After five years of construction, the China-backed megaport in Peru has officially opened with promises to transform trade across South America. But for the local community of Chancay, the port has already brought big changes, some not so positive.
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00:00This is what life is like now for the Arguedas family in Chancay, Peru.
00:11Just north of Lima, they've had to deal with daily intruders on their property for
00:15the last few years.
00:18All after a glimpse of the new addition to the neighborhood, a deepwater megaport, funded
00:23mostly by China, right at the Arguedas' doorstep.
00:46Looming over this small fishing community, the $3.6 billion U.S. dollar project is now
00:52the largest shipping complex on the western coast of South America.
00:57And Peru's government is hopeful that the newly opened megaport will transform trade
01:01between South America and Asia.
01:26But there are mixed feelings among Chancay's 60,000 residents.
01:30Since the megaport's construction, fishers have returned from sea with smaller catches.
01:36The waves that once brought local surfers no longer exist.
01:41And the beach is now dotted with warnings of pollution.
01:45While this is not just changing Chancay, it's affected people's income.
02:08But some residents say they realize they can't hold back the tides of progress.
02:36Designed to accommodate some of the world's largest containers, the port was also meant
02:40to give jobs to the locals.
02:43But residents say that has yet to happen.
02:46This megaport has promised to reshape Peru's economy and even trade across South America.
02:51But the biggest change will be seen here, in this once sleepy fishing town, where residents
02:56and fishermen must now learn to adapt to their new role as the doorway to South America.
03:01Scott Huang, Risa Ayres and Harrell Hughes in Chancay, Peru for Taiwan Plus.
03:06For more UN videos visit www.un.org