Sergio Díaz-Granados
Executive President, CAF -Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean-
Colombia
In a global context of economic volatility, geopolitical uncertainty and trade tensions, it is essential for Colombia to have strategic allies to overcome the historical gaps that have overshadowed the dreams of the most vulnerable populations, from those living in rural areas with the highest poverty rates, to ethnic communities, women, children and informal workers.
CAF -development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean- is one of the country's great allies in advancing sustainable development. Since its founding in 1968 in Bogota, we have supported Colombia by financing large-scale programs and projects that have contributed to socioeconomic progress and improved the quality of life of Colombians.
And in these times of great transformation, we want to take our historical commitment to Colombia to another level. For this reason, we have developed a new strategy for the next four years that will contribute to meeting the SDGs and achieving a more equitable, prosperous and economically vibrant country, where we can close the gaps with the countryside, better integrate into global value chains, encourage innovation and business development, and where there is greater access to health, education, security and quality jobs.
CAF's new strategy in Colombia is aligned with the National Development Plan (NDP) "Colombia, World Power of Life" and is the result of the dedicated work of the Government and dozens of experts and analysts. We are bringing to the table two sets that, well combined, will contribute great value to the country's development: on the one hand, the strategic lines of the PND that set the course for development; and on the other hand, CAF's more than 50 years of knowledge and experience throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to finance high value-added development projects.
CAF's strategy in Colombia focuses on four pillars: rural development, social equity, productive transformation and institutional modernization.
Sergio Díaz-Granados, executive president of CAF.
The first is one of the great historical aspirations of the country's development, and that is why we want to strengthen intra- and inter-regional links, recognizing the relations between cities and the countryside, through actions aimed at consolidating public services and goods.
Our commitment to social equity aims to contribute to closing gaps in the quality of life of the population, providing more and better opportunities and promoting the growth of capabilities in the most unequal populations through the formation of human capital, the generation of quality employment and the improvement of health coverage and quality.
The third pillar refers to sustainable productive transformation to expand the country's export potential for green goods and services. This pillar focuses on physical and logistical connectivity, developing private sector capacities, and favoring energy transition and climate resilience.
The last pillar emphasizes institutional strengthening and modernization, which aims to strengthen the capacities of those responsible for public policies and thus promote the efficiency of state institutions, digital government, regulatory improvement and systems of transparency and integrity in public management.
The 2030 Agenda obliges us to work together to build a fairer and more prosperous country. And this is a work that we must do together (the public sector, the private sector, multilateral banks and civil society) to reduce the alarming and unsustainable social inequality in the country.
We are aware that in the coming years the situation will bring us greater challenges, and Colombia can always count on CAF's full support. The country needs to advance a development agenda to close the historic gaps in health, education, productivity, digitalization, inequality and poverty. Colombia has the renewed support of CAF, an unconditional ally to promote the well-being of all Colombians.
