Colombia's New Transport Minister Elsa Noguera Prioritizes Barranquilla Airport Modernization and Private Infrastructure

Elsa Noguera, appointed as Colombia's Transport Minister in the incoming administration of President‑elect Abelardo de la Espriella, said modernising the Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport in Barranquilla will be a flagship project. The plan seeks to boost regional air connectivity and involves private‑sector investment estimated at around 3 billion pesos, alongside a broader agenda to restore investor confidence and fast‑track strategic works.

Noguera also highlighted the need to deepen private participation in transport infrastructure, targeting an increase of private investment to about 30 % of the economy. She announced a technical review of the second‑phase concession for the Autopista del Café and stressed that any changes must preserve the financial balance of existing contracts. The minister warned that fiscal constraints limit public spending, making private capital essential for projects such as the Bogotá and Medellín metros, the expansion of El Dorado airport, and key road corridors linking production zones to ports.