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printer-friendly Trade and Development
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Related Topics - IIRSA infrastructure integration
plan emerges as key issue at the 2004 IDB Annual Meetings in Lima
The Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA)
initiative aims to increase regional competitiveness and productivity through
a series of steps to physically integrate the South America region while simultaneously
reforming key sectoral processes. Civil society groups repeatedly raised their
concerns regarding IIRSA and regional integration during the Annual Meetings in
Lima.
In addition to the official IDB seminars on regional integration, civil society groups participated in various meetings around the topic such as a meeting with the managers of Regional Operations Department 1, numerous meetings with Executive Directors, and an information sharing session between a subset of IDB technical staff and a cross-section of civil society groups concerned with the development of IIRSA.
Key concerns raised
The most significant points that resulted from these meetings were
- Recognition of a severe lack of information and transparency around IIRSA,
and
- A lack of consistency within the Bank around what IIRSA is, to what extent the IDB is currently involved, and how the bank should proceed.
At the meetings, civil society groups voiced many concerns around the IDB’s current involvement in IIRSA. They urged the IDB to clarify what role the private sector will play in IIRSA and cautioned the IDB representatives to carefully consider the cumulative effects of the projects within IIRSA. Similarly, groups pushed for a consistent set of standards for IIRSA projects. Civil society pointed to the need for all development banks involved as well as the private sector to conform to a consistent set of standards and safeguard policies. Also, many groups from the region called for a reconsideration of two specific integration corredors: Hidrovia Paraguay-Parana and las Amazonas.
IDB Response
The IDB responded to these concerns with a call for patience. The IDB technical
staff referred to IIRSA´s new website, which is yet to be disclosed, as
a much improved source of information around the IIRSA initiative. IDB staff noted
the dearth of practical information around IIRSA, and appeared willing to create
spaces for dialogue with civil society. Although civil society’s fundamental
concerns around the IIRSA initiative were not adequately addressed by the IDB,
the Annual Meetings in Lima presented the first real opportunity for discourse.
From the Bank Information Center (http://www.bicusa.org/bicusa/issues/latin_america/1395.php)
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