CABEI fosters the social and economic development of El Salvador

For over five decades the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) has supported the region by promoting its integration and the balanced economic and social development of its nations. Over the last five years, CABEI has disbursed US$1.41 billion to El Salvador, financing numerous important projects in the country. Yesterday it approved US$1.0 million in non-reimbursable financial cooperation to strengthen the capacities of the Administrative and Finance Subdivision of El Salvador’s national police force.

The funds will be allocated for the following purposes: construction material for making repairs to 17 police stations (US$162.4 thousand); computer equipment, hardware and software (US$160.1 thousand); furniture (US$318.8 thousand); equipment and tools for specialized work by different units (US$153.4 thousand); installation and startup of equipment operation at 12 dental clinics (US$155.3 thousand); and supervision, evaluation and auditing (US$50.0 thousand).

This project will directly benefit 27,404 employees, including police officers (79.2%) and administrative staff (20.8%) in the Ministry of Justice and Public Safety. 87.4% (23,941) of the beneficiary population is male and 12.6% (3,463) is female.

The execution of the CABEI cooperation will improve the dental health of the national police force personnel and improve the installations of 17 police stations. By improving their work environment, it will also have a positive effect on worker morale. The computer equipment and software will improve the efficiency of administrative personnel and the service at the dental clinics.


Promoting strategic infrastructure initiatives

The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) also approved US$92 million to El Salvador’s Autonomous Executive Port Commission to partially finance the “Air and Maritime Port Development and Support Program."

The program aims to optimize, rehabilitate and modernize port and airport facilities, helping to make El Salvador into a competitive hub for value-added logistics services and distribution.

The implementation of the different infrastructure and equipment projects in the Program framework seeks to strengthen the country’s port and airport infrastructure, thus guaranteeing safe, efficient and competitive regional operations. The investments to be financed are highly important to the country and will contribute to ensuring safety and quality levels at the nation’s ports and airports.

The operation falls within the framework of CABEI’s 2010-2014 Institutional Strategy, "Competitiveness with Social Integration and Development." Productive infrastructure is one of the strategic areas prioritized by CABEI in El Salvador.

Other important financing

The Bank’s support to El Salvador in 2012 also includes the recently approved US$71 million financing for the program, "Strengthening the Penitentiary System of El Salvador." With this program CABEI plans to improve the quality of life of more than 25,000 prisoners.

The investment will help to reduce overcrowding in prisons and promote rehabilitation processes to guarantee the productive reintegration of the prisoners into Salvadoran society. The program will expand the capacity of the country’s prison system by creating 13,380 new spaces and thereby reducing overcrowding. Currently Salvadoran penitentiary centers are operating at 218% overcapacity. The program principally involves the construction of prisons and the refurbishing of prison farms.

CABEI working for the environment

Yesterday, the Bank’s Board of Directors authorized the donation of two CABEI properties known as Isla Tasajera and Punta Cordoncillo to government of El Salvador in order to conserve and restore the country’s biodiversity and ecosystems.

As the region’s development bank, CABEI seeks to foster environmental protection and rational natural resource use in order to achieve the sustainable development of the Central American region pursuant to CABEI’s Institutional Strategy, "Competitiveness with Social Integration and Development."

CABEI will continue to work to improve the quality of life of Central Americans by supporting programs and projects that encourage human development, social infrastructure and the modernization of the institutional framework of the region’s nations.