In 2005, the Office continued a substantial outreach program and dialogues with Japan's private sector on business opportunities with the IDB group (IDB, MIF, and IIC) and to provide guidance on applicable Bank procurement policies and procedures. In this connection, the Office handled a large number of contacts from consultants, trading firms, NGOs, and other development agencies.

The Office also organized a series of business information seminars targeting consulting firms, trading firms, and other private entities. This year, in addition to regular seminars at its PIC, the Office expanded its networks in the Kansai area by holding one such seminar in Osaka for the first time.

Another new initiative of the Office was to utilize the videoconference system for dialogues between Japanese and LAC business-interested groups. The Office organized two pre-bidding videoconferences with officers of the Japan Special Fund (JSF) of the Bank's Financial Services Subdepartment (FSS) and the project team members in country offices processing technical cooperation projects funded by the Japan Fund for Consultancy Services (JCF).