The IDB has loaned Costa Rica $80 million to finance the construction, equipping, and improvement of the border crossings of Peñas Blancas, Paso Canoas, Sixaola and Las Tablillas.
According to a statement from the Foreign Trade Ministry (COMEX), the news was announced by the Minister of Foreign Trade, Anabel Gonzalez, on the morning of 9th January at a public event involving exporters, carriers and representatives of the institutions involved in this initiative.
Projects that are not covered by funds from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, could have $60 million in financing offered by the IDB.
According to an article Laprensagrafica.com the IDB representative in El Salvador, Rodrigo Parot, indicated that they are in discussions with the Salvadoran government "about the possibility of linking us to the efforts made in the Association for Growth of the coastal strip - marina and we will be working on a project to leverage resources for these projects "
At a cost of $60 million, the Italian company Franco Tosi Meccanica will start renovating in January 2013 the "Central America" and "Carlos Fonseca" hydropower stations.
In December 2008, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $40.2 million loan for this project, which five years later looks set to materialize, now with additional funding from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE).
Over the next three years, the Government plans to build 4,000 new social housing units.
Additionally, the program aims to renovate 4,250 housing units, deliver 5,000 titles and improve basic services for 4,000 families.
"The Housing and Integral Habitat Enhancement Program (Prohabitat) provide direct subsidies to families with monthly incomes of up to $370 (8,700 cordobas) and is executed by the Nicaraguan Institute for Urban and Rural Housing (INVUR)", reported La Prensa.com.ni.
The financing has been assured by the Inter-American Development Bank, but the construction works that would increase the influx of international tourism by 20% are still awaiting a political decision.
IDB funds of $6.3 million, the land and the plans are all available, the only thing lacking is the political will to build it.
The president of the National Chamber of Tourism in Honduras (CANATURH), Epaminondas Marinakys together with a Spanish expert in tourism have met with the Finance Minister who promised to carry out the project, adding "even if it is late, it has to be done" .
According to the IDB, the percentage of the population living in substandard homes or those who do not have adequate housing, reaches 78% in Nicaragua, 67% in Guatemala, 58% in El Salvador, 57% in Honduras, 39% in Panama and 18% in Costa Rica.
An IDB study indicates that over two thirds of households in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Bolivia and Peru live in poor housing. Brazil and Mexico are the countries which have the largest deficits.
Within the framework of the project Water for All, the Guatemalan government will put out tender in August several drinking water and sanitation projects worth about $50 million.
The projects to be tendered will use funds provided by the Cooperación Española and the Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID), and will benefit six associations.
According to Elperiodico.com.gt, "Carles Puigmarti, head of the sustainable local development program at the Cooperación Española, said that at the moment they are conducting auctions of works via the Guatecompras website for the first disbursement."
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.
On April 4th, a tender process will begin for the construction of a terminal for the Integrated Transport System for the Metropolitan Area of San Salvador (SITRAMSS).
The terminal will be located in the municipality of Soyapango, will cost $4 million and according to the plans, construction should begin 45 days after the award of the tender, said Vice Minister of Transport, Nelson Garcia.
The Salvadoran Congress has authorized loan applications of up to $30 million for the Rural Connectivity Programme in the North and East of the country.
The amount will be managed by the Ministry of Finance and will be signed with the OPEN Fund for International Development (OFID), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), reported DiarioCoLatino.com.
Several organizations are working on a management plan for roads and trade and in the border area of Paso Canoas.
Extending the customs buildings, demarcation of public roads, relocation of small businesses located at present on the sidewalks and the possible construction of a sewerage system are some of the actions included in the project.
A project by the Inter-American Development Bank on possible improvements to be made in the area is being examined by authorities in Costa Rica and Panama.
Later this month construction will begin on a plant for drying and storing onions in the municipality of Güinope, El Paraíso.
The head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), Jacobo Regalado, also announced the planned construction of another plant in the department of Ocotepequeuna. In addition, a facility for drying and storing potatoes will be built in Intibucá.
A collection system and treatment plant should be operational in 2014, allowing the decontamination of Panama Bay and its tributaries.
The project will require $600 million and is reportedly 80% complete.
An article in Prensa.com reports that "At a cost of $245 million, the plant is projected to perform to high standards until 2035, when it must then expand its capacity.
The IADB has objected to the methodology used to award the works for the expansion of the Interamerican North highway to the Spanish consortium FCC.
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which is funding the expansion works, objected to the methodology used to analyze the reasonableness of prices, saying it violates the loan agreement approved by Congress.
The funds are earmarked to improve the penal justice system and consolidate property registry in the Protected Areas.
A press release from the Ministry of Finance reads:
Two important agreements on financial cooperation in support of the Justice and Environmental sectors for a total of $52 million were signed today between the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the State of Guatemala, through the Ministry of Finance.