ICO and CAF sign a new USD 300 million financing agreement to boost sustainable and digital projects in Latin America and the Caribbean
09 abril 2026
Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – have signed a new 300 million dollar Financing Agreement at an event held in Madrid. The agreement, signed by Manuel Illueca, chairman of ICO, and Sergio Díaz-Granados, executive chairman of CAF, consolidates the strategic alliance that both institutions have maintained for more than 25 years.
With the signing of this ninth agreement, the financial partnership between ICO and CAF is strengthened; agreements have been formalised for a total amount of 1.5 billion, bolstering the support for companies with Spanish interests in the countries where CAF operates, especially in sectors such as infrastructure, energy and water, areas in which the multilateral entity has played a prominent role.
For reference, the five most recent agreements within the financial cooperation between CAF and ICO have enabled the financing of 20 projects in sectors such as sustainable transport, energy, water and sanitation, information and communication technologies (ICTs), education, among others, in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay and the Dominican Republic.
This alliance has successfully contributed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals., of the 2030 Agenda, specifically number 3 (Health and Well-being), 4 (Education), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and 13 (Climate Change).
The new agreement will strengthen the financing of green transition projects, renewable energy, sustainable transport and business digitalisation, while contributing to competitiveness, innovation and technological development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
"This new agreement with ICO strengthens our alliance of more than 25 years and reaffirms the commitment to accelerating the green transition and digital transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean. With these resources, we will continue to promote projects that generate employment, competitiveness and sustainable development, consolidating the role of the private sector and international cooperation as engines of growth,” said Sergio Díaz-Granados, executive chairman of CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean.
As for Manuel Illueca, chairman of Instituto de Crédito Oficial, he stated, "The signing of this agreement represents new impetus to the joint efforts that ICO and CAF have been making for decades. For ICO, this collaboration is fundamental to continue supporting Spanish companies in their international expansion and facilitating their participation in projects that promote sustainable, innovative and high-impact development in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
About ICO and the ICO International Channel Facility
Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) is the Spanish National Promotional Bank, attached to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise. With more than 50 years of experience, ICO has established itself as a benchmark in business financing for internationalisation, through instruments such as the ICO International Channel Facility, whose objective is to promote the projects of Spanish companies who operate overseas through mediation with local financial institutions.
With this facility, ICO has now mobilised over 3.9 billion euros, financing more than 600 projects from Spanish companies in third markets such as Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the United States, North Africa and Turkey.
About CAF
CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – is a multilateral financial institution founded in 1968 and operational since 1970. It is made up of 22 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Spain and Portugal, along with 14 private banks. The organisation is currently in an expansion process that includes the incorporation of new Caribbean countries.
CAF promotes sustainable development and regional integration by financing public and private projects and offering technical cooperation and knowledge generation. Throughout its history, it has established itself as one of the main sources of multilateral financing in the region and as a key player in strategic areas such as infrastructure, sustainability, climate action and social inclusion.