Forum promotes schemes to improve development infrastructure

(Lima, June 19, 2007).- The forum "Investment in Infrastructure and Development: Public Private Partnerships” organized by the Special ProInvestment Commission of the Peruvian Congress and Corporación Financiera de Desarrollo (COFIDE), with support from the Andean Development Corporation, will be held June 22 in Lima Country Club. The event emphasizes the need to implement innovative, efficient and effective schemes to improve development infrastructure, particularly in the regions.

The forum, which will be attended by distinguished speakers and panelists from the public and private sectors, will underscore close cooperation between public and private sectors in an effort to close the enormous gap in infrastructure investment in Peru.

The following have confirmed their presence at the event: President of Congress Mercedes Cabanillas; president of the Council and Ministers Jorge del Castillo; CAF representative in Peru Germán Jaramillo; COFIDE President Luis Rebolledo Soberón; president of the Special Commission ProInvestment Cesar Zumaeta; Minister of Energy and Mines Juan Valdivia; and president of Banco de la Nación Enrique Cornejo.

The forum is expected to identify important regional demands related to infrastructure appropriate for development through public-private partnerships, promote exchange of ideas and, in particular, develop a broad dialogue based on greater knowledge with a view to building the consensus needed to guarantee the dynamic and sustainable development of infrastructure investment.

The activity will also contribute to the exchange of international and national experiences on the importance of speeding up investment in infrastructure and the role that public-private partnerships can play by debating their advantages and limitations.

The event also aims to promote dialogue between agents (lawmakers, national authorities, subnational governments, civil society, private companies, etc) whose shared vision is needed to guarantee dynamic and sustainable investment.

The CAF contribution will be reflected in a substantial improvement in the possibilities of policymaking and identification of priorities and implementation mechanisms related to investment in infrastructure projects with a view to attracting more local and international resources.

CAF has consistently supported initiatives to encourage the dialogue focused on improving conditions as a way of guaranteeing that investments in development infrastructure are sustainable and executed with transparency, promoting decisions based on the best information available for all the agents involved.

Support for this type of event strengthens the recognized leadership role of the regional development bank in this area. CAF’s participation will also continue building consensus with the subnational governments participating in the forum.