WASHINGTON, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CG/LA Infrastructure LLC, the world leader in infrastructure project identification and development, announced the release of its annual list of the Top Infrastructure Projects in Latin America. Total project value is greater than US$200 billion, equivalent to more than 5% of the region's GDP, and with the potential to create over 3.1 million new jobs in the region.  Key drivers are Brazil's massive oil & gas investments, the global commodities boom, and the (finally underway) 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics in Brazil.  

The list is released ahead of the 9th Annual Latin American Leadership Forum (LALF9), which will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 9-11. According to Norman F. Anderson, President & CEO of CG/LA, these projects are real, and describe what the region will look like in 10 years: "Not only are these projects strategic to the region's growth, but for the first time you can see a coherent set of projects that will transform Latin America; Brazil is leading this process, growing at 4-5%, and beginning a long overdue infrastructure build that dominates the list in terms of project value."

Strategic Infrastructure Projects: The Top list, of over 75 projects, covers 10 distinct infrastructure sectors: airports, bridges & highways, electricity generation & transmission, new infrastructure, oil & gas, ports & logistics, freight rail, urban mass transit, digital infrastructure and water & wastewater.  Each of these projects offers strong business opportunities over the next 3-12 months. Petrobras leads the list in terms of the value of projects and will be presenting 5 projects in its US$240 billion/ten year investment program at the Forum.  Other major projects include:

• The Rio/Sao Paulo High Speed Train (US$18 B)
• Costa Rica's Port Moin Container Terminal Concession (US$992 MM)
• The Peru Gas Pipeline to Trujillo (US$1.5 B)
• Colombia's "Autopistas de la Montana" (US$2 B)
• The Guarulhos Passenger Terminal Expansion in Brazil (US$2 B)

To download the list: http://www.cg-la.com

Major Events to be Presented – The World Cup & The Olympics:  "We selected Rio de Janeiro for this year's Forum because it is a city that is re-inventing itself, going beyond tourism to the creation of a booming business environment, development as a cultural center and – the crowning achievement – hosting the 2016 Olympics. More than US$12 billion in projects will be presented from Rio alone," says Mr. Anderson.

Strategic Projects and Public Value Creation: Each year 500+ executives from throughout the Americas, and the world, come together at the Leadership Forum to move strategic projects forward. The 9th Annual Latin American Leadership Forum is hosted by Eduardo Costa Paes, Mayor of Rio, and Luciano Coutinho, President of Brazil's National Infrastructure Bank (BNDES). The Forum will take place at the world famous Copacabana Palace Hotel.  

Sponsors for the Leadership Forum include: Platinum Sponsors CAF (Andean Development Bank), IDB (Inter-American Development Bank), and Scotia Capital. Gold Sponsors include: Banco de Cordoba, Bankia (formerly Caja Madrid), Citi, CH2M Hill, ESRI, ProMexico and the sponsors of Guatemala's premier hydroelectric project.

CG/LA Infrastructure LLC, based in Washington, D.C., with offices in Sao Paulo, Brazil, focuses on creating opportunity in the global infrastructure marketplace by assisting countries, regions, and companies to increase productivity, competitiveness and opportunity creation. We host annual Global, North American and Asian Leadership Forum events, along with our original Latin American Strategic Infrastructure Leadership Forum.  

For more information please visit http://www.cg-la.com/.

SOURCE CG/LA Infrastructure LLC