Breaking News: Government streamlines port management with new agency and advances hydrovia privatization
In a significant move to enhance efficiency and transparency, the government has announced the dissolution of the Administration General of Ports (AGP) and the creation of the National Agency of Ports and Navigation (ANPYN). The decision, communicated by presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni, aims to merge the functions of the AGP with those of two other organizations, reducing expenses and combating corruption.
The organizations absorbed by the ANPYN are the Subsecretariat of Ports and Navigable Ways, responsible for the licensing of the vital Paraná-Paraguay Hydrovia, and the Ente of Control and Management of the Trunk Navigation Way.
Adorni also revealed that the reform would eliminate duplicate entities, reduce staff by 79%, and sell unnecessary real estate and assets. The top management of the disbanded AGP will be entirely replaced. "In 2025, we continue with the reduction of public spending," Adorni concluded in his tweet.
Separately, the government has advanced its plans to privatize the Hydrovia. On November 20, the Chief of Cabinet, Guillermo Francos, announced the commencement of the privatization process, which was later formalized in the Official Gazette through Disposition 34/2024. The 30-year concession will shift the risk to private enterprise and relieve the state from management and maintenance responsibilities.
The tender, originally planned to be handled by the Subsecretariat of Ports and Navigable Ways, will now be managed by the forthcoming ANPYN. Bids will be accepted until January 29, 2025. The officials of the ANPYN will be appointed by the national executive in the coming days.
The objective of the privatization, as stated in the regulatory framework, is to ensure the efficiency and sustainability of the Trunk Navigation Way. By granting the concession to a private entity, the government seeks to improve services, reduce operational costs, and attract investment for infrastructure modernization.
The concession covers a wide range of activities, from dredging and channel maintenance to the installation and operation of signaling systems. The Trunk Navigation Way is a strategic asset for the country’s economic development, and its modernization is expected to boost the competitiveness of the export sector.
