Meeting with IDB and the World Bank - Washington DC

Representatives of the RTPO Network Visibility Group travelled to Washington DC to hold meetings with authorities and officials from various sectors related to Trade and competitiveness of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and World Bank (WB).

The working agenda consisted of 8 meetings with authorities and officials from various sectors related to foreign trade and competitiveness of the international organizations IDB and WB. In the context of these meetings, the group presented various programs, financial and non-financial instruments (research, capacity building) and exchange of information for exploration of joint activities.

At the IDB, the department in charge of the AID Program for Trade (AFT) was presented to the RPTO group to be taken into account as a provider of technical assistance. The group was informed about the change in direction of the location of the funds of the Multilateral investment Fund (MIF), which is no longer primarily intended to support projects related to trade promotion and currently geared to a new strategic framework: access to finance, market and capabilities, access to basic services.

At the World Bank, the international trade department official was presented to the RTPO to be taken into account as a provider of technical assistance, proposal well received by the official who highlighted the importance of the sub-national level. The visibility group also had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Doing Business Program (economic indicators program for investment decisions) and representatives of the SME (on-line platform training for small and medium enterprises). 

Finally, the visibility group representatives had the opportunity to meet with the Support Services area of the investment of the International Finance Corporation. Officials expressed very pleased with the exposure of Cordoba, highlighting the importance of the sub-national level and experience of the province.