Department of Regional Development and Environment 
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The assistance is geared toward working with the countries as they plan and execute sustainable development programs at the regional level. The activities include diagnostic studies, formulation of sustainable development strategies and policies, identification of investment projects and preparation of those projects at the profile, preinvestment and investment levels.
In Brazil, the Department continued to assist the Irrigation Administration (SIR) to strengthen its technical expertise and operational skills, particularly on activities related to its systems for planning, executing, monitoring and supervising irrigation projects. There were also measures to strengthen the technical expertise and management capability of state coordination agencies for irrigation projects. The Institution has made a contribution of $621,700 for 1994, with funds that it receives from the World Bank.
In Guyana, as part of the Kimbia and Mainstay Regional Development Plan, the work to evaluate the agricultural and livestock capability of the Kimbia region was completed and an agricultural development strategy was designed, which involved identifying potential investment projects and preparing their profiles. As part of the OAS technical cooperation, technicians from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Enterprise (EMBRAPA) conducted a mission to provide assistance in designing agricultural technologies for the interior savannas and to review the preliminary agricultural development plan.
In Mexico, the second phase of the Project on Ecology-based Organization of Geographic Regions with Priority Productive Activities was launched. The purpose of that project is to prepare proposals for organizing selected areas of the states of Sinaloa and Nayarit.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the technical cooperation was completed with preparation of the feasibility studies on two priority projects included in the Regional Integral Development Plan: the Multiple-Use Forestry Project and the Salyba Beach Recreation Project, involving an investment of an estimated $5 million.
In Uruguay, Phase II of the Regional Project on Forestry Investment Alternatives got under way under the Agreement concluded between the General Secretariat and the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP), with a contribution of $180,000. Of that amount, $160,000 came from the National Preinvestment Fund (FONADEP-IDB) and $12,000 from the MGAP's Forestry Office. The purpose of the project is to examine the potential for exports of national raw materials on the regional and international markets, to prepare a set of proposed basic rules to govern a control and certification system, and preparation of preliminary technical projects on sawmills.
Also in Uruguay, work continued on the Project on Uruguay's Transportation Alternatives in MERCOSUR. Also conducted were demand studies, composite analyses of the trade flows in MERCOSUR and of Uruguay's cross-border foreign trade, an analysis of the grain-export sector in the River Plate Basin, a product-by-product analysis of Paraguay's foreign trade cargo; studies on supply, physical infrastructure network, international and regional network and an analysis of the transportation industry. Additional work was done on the proposed transportation and investment model and the proposal on river port alternatives for forestry products was completed. A contribution of $390,000 was received from FONPLATA for this project.
In Suriname, advisory services were provided to Planbureau for the activities being conducted under the National Integrated Development Project, in connection with research on underground water for the Greater Paramaribo Water Supply System. A report was prepared on environmental considerations and regional development for purposes of refurbishment of the Saramacca Canal.
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