Why this is important to Wisconsin businesses: Peru is currently the fastest-growing economy in South America.

With a budget of over $1.5 billion, the expansion of the Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru, has finally been given a green light after more than 17 years of waiting. This is yet another sign that Peru is South America’s fastest-growing economy, with a GDP growth of 2.5 percent in 2017.

The airport’s expansion includes the design and construction of two new airstrips and a new terminal, along with a business complex with new logistics zones and warehouses, parking areas and a new control tower. This will enlarge the airport from 2 million to 9 million square meters and allow it to serve more than 30 million passengers a year. The expansion is expected to create hundreds of new jobs in the surrounding community.

The winning team for the bidding comprises FCC Construcción, Salini Impregilo and AECOM, with work experience in airports in countries such as Spain, Italy, Latvia, Guatemala and Colombia. These companies will need large quantities of supplies from multiple sectors to complete the airport project, and Wisconsin companies can help meet that demand.