Discusses key economic indicators and trade statistics, which countries are dominant in the market, the U.S. market share, the political situation if relevant, the top reasons why U.S. companies should consider exporting to this country, and other issues that affect trade, e.g., terrorism, currency devaluations, trade agreements.
Last Published: 9/8/2018
The Inter-American Development Bank Group is the largest development finance institution for Latin America. Established in 1959 after the Organization of American States drafted the Articles of Agreement, today it is dedicated to achieving three overarching goals: social inclusion and inequality, productivity and innovation, and economic integration – and three cross-cutting issues – gender equality and diversity, climate change and environmental sustainability and institutional capacity and the rule of law.

The Inter-American Development Bank is a family of three international organizations:
  • The IDB: IDB does sovereign lending—concessional depending on the country (about 80% of total lending)
  • The IDB Invest: As of November 2017, the commercial name of the private sector lending arm changed from the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) to IDB Invest. IDB Invest is the private sector lending arm of the Bank (about 20% of total lending).
  • The Multilateral Investment Fund: The FOMIN, or “MIF” provides grants and is more free to innovative and be creative in finding solutions to support social and economic development. MIF, for instance has a project to support workers in the informal recycling industry to integrate into a more structured business that promotes their wellbeing and protects them better.
Most opportunities for American firms come in three categories:
  • Project Procurement: A developing country government borrows funds from the IDB for a public works project (goods, works, consulting/advisory services); that government runs a public competition and selects vendors
  • Bank Executed Operational (BEO) Procurement: the IDB purchases a broad array of consulting and advisory services to perform project evaluation and preparation work as well as Technical Cooperation (TCs).
  • Project financing for private sector: U.S. companies can apply for project financing with the IDB invest to support qualified private sector investments located in the 26 borrowing member countries.
Much of the information needed to participate in Inter-American Development group funded projects is specific to the countries in which the projects are conducted, not to the IDB itself. As such, many segments of a traditional Country Commercial Guide are not included here. To learn about country-specific aspects of doing business in countries of interest to your firm see each country’s Country Commercial Guide.

Understanding how to approach these opportunities requires careful analysis and a strategic approach. Read through this guide as a first step on that journey.
 
In addition, the risk insurance services of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), like those of the U.S. Government’s Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), can help American firms engage, even in the world’s most challenging environments, with a greater sense of confidence.

 
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.