Balbuena confirmed the cancellation of the construction of a casino and hotel on the eleven-hectare site owned by the ANNP, which is located at the head of the Friendship Bridge (Puente de la Amistad), an arch bridge connecting the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu and Ciudad del Este.
According to Balbuena, the reason for the suspension of the process is a judicial conflict between the National Administration of Navigation and Ports (ANNP) and a private company over the 11 hectares property. The dispute is currently ongoing in the courts with Suisse Investment Corp SA, which had already leased the property in 2013.
In March 2017, President Cartes by decree authorised the call for tender for the concession of the land to foreign investors for the construction of a large-scale hotel and casino on the site. The building currently houses a number of government offices including the Customs Office.
The use of the ANNP site as a casino and hotel has caused considerable controversy. The Alto Paraná regional headquarters of the Paraguayan Chamber of Construction (CAPACO) as well as a number of architect guilds and university faculties had joined other organisations calling for plans for the casino to be scrapped.
Source: GMB / G3 Newswire
