Overview
- The Executive formalized Decreto 748 and published the tender documents this week to extend the RIGI incentive regime to specified railway infrastructure works and relaxed rules for large tech projects.
- The Ministry of Economy opened a national and international public call to concession the Belgrano, San Martín and Urquiza freight lines for 50 years with submission set to remain open until 11 November.
- Pliegos require mandatory early investment works, allow bidders to buy or be auctioned rolling stock, and establish a fideicomiso to channel proceeds from locomotive and wagon sales exclusively to fund the specified infrastructure works.
- The tender has attracted domestic and international interest from agroexport consortia, mining groups and rail operators and includes a clause excluding firms under control of foreign states that has prompted political and media disputes about its scope.
- Officials and market sources estimate minimum obligatory works near US$800 million while some bidders signal far larger investments, and the government says the plan aims to reverse decades of underinvestment to lower export logistics costs and raise rail capacity.