American President Lines uses Manzanillo on the Pacific as a major port of entry for cargo from Asia, which it ships and trucks primarily into the U.S. Midwest, according to vice president Joaqu n Montalv n. In southeastern Mexico, the ports of Coatzacoalcos and Salina Cruz and an old railroad across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec are functional but in poor condition. In the other Central American countries and Colombia, dry and wet canal proposals have circulated for years. But none have advanced as far as Nicaragua's. Costa Rica recently rejected the idea as too expensive and incompatible with its ecotourism industry.
Poor roads make oxcarts a practical form of transport in parts of rural Nicaragua.
In Nicaragua, by contrast, the government has welcomed the dry canal. According to Bosco, the project also has the support of opposition leader Daniel Ortega. After construction, Bosco estimated, the dry canal's permanent operations will employ 6,000 to 7,000, with each direct position generating another two or three support jobs. With unemployment over 50 percent and 70 percent of Nicaraguans living in poverty, a common response to questions about the project was to rub thumb against index and middle fingers to indicate the cash they hoped the project would spread around. Francisco Campbell, member of the Central American Parliament, said training and good jobs were the key to insuring that the project benefits local people.