On 16th March 2024, the National Commission for the Interoceanic Railway in Honduras (CONFI) designated the port of Puerto Castilla as an area of national interest for the construction of the Interoceanic Railway line. The port in the Colón region is considered a key area for the project, which aims to connect the Gulf of Fonseca with the Caribbean Sea. The government of Honduras also reported successful talks in Mexico, which will form the basis for the project. The establishment of a public-private partnership (PPP) was brought into play for the project back in October 2023. The project worth €18.4 billion (US$20 billion) was presented to Chinese representatives after Honduras established diplomatic relations, which was made possible by the severing of relations with Taiwan. Groups from Spain, Italy and South Korea have also shown interest. The project includes the expansion of the port of Castilla and the construction of another port on the Pacific island of Amapala. The railway corridor is intended to complement the Panama Canal, which is only navigable to a limited extent due to its depth.
