The elected Vice President of Colombia, José Manuel Restrepo, stated that the technical cooperation announced by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) represents support for the start of Abelardo De La Espriella’s government, after the entity clarified that the funds correspond to non-reimbursable assistance that has not yet been disbursed.
Restrepo’s statement came after the IDB responded to a right of petition submitted by ‘Caracol Radio’.
In that document, the multilateral organization explained that the technical cooperation amounts to approximately US$63 million, that the funds have not yet been disbursed, and that their use will depend on the decision made by the government taking office on August 7.
Through his account on the social network X, Restrepo said that the joint work between the IDB and the president-elect’s team began from the first conversation between the Bank’s president, Ilan Goldfajn, and Abelardo De La Espriella.
He added that this agenda was consolidated this week during meetings in Washington, where, according to him, the foundations of cooperation to support the start of the new administration were defined.
The elected Vice President stated that the IDB’s statement confirms a non-reimbursable technical cooperation platform for approximately US$63 million.
As he explained, these funds do not represent debt for Colombia and will be aimed at providing technical assistance through the knowledge and experience of the organization’s specialists.
Restrepo noted that the Bank’s support would focus on assisting the development of the National Development Plan, the structuring of strategic projects, and strengthening the institutional capacities of the State during the first months of the new government.
In his message, he also quoted a statement from the IDB president, Ilan Goldfajn: “When a country gains time, it gains development.”
For Restrepo, this cooperation will allow the incoming administration to have technical tools to accelerate the formulation of public policies and the execution of prioritized projects.
From the first moment the IDB President, @igoldfajn, held his conversation with the President-Elect @ABDELAESPRIELLA, a joint work route was outlined to support the new government. That agenda was consolidated this week in Washington and marks the beginning of… pic.twitter.com/4fOqH69UeU
— José Manuel Restrepo Abondano (@jrestrp) July 18, 2026
IDB Statement
According to the IDB statement, the objective is to accelerate the preparation and execution of the new government’s strategic priorities to facilitate the development of its reform, investment, and development agenda from the start of the administration.
The Bank explained that the approximately US$63 million correspond to non-reimbursable technical cooperation operations that have already been approved and remain pending disbursement.
The implementation of these funds will be carried out progressively, according to the execution schedules of each operation and the priorities jointly defined between Colombia and the IDB.
According to the entity, non-reimbursable technical cooperation is part of the usual instruments of the Inter-American Development Bank.
Operations are approved continuously, and their disbursements are made gradually as projects and development priorities established between the country and the multilateral organization advance.
The IDB reported that during a recent high-level mission in Washington, it held meetings with the elected Vice President, José Manuel Restrepo, as well as with the designated Ministers of Finance and Commerce, Industry, and Tourism.
In those meetings, a roadmap was consolidated to continue the cooperation process and accelerate the preparation of initiatives considered priorities.
As part of this agenda, the Bank announced that on July 29 and 30, a technical mission led by the Vice President of Countries and Regional Integration, Anabel González, will take place.
The team will work together with the incoming government on structuring cooperation operations and identifying strategic projects that support the priorities at the start of the new administration.
JOS GUERRERO
ALCANCE DIGITAL EDITORIAL
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