30 August 2016: The UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) have jointly launched an online database offering data on infrastructure investments made in Latin America. The database is meant to serve as an instrument for the analysis and development of quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, as called for in Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, Infrastructure).

The three organizations launched the database, called INFRALATAM, on 30 August 2016.

Initially, INFRALATAM covers public and private investments in four infrastructure sectors: water and sanitation, irrigation and flood defenses; energy; transport; and telecommunications. It covers investments during the 2008-2013 period, in 15 Latin American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

Annual updates of INFRALATAM are expected to add coverage of more countries and more years, and to continually improve the data available. The information provided aims to fill data gaps, as well as promote and enrich discussion about the role of infrastructure in sustainable development among Latin American and Caribbean policy makers, planners, investors, scholars, builders, equipment suppliers and civil society organizations. [ECLAC Press Release] [INFRALATAM Database]