CAF and Honduras will deepen their relationship with initiatives in agribusiness, public investment and roads
August 19, 2024
CAF's Executive President, Sergio Díaz-Granados, and the Minister of Finance, Marlon Ochoa, signed letters of intent to advance in the evaluation of various initiatives in addition to the first loan granted to the country for USD 80 million last July to promote gender equality and social inclusion in Honduras.
In his first official visit to Honduras, the Executive President of CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, Sergio Díaz-Granados, met with the President of the Republic of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, to reaffirm CAF's commitment to development and inclusive and sustainable growth that improves the quality of life of Hondurans.
During this visit he also met with the Minister of Finance, Marlon Ochoa, who noted that: “In just a few months we have witnessed CAF's agility and commitment to support our strategic development priorities. The first loan granted to Honduras under this alliance, approved by CAF's Board of Directors last July in Lima, Peru, not only demonstrates the trust that this institution places in us, but also its focus on promoting inclusive and equitable development”.
At this meeting, several letters of intent were signed to promote sustainable development, social inclusion and the improvement of national infrastructure. CAF and SEFIN will work together to promote with new financing a credit and guarantee program for the coffee sector with BANADESA; the construction project of the San Pedro Sula - Occidente beltway; and a pre-investment and public investment program.
CAF will also contribute to the progress of Honduras with non-reimbursable technical cooperation to support the National Interoceanic Railway Commission (CONFI) in the development of a comprehensive strategy for the development of the Great National Interoceanic Railway Project of Honduras; and support the Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) in the preparation of studies and final designs for the implementation of the irrigation program for micro, small and medium scale in an area of up to 10,000 ha in order to meet the needs of irrigation coverage in Honduras.
“It is our intention as a development bank to accompany the projects and aspirations of the Honduran government to translate many of the initiatives that have been proposed into development, and CAF wants to be a traveling companion in this process. In CAF we want to continue supporting projects and programs that leverage and target the country's economic growth, which is an aspiration of all Hondurans to reduce poverty,” said Sergio Diaz-Granados.
Minister Ochoa added: “Each of these programs and projects is one more step towards the re-foundation of Honduras. A fair, equitable and inclusive Honduras where everyone has the opportunity to progress. And on this path, collaboration with CAF has become a fundamental pillar. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to CAF President Sergio Diaz-Granados and his team for their strong support and commitment to the progress of our nation. Their confidence encourages us to continue working even harder, knowing that we are not alone in this mission to re-found Honduras”.
It is worth noting that in November 2023, the Republic of Honduras fulfilled all the conditions approved by the Assembly of Shareholders and became the twenty-first shareholder country of the multilateral organization, with which the country seeks to strengthen its presence in the region, diversify its sources of financing, access resources under favorable financial conditions, as well as technical assistance resources and knowledge products that will improve the well-being of the population and the country's competitiveness.