Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President Ilan Goldfajn today began a visit to Peru and Jamaica with his World Bank counterpart, President Ajay Banga. It is the first time that the presidents of both institutions make a joint visit.

During their visit to Peru, the presidents will meet with President Dina Boluarte and top country authorities, and will make a field visit to the Metropolitano, Lima's mass transportation service. In Jamaica they will meet with Prime Minister Andrew Holness and other top authorities of the country.

As part of his tour, President Goldfajn will also visit Colombia, where he will meet with the country's authorities and participate in IDB Lab Forum, the IDB Group's flagship event for innovation in the region.

Latin America and the Caribbean face regional and global challenges which underlines the need for both the IDB and the World Bank to deepen their collaboration to scale and enhance their development impact, in line with the call for greater coordination between the multilateral development banks by the G20 and other institutions and governments.

"I am very pleased to visit Peru, Colombia and Jamaica to strengthen the IDB's commitment to sustainable and inclusive development in these countries," said President Ilan Goldfajn. "The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean face considerable social needs under limited fiscal resources gaps in physical and digital infrastructure that limit sustainable and equitable growth, and the consequences of climate change and the need to align with the goals of the Paris Agreement."

"In view of these challenges, governments are calling on multilateral development banks to work in a coordinated manner, with a focus on effectiveness, to ensure that every dollar invested yields the maximum positive impact for the citizens of our region," said Goldfajn.

The IDB and the World Bank share a vision of ending poverty, improving lives, promoting inclusive growth, and reducing inequality in the region, while addressing the challenges of climate change and other global issues that require action to achieve the sustainable development goals.

Visit to Peru

The IDB is one of the main sources of multilateral financing in Peru and a strategic partner that has worked in coordination with the government for the development of the country since 1961. The Bank works hand in hand with the national and regional governments to reduce poverty, fight against social inequalities and promote sustainable economic development in the region.

The IDB has reinforced its technical and financial support for the protection of Amazonian ecosystems, with actions to reduce deforestation and the identification of sustainable methods to protect the forest.

Visit to Colombia

After visiting Peru, President Goldfajn will travel to Colombia where he will participate in IDB Lab Forum, a high-level event that brings together the protagonists of entrepreneurial ecosystems that promote innovation and technology in Latin America and the Caribbean. The second edition of this event organized by IDB Lab, the innovation laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, will take place in Bogota on June 13-14.

Visit to Jamaica

After visiting Colombia, he meets again with President Banga for a joint visit to Kingston, Jamaica, with the country’s high authorities.

In Jamaica, the IDB seeks to achieve inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth and deepen work with the private sector, including the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and financial markets. Bank support includes seeking ways to lower Jamaica's high energy costs, accelerating the digital transformation of government services, and improvements to the water and sanitation system, health and social protection systems.

President Goldfajn will then head to Montego Bay to participate on June 15 in Outsource2LAC, the main export event for digital and knowledge-based services in Latin America and the Caribbean.