CABEI inaugurates regional water and sanitation forum
The event was organized by CABEI with the participation of national and international experts.
Tegucigalpa, September 22, 2015. – Today, in the face of the huge challenges presented by climate change, especially with regard to potable water supply, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) inaugurated a forum denominated, “The 2nd Regional Public Service Forum: Water for All.”
The two-day event was held at the CABEI headquarters with the participation of experts from Central America, Colombia, Mexico and Spain.
During the event’s inaugural ceremony, CABEI Executive Vice President Attorney Alejandro Rodríguez Zamora stated that, “The Bank is committed to supporting regional efforts in order to provide a platform for dialogue at the highest level regarding the water and sanitation sector.”
He also stated that, “CABEI’s approach to the water and sanitation sector falls in the framework of its focus area of ‘Human Development and Social Infrastructure,’ which supports initiatives to improve human capital development and the quality of life through the provision of basic services and the creation of mechanisms to streamline the labor market."
Attorney Rodríguez noted that in order to establish the water and sanitation sector intervention strategy on a regional level, CABEI has implemented a number of strategic instruments, such as the Regional Water and Sanitation Program (PRAS), which aims to improve the quality of life of 52,186,061 people in Central America and the Dominican Republic by providing access to basic services, including potable water and sanitation services, as well as wastewater treatment. These development interventions are effectively improving the current conditions of the target population.
The CABEI Vice President also summarized CABEI’s contribution to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with regard to water and sanitation, declaring that over 55 years, the Bank has approved US$784 million in the area, 85% of which, amounting to US$667.47 million, has been disbursed over the last ten years. Thus, CABEI has contributed to increasing universal potable water coverage by promoting efficient extraction and distribution methods to avoid losses; improving sanitation mechanisms; treating water to prepare it for human consumption; wastewater treatment; and promoting active social participation to ensure the sustainability of the services.
The forum provided a platform for experts to analyze global technological and cooperation issues in order to deal with the problem of water scarcity.
