At the agreement signing, was U.S. director of the IDB, Gustavo Arnavat, the director for Central America, Manuel Coronel, the resident representative in Honduras, Miguel Manzi, the representative of Honduras before the organization, Marlon Tábora, Honduras Finance Minister, William Chong Wong, the Minister of the Presidency, María Antonieta Guillén and the President of Grupo Financiero Ficohsa [Ficohsa Financial Group], Camilo Átala

This credit line aims to create fundamental instruments to finance projects which under other circumstances would be difficult to obtain.

In addition to the loan, will be technical assistance for small power producers to help them better structure their projects.

This is the first green credit line financed by the IDB in Central America, and whose component includes funds from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which has directed resources to finance such projects.

This credit, which is one of the first fruits of labor seen from the international business forum, “Honduras is Open for Business” opens the door to structuring this type of project in the future.

Of the 44 small renewable energy projects that were approved last year, many of them have gained interest in participation for the financing.

In addition, last week, during a visit to Washington by the designated presidential Minister of the Presidency and Coordinator of the Economic Cabinet, Maríe Antoinette Guillén, the IDB approved a funding of 37 million dollars for Honduras to support President Lobo Sosa’s government-driven program of “One Laptop Per Child”, according to the representative of Honduras to the body, Marlon Tábora.

The financing will help more than 54,000 children; 564 computers will be given to schools, an additional 2,600 laptops to teachers, and an equal number of servers to schools who are participating in the program that seeks to improve the quality of education in Honduras.

Later this month, the bank will provide financing in the amount of 25 million dollars for the National Population Census and the Agriculture Census in order to implement the National Statistics Institute’s (INE) plan to provide accurate information in order to plan the projects included in the National Plan and Vision of the Country.

Also, the IDB approved financing (by next July) for the Safety and Justice program to combat crime through the institutional strengthening of the Ministry of Security, Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ), and the Attorney General’s Office.

The Patuca III hydroelectric project, however, is awaiting financing, in addition to technical assistance grants for studies of the reservoir.

Also expected is the funding of projects for the National Electric Energy Company (ENEE), technical studies for identifying the best practices for model cities, support for public-private partnerships and technical assistance to strengthen investment in the expansion of facilities at Puerto Cortes, and support to improve the Integrated Financial Management System (SIAFI) that manages the Ministry of Finance.