Colombia’s national infrastructure agency, ANI, has begun prequalifying potential bidders for concessions to widen six roads totalling 920 km and worth $6.7 billion. Bidding for these projects is due to start in January. Further calls for offers covering another 1,737-km of route are due next March, June and in late 2013.

Representatives of around 114 international firms attended last month’s launch of the six-year upgrade program by President Juan Manuel Santos. The International Finance Corporation and Latin American bank Corporación Andina de Fomento helped draft a recent law and plan the concessions program.