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Inter-American
Development
Bank
Approves
New
Loans
For
Costa
Rica
Focus
is
on
transport,
energy,
public
safety,
innovation,
early
childhood
development
and
social
programs
The
Board
of
Directors
of
the
Inter-American
Development
Bank
(IDB)
approved
a
new
country
strategy
with
Costa
Rica,
which
has
a
financial
framework
for
implementation
in
the
range
of
$700
million
to
$1.06
billion
for
the
period
2011–2014.
Although
the
Inter-American
Development
Bank
(IDB)
has
approved
loans
of
up
to
us$1
billion
for
the
country,
the
cap
of
depends
on
the
Legislative
Assembly
passing
the
tax
reforms
by
the
government.
If
legislators
do
not
give
the
green
light
to
tax
reform,
the
loan
will
be
only
us$700
million.
The
strategy
focuses
on
sectors
where
Costa
Rica
faces
constraints
for
its
growth,
such
as
transport,
energy,
early
childhood
development
and
innovation.
It
also
covers
issues
that
have
demanded
priority
attention
in
recent
years,
such
as
public
safety
and
health.
The
sectors
identified
in
the
strategy
are
in
line
with
the
pillars
of
the
Costa
Rican
government
plan.
Infrastructure
The
low
quality
of
the
infrastructure,
especially
in
transport,
is
one
of
the
factors
that
affect
Costa
Rica’s
productivity,
increasing
logistical
costs
and
affecting
business
decisions
regarding
location,
investment
and
production.
IDB
interventions
seek
to
improve
the
quality
and
maintenance
of
the
national
and
cantonal
road
network
as
well
as
Costa
Rica’s
ports
and
airports.
The
goal
is
to
reduce
travel
costs
and
times
for
both
goods
and
persons.
While
highway
infrastructure
is
one
aspect
of
the
plan,
emphasis
is
also
placed
on
public
transport.
The
IDB
will
support
investments
to
modernize
and
strengthen
Costa
Rica’s
energy
sector.
The
goals
include
boosting
the
installed
generation
capacity
from
2,412
megawatts
(2009)
to
2,677
megawatts
in
2014,
attracting
more
private
sector
producers
by
reinforcing
the
regulatory
framework.
The
Bank
also
plans
to
promote
the
use
of
renewable
energy
sources,
raising
their
participation
from
1,787
megawatts
to
1,972
megawatts
and
strengthening
Costa
Rica’s
integration
in
the
regional
electricity
market.
Public
Safety
The
strategy
aims
at
containing
violence
and
crime
in
Costa
Rica,
boosting
the
state’s
capacity
to
prevent
and
fight
organized
crime.
The
program
includes
professionalizing
and
training
police
forces,
developing
social
prevention
programs
for
at-risk
young
adults
and
communities
and
promoting
the
social
reintegration
of
lawbreakers.
Social
Programs
Children
from
poor
households
face
significant
delays
in
their
physical,
emotional
and
cognitive
development.
Evidence
shows
that
early
childhood
development
interventions
help
break
the
intergenerational
transmission
of
poverty.
The
IDB
will
provide
support
for
strengthening
a
system
to
protect
early
childhood.
Plans
include
building
and
equipping
the
National
Child
Care
and
Development
Network
and
stimulating
labor
market
access
for
the
mothers
it
serves.
Costa
Rica’s
has
very
positive
health
indicators
but
budget
limitations
have
affected
the
maintenance
and
expansion
of
the
service
network.
The
strategy
seeks
to
update
coverage
to
fit
a
new
epidemiological
profile
based
on
an
aging
population,
as
well
to
expand
access
to
health
services
for
the
poorest.
It
also
aims
to
modernize
and
expand
primary
and
tertiary
health
facilities
and
to
improve
the
quality
and
organization
of
the
hospital
system.
Innovation
The
IDB
will
focus
on
strengthening
and
increasing
the
scope
of
financing
instruments,
including
technological
development
funds
and
seed
capital.
It
will
promote
the
development
of
advanced
human
technical/scientific
capital
adapted
to
the
demands
of
the
business
sector.
The
Bank
will
also
support
technology-transfer
programs
and
activities
that
link
universities
with
businesses,
and
plans
to
increase
access
to
and
the
use
of
information
and
communication
technologies
in
the
productive
sector.
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