The Proposal

The Mexican Government has been promoting the development of a large container port in Baja, California for several years. In fact, several government officials have referred to the project as the most important infrastructure project in Mexico – one that will leave a legacy for the Calderon Administration. In August 2008, President Calderon travelled to the remote coastal community ofPunta Colonet to announce the commencement of the Government’s formal bidding process for a port the size of the Los Angeles Port.

Proponents expect the port to eventually handle 6 to 8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually. This could be the largest port built in North America in the last century, the most massive infrastructure project in recent Mexican history, and the biggest greenfield project ever attempted in Latin America.The port at Punta Colonet is intended to compete with the crowded and costly Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports. Those ports each handle approximately 7-8 million TEUs annually.Through the bidding process, a consortium of companies will receive concessions to:

1.        Construct a commercial container port and necessary facilities;

2.        Construct and operate a rail line from Punta Colonet to one or two locations on the U.S.-Mexico border; and

3.        Operate and manage as the Port Authority during a 45-year lease.

PUNTA COLONET PREDICTIONS*