By Marco AquinoLIMA (Reuters) - The Peruvian government said on Friday it has awarded a subsidiary of Chinese firm Jinzhao a contract to build a port in the south of the Andean nation, expected to require $405 million in investments. As part of the deal, Jinzhao Peru will receive a concession to operate the port for 30 years, according to the head of state investment agency Proinversion, Jose Salardi. With the project, Jinzhao will become the second Chinese firm to build and operate a port in Peru, one of the world's top copper producers. In the north of Peru, a subsidiary of Chinese firm Cosco Shipping Ports is building a "megaport" set to kick off operations at the end of this year. Jinzhao's port, in the southern region of Ica, is near its Pampa de Pongo iron project, set to require a $2.34 billion investment in its "pre-feasibility stage."

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Persons: Marco Aquino LIMA, Proinversion, Jose Salardi, Salardi, Marco Aquino, Kylie Madry, Leslie Adler Organizations: Reuters, Jinzhao, Cosco Shipping Locations: Peruvian, Jinzhao Peru, Peru, Ica, Pampa