Civil Engineer Crafts Colombia�s $5.5-Billion Transportation Program
Colombia is currently working to develop more than a dozen major infrastructure projects worth more than $5.5 billion. In addition, the Transportation Ministry is moving forward with efforts to construct and revitalize existing highways, seaports, airports, railroads and waterways. Transportation Minister Andres Uriel is President Alvaro Uribe�s point man in this ambitious undertaking.
Uriel became Colombia�s Minister of Transportation in 2002 when he was named to the post by Uribe, the country�s newly elected. A longtime friend of the president, Uriel served as the Secretary of Public Works in the state of Antioquia between 1995 and 1998 when Uribe was governor there. Uriel graduated from the National University of Colombia with a degree in civil engineering and later obtained a postgraduate degree in structures from the university. He has served on the civil engineering faculty at the National University and has taught labor practices at various universities in Colombia.