The Bank's Executive President, Luciana Botafogo, participated in the LXVI Ordinary Meeting of the Common Market Council and the Summit of Presidents of MERCOSUR and Associated States, and highlighted FONPLATA's institutional progress and its strategic role in promoting the development of the region.

During her speech, the President underscored the ongoing consolidation of FONPLATA’s institutional growth, a bank made up of the five MERCOSUR countries. “We achieved record numbers of approvals and disbursements, doubled our lending capacity, signed new strategic alliances, and maintained an outstanding operational efficiency,” she said.

Specifically on MERCOSUR, she pointed out FONPLATA's management as trustee of FOCEM (Fund for the Structural Convergence of MERCOSUR), as well as its role in providing technical assistance to structure projects seeking access to these resources. Botafogo also highlighted initiatives that received technical and financial support from FONPLATA for their structuring and were approved during the Summit, such as:

• The Water Loss Reduction Project in Corumbá (state of Mato Grosso do Sul), which contributes to guaranteeing access to drinking water and strengthening the sustainable management of shared water resources.

• The Border Strip Development Project in Ponta Porã (state of Mato Grosso do Sul), which seeks to improve urban infrastructure and promote integration between Brazil and Paraguay.

She also mentioned proposals under preparation, such as the Rural Feeder Road — which will improve road connectivity between Brazil and Uruguay — and the Binational Technology Park in Santana do Livramento, aimed at turning this border city into a center of innovation, as well as the recent approval of a project to move onto the second phase of an innovative tool to boost the tourism potential of the Jesuit Road.

Among the social initiatives, the President pointed out the approval of the project “Youth and Borders – Phase II,” which seeks to strengthen public policies aimed at young people in border areas and is conducted in coordination with the MERCOSUR Social Institute.

These advances are the result of the agreements signed between FONPLATA and MERCOSUR during 2024, including technical and financial complementation agreements and a memorandum of understanding with the Mercosur Social Institute.

The Executive President remarked that, in an international scenario characterized by geopolitical tensions and the relocation of value chains, “acting in a coordinated manner as a region not only multiplies the impact of each investment but also strengthens our global insertion and our capacity to build a truly shared development.”

FONPLATA reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting the MERCOSUR countries with professionalism, proximity, and a clear focus on results, positioning itself as a strategic partner for the effective, sustainable, and inclusive integration of the region.

03/07/2025