The Inter-American Corporation for Infrastructure Financing (CIFI), a leader non-bank financial institution dedicated to run projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, has decided to move its headquarters to Panama City. The objective of this measure is to leverage closer to the region to further boost its activity there.

The move to Panama coincides with the 15th anniversary of the corporation. Since the beginning of its activity in 2001, CIFI has evaluated over 600 potential transactions, of which has financed over 160, representing total investments of more than US1.3 billion dollars. All these projects have played a key role in economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Panama is a key financial center in Latin America and the Caribbean which concentrates 90 banks. Our presence here will help strengthen that role, given the importance of our shareholder: commercial banks, private investment funds and multilateral agencies,” said César Cañedo, CEO of CIFI.

According to Cañedo, one of the key elements when stepping into Panama has been the country´s role as a “logistic and strategic hub that can be accessed quickly by the main capitals of Latin America and the Caribbean”.

CIFI will maintain the link with Washington DC, a city that has been vital in the successful history of the institution, given the presence of multilateral organizations there. Among them the International Finance Corporation (part of the World Bank), which is a CIFI shareholder.

The shareholders of CIFI are one of the added values of the institution, because in it there are multilateral companies such as the IFC or the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE); funds such as the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries or the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation; and banks like Caixa Banco de Investimento, Banistmo, Banco Itau-Unibanco or Pichincha.

In addition to its expertise in infrastructure and deep knowledge of the region, other distinctive features of CIFI are its agility in providing alternative and structured financing solutions to its clients and the socio-environmental commitment. The track record and achievements of the company have been recognized over the years with international distinctions.