Actors networks in the Bioceanic Road Corridor “Mato Grosso do Sul – Ports of Northern Chile”: diagnosis and proposal for a multilevel governance

Abstract

The Bi-Oceanic Road Corridor connecting Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Chile is a project aimed,
among other objectives, at providing new development opportunities to peripheral regions in the Tropic of
Capricorn. However, regional transformation requires more than just physical infrastructure; it particularly
necessitates effective coordination among diverse actors to achieve development. The main objective of
this document is to provide a detailed explanation of the actor network structure within the Bi-Oceanic
Highway Corridor and propose a potential governance approach that facilitates improved coordination
among participants. Through Social Network Analysis (SNA), we conducted an exploration of the participation
dynamics and decision-making among the different actors involved. Our primary findings reveal a low level of
private sector engagement, limited transnational links (with more interactions occurring among actors from
the same country), scarce connections between national and subnational/local government actors, as well
as minimal involvement of the national government in Argentina. Regarding the governance proposal, we
suggest the creation of two new committees (Social and Environmental Development, and Border Security),
the promotion of business missions with a regional integration approach, and the preservation of the progress
made by the CVB Working Group.