Inter-American Development Bank to increase infrastructure investment

Roberto Vellutini, recently appointed Infrastructure and Environment Division Chief, has promised to lift flagging Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) investment in infrastructure.  While the increase of only $200 million annually is not spectacular and will likely position the IDB in third place in terms of regional infrastructure lending behind the Andean Finance Corporation (CAF) and the Brazilian National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES), the announcement demonstrates the pressure internally at the IDB to push lending for the Initiative for Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA) and major energy initiatives.  Noteworthy in the IDB infrastructure portfolio are Camisea II ($900 million), PetroEcuador ($340 million) and Madeira Hydroelectric Complex-Odebrecht Insurance Guarantee ($200 million). 

Learn more about IIRSA and Camisea as well as other problem projects in Latin America (BIC's website)