CABEI promotes water and sanitation projects in the region

Tegucigalpa, March 22, 2017. - (AFP SERVICES/CABEI)The Executive Vice President of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) Attorney Alejandro Rodríguez Zamora stated that, “CABEI has approved projects for the improvement and distribution of potable water in the region’s countries for an amount of US$1.05 billion, of which 71% (808 million) has been approved during the last three years.”

He also added that, “The projects include infrastructure works, automation of control systems, pumping stations and potable and residual water distribution and treatment plants in order to improve the service.”
Noteworthy works financed by CABEI during the past year include the installation of potable water and wastewater treatment infrastructure in the coastal areas of Costa Rica amounting to US$164.1 million. These projects seek to ensure, through expansions and improvements, the sustainability of eight collection, purification and distribution systems, mainly in the coastal provinces of Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Limón. In addition, the Bank plans to finance the construction of 17 administrative buildings, facilities and control centers, as well as the construction and equipment of a National Water Laboratory.
In Panama, US$100 million was approved to partially finance the design and construction of sanitary sewer systems in the capital’s Arraiján and La Chorrera districts in order to recover rivers and streams and expand water collection and wastewater treatment systems.
The Bank also disbursed US$33.9 million to Nicaragua for the execution of water supply, wastewater disposal, waste management and decontamination projects in 19 cities.
Given the importance of the sector, CABEI also has funds to carry out feasibility studies for the design of water supply and sanitation projects that cover the different environmental, social, technical and economic aspects.

Commitment
CABEI joins the commemoration of World Water Day, which reminds us of the importance of the rational use of water resources. The Bank's Executive Vice President reiterated the CABEI’s commitment to continue supporting initiatives, programs and projects aimed at promoting water availability and sustainable management, fulfilling its mandate of providing the population with adequate means to exercise their human right to water access, while at the same time seeking the protection and conservation of water producing areas.

The CABEI 2015-2019 Institutional Strategy includes the water sector as an essential element for human progress and social infrastructure. Its initiatives are aimed at improving the population’s development and quality of life and also seek to ensure that the infrastructure withstand the impacts of events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, droughts, deforestation and forest fires.