The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MTC) will be investing between 70 and 75 percent of its budget for next year, amounting to 3,600 million soles, to road construction, announced the new Minister of Transport and Communications Enrique Cornejo. "Of the 3,600 million suns that have the budget of the ERM, 70 or 75 percent will be used to finance roads through National Provias, I will put emphasis on making sure the projects already underway in all country can move forward in the pace expected, "he said.

He said that ongoing road construction is a key issue for management in the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MTC) in 2009 and thus made inspection visits to road projects being implemented nationwide.

"I will seek to work with us in this Parliament, with various congressmen and benches, as well as regional and municipal governments," he said.

He explained that to ensure that the Peruvian economy reaches 6.5 percent growth forecast for the year 2009 will have to work on improving the infrastructure.

"The infrastructure will not stop (in 2009), the infrastructure will continue with a major effort of public and private investment and we will make the greatest efforts for the construction of roads, highways, telecommunications infrastructure, housing and construction in general to accompany the growth process, "he said.

Additionally, he mentioned that another major challenge for management will be the expansion of telecommunications service to more remote areas of Peru.

"We put the total connection to Peru in 2011, so that no single district capital that has no fixed or mobile telephone because communications are an essential tool but also an instrument of inclusion and social justice," noted .

Cornejo said that another challenge for management will continue to improve the Peruvian ports and airports, and will allow to be used in a correct manner the validity of the Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that has negotiated and is negotiating Peru .

"From nothing would be worth all the effort that Peru made to put these agreements into effect if the infrastructure is not available, if the ports are not competitive, if the roads is not a time for them to get the trucks to ships and aircraft they can do their job, "he said.

The new minister offered a word of appreciation to his predecessor, Verónica Zavala.

"It has certainly made a very important task that will be recognized as time passes and the projects being developed across the country, to start opening, and developed the comprehensive effort in the various aspects that the MTC has," he said.

Source: And