Five case studies for the establishment of public-private associations in Latin Americas

With the purpose of compiling the lessons learned in Spain, Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico and Chile in the structuring and management of the public-private association models, CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, presented the publication Asociación Público-Privada: Aprendiendo de la experiencia  (Public-Private Association: Learning from experience), in an event co-organized with the Ministry of Economics and Finance (MEF) and the Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture, and Industry (CCIAP).

Dulcidio De La Guardia, Minister of Economics and Finance, pointed out that the book "APP in Latin America: Learning from Experience" (Public-Private Associations: Learning from Experience) has a high referential value because it considers the development of executed projects and others that could be executed through the Public-Private Association model with an academic-practical approach, highlighting the experience in the region and specifying the challenges of the projects that have been advanced by those entities from we which must rescue the positive aspects.

For Susana Pinilla, CAF's Director Representative in Panama, the publication promotes the dissemination of knowledge regarding public-private associations (PPAs) as a useful tool for the development of infrastructure and public services. She stated, "The purpose is to contribute to the understanding of the successes and failures through the exchange of experiences in the region, to recognize the aspects that can be improved and recommend good decisions". 

The five case studies were selected based on criteria such as the geographic coverage, the type of project and its singularity: an urban public transportation interchanger in Madrid, to highway concessions in Costa Rica, an airport in Colombia, a municipal administrative center in Mexico, and a prisons program in Chile.

The academic-practical document shows the execution of infrastructure projects in those countries under that financing mechanism, and also examines the evolution of Latin America regarding investment in infrastructure through a global vision, and describes the challenges that the region faces for the future in the application of PPAs.  

The inauguration of the event was in charge of Dulcidio De La Guardia, Minister of Economics and Finances. The dialogue tables included the participation of Horacio Estribi, Advisor to the MEF, Felix de Sousa from CCIAP, and Fernando Aramburu Porras, Independent Consultant. 

Thus, currently CAF is more than a bank for its shareholder countries; it is a strategic ally that provides not only financing but also support for the design of public policies. 

To consult the complete publication, click on  http://scioteca.caf.com/handle/123456789/758