On 13 June Minister-president Bourgeois met with Dr. Paul Oquist, Nicaraguan Minister for the Implementation of the Interoceanic Canal. The minister came to Flanders to attend the opening of the Kieldrechtsluis, the biggest lock in the world, and to report on the progress made in the Interoceanic Canal project to Minister-president Bourgeois. In 2015, there were already two meetings on this megaproject. .
Minister Oquist is the special envoy for this project, which is set out to become the main competitor of the Panama Canal in linking the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. For its realization - at an estimated cost of $ 50 billion - Nicaragua will have to rely on experts in the maritime sector. Flanders has a number of global players in the civil construction sector, in the dredging and maritime sector and in the environmental sector. The Government's expertise of the Government in this area is also highly regarded worldwide. The project is a tremendous opportunity to strengthen economic ties with Nicaragua.
Minister-president Bourgeois: "The Interoceanic Canal is one of the biggest projects of our time. A project of this size and complexity, which in addition to the realization of the canal new ports, locks construction, railways and other infrastructure are necessary, offers many opportunities for our Flemish maritime and civil construction sector."
