CABEI ready to initiate three programs approved by the National Congress in Honduras to benefit more than 3.2 million Hondurans and 88 thousand families

Tegucigalpa, March 14, 2024 – The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) is beginning the implementation of three new operations in the Republic of Honduras, whose financing agreements were recently approved in the plenary session of the National Congress and published in the Official Gazette. The agreements are aimed at strengthening road infrastructure, the hospital network, agribusiness and rural savings banks, and are expected to benefit more than 3.2 million Hondurans and 88 thousand families.

These operations are framed within CABEI's Country Strategy for Honduras 2022-2026, contributing to its three Pillars: modernizing and strengthening sustainable productive infrastructure; expanding access to decent services and social infrastructure; and promoting sustainable competitiveness.

The "Honduras Resilient Roads Program (PCR-HN)" aims to rehabilitate, improve, expand and build 308.0 kilometers with hydraulic concrete and/or asphalt concrete technology on the Danlí-Trojes and Ojo de Agua-Cantarranas highways; the Honduras Tourist Corridor, which includes the road tranches from La Barca - El Progreso to Tela and La Ceiba.  The design of the bypass of the city of El Progreso, the studies and designs for the Santa Rosa de Copán - Cucuyagua and Chamelecón - Naco highways.  The US$606.9 million program will benefit the tourism and commercial sectors, 175,000 daily drivers, 3,600 temporary jobs, and more than 3 million Hondurans.

The first work to begin will be the Danlí-Trojes highway, the bidding processes for which will be announced very soon.

The "Support Program for the Hospital Network of the Republic of Honduras (PARH)" has US$135.0 million and we are currently in the International Public Bidding process to hire the consulting firm for the Design, Construction, Equipment and Start-up of the San Isidro Hospital in Tocoa; and the New Regional Hospital del Sur in Choluteca.  The objective of the program is to improve and increase the availability, access and coverage of quality and specialized services that will improve the living conditions of more than 841,000 inhabitants.

The bids for the Choluteca and Tocoa Hospitals are already in process, and bids are expected to be received by April 2024.

The "Credit Program for Agribusiness and Rural Banks in the Republic of Honduras" will strengthen local economies and generate income for vulnerable households; 2,071 rural banks will serve to boost the agricultural and agribusiness sector by providing 4,354 producers with access to credit and technical assistance services. The total amount of the program is US$100 million; however, only US$25 million corresponds to a new loan approved and US$75 million comes from the redirection of an existing loan. The Executing Agency, which is the Solidarity Network Program, is currently in compliance with conditions prior to the first disbursement, including the Operating Manual for Program execution.

The three interventions are aligned with CABEI's Institutional Strategy 2020-2024, in the Strategic Axes of Sustainable Competitiveness and Human Development.