the improved security situation in the country has increased tourism, as well as public and private investment. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Public Works has delivered significant projects to the population, such as the Utila flyover, the Comalapa overpass, and the Surf City project, among others.

“We continue to take significant steps towards implementing new projects that contribute to improving the road connectivity for Salvadorans,” the Ministry of Public Works announced on Twitter.