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The Government has officially suspended the tender for the concession to dredge and mark the waterway, alleging a lack of competition in the process. The measure, published in the Official Gazette, nullified the opening of the envelopes, given that only one company submitted a formal offer. The National Ports and Navigation Agency (ANPYN) confirmed that eleven companies had shown interest in the tender, with a total of 121 enquiries made. However, only the firm Dredging, Environmental and Marine Engineering (DEME) submitted a proposal in the opening of envelope No. 1. Faced with this situation, the Government decided to cancel the process and promised to launch a new call for tenders. The private sector and the provinces involved are requesting technical modifications to the specifications to ensure greater participation in the next tender. At the same time, the Government has named the company DEME as responsible for complaints of alleged direction of the process. The importance of the waterway lies in its key role in Argentine foreign trade, since a large part of the countrys exports transit through the Main Navigable Waterway. In this regard, the Government justified its decision with the argument that a greater number of bidders would allow for more equitable and beneficial competition for the State. In addition, it instructed the Legal Affairs Department to investigate possible anti-competitive conduct in the bidding process. The debate over the tender also sparked a political controversy. The government accused actors linked to the previous administration of having exerted pressure so that other companies would not participate in the tender. According to statements made by the head of the ANPYN in Congress, the possibility of crimes linked to unfair competition and possible treason against the country by political and business sectors is being investigated. For the time being, the parties interested in the concession of the waterway are awaiting the definition of a new call for tenders, while negotiations continue to establish the terms of the new tender document. |
