In Guatemala, legislative barriers are delaying 3 loan approvals for infrastructure, competitiveness and development.
Three loans totaling $179 million are in danger of being lost due to delays in Congress in approving the loans, despite having them on the agenda.
One is for $29 million for a National Programme for Competitiveness (Pronacom), which is on the verge of collapse due to lack of funds, reports El Diario de Centro America.
The IDB has provided a $2 million credit line to ProCredit Bank SA for a program of credit and technical assistance for community water projects.
A press release from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) reads:
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will help to expand and improve access to clean and affordable water to poor communities in El Salvador with a loan of U.S.
The program of projects will focus on environmental education, security and infrastructure.
The Costa Rican government has announced the implementation of a series of public works projects worth $6.5 billion of which 62% will be financed by loans.
The government hopes that the projects, once initiated, will improve the performance of the economy, which has tended to slow down since last year.
The IDB will make available $ 1.000 million over the next four years to develop infrastructure and energy projects.
Among projects to be developed is the improvement of the bay area in Panama City, programs to strengthen the energy sector, investments in sanitation and drinking water and programs which strengthen fiscal management.
Prensa.com reports, "Panama will receive an IDB loan for emergency contingencies against natural disasters.
The country is negotiating a loan with the World Bank for $ 100 million and another with the BCIE for $ 265 million in order to assist in the emergency.
This was announced by Finance Minister Edgar Balsells during the Donor Conference on Reconstruction. These loans adds to the $ 250 million loan announced by the IDB.
According to Sigloxxi.com, "These resources, he explained, will join others with the implementation of a unique and temporary tax for employers and employees, as well as Anti-Evasion Law and donations from friendly countries, it is estimated that reconstruction would have a total cost of $ 1,905 million."
The Inter-American Development Bank has earmarked the funds for energy, transportation and environment.
Daniel Zelikow, executive vice president of the bank, explained that one of the goals is to extend power availability to 60%-80% of the country’s rural areas.
Laprensa.com.ni published further comments by Zelikow: “And this is not only a matter of infrastructure, it also means tackling poverty, as it improves the standard of living and provides job opportunities for individuals”.
The funds loaned by IDB, will be administered by the National Fund of Social Housing, and will enlarge the lines of credit micro finance institutions.
Low income families will be able to access these credits to finance their homes or lots, upgrade their residences or home building.
"The program will benefit some 2.300 families, granting them individual loans averaging $3.000, in addition to the home subsidy they can request in the national housing program", reported Elsalvador.com.
During the first working session after two months of conflict, the Assembly approved six contracts for loans totaling $108.
Elnuevodiario.com.ni reports: "The approve credit includes $20 million granted by the IDB in September for fiscal management improvement and to help the Sandinista Government to increase tax collection.
This is followed by a loan for $28.5 million that the Import and Export Bank of South Korea provided in order to expand the potable water system in eastern Nicaragua and for training.