Peru's north-eastern rainforest Loreto region needs one more port and connection to the rest of the country in order to improve its economy, Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski affirmed on Friday.
Remarks were made while talking to Iquitos' High Performance School (COAR) students about development.
Within this framework, the Head of State indicated the Iquitos Port had ended up in the middle of a forest in the past due to the river course.
Thus, a new modern port is needed.
"The fundamental question to Iquitos is whether it should connect to the rest of the country through a highway. I do believe it should, as I suggested in my message," the President expressed.
"But we don't want the highway to become a road for forest invasion and illegal logging […]," he warned.
While answering a student's question on how to improve Loreto's economy, the Head of State stressed the need for electric connection in the rainforest region. However, it must not affect local Pacaya Samiria Natural Reserve.
"I'd rather invest the money in the highway and build a new electric power plant that runs on gas which, unlike oil, does not pollute […]," Mr. Kuczynski said.
"Two power plants are located here [in Loreto]. I built one 32 years ago, and the other one is a cold reserve for the future," he added.
Education
He also noted government's support to COARs is essential for improving education quality in the region. This, he said, must be joined by State services reaching out to the entire population.
According to the Head of State, the Itinerant Social Action Platforms (PIAS) provide support in this sense.
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