OREANDA-NEWS. December 01, 2015. CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, approved a loan for USD 100 million to the mayoralty of Manaus, capital of the Amazon State in Brazil. The funds are aimed at the implementation of the "Programa de integraci?n, movilidad y desarrollo de la ciudad de Manaos" (Integration, mobility, and development of the city of Manaus Program), which will take actions to recover degraded areas and generate new public spaces such as the construction of the Ponta Branca Park, to promote the development of tourism as an integrating part of the city.  

This initiative includes the improvement of urban mobility through the implementation of two road complexes and the construction of a passenger terminal. These works will be integrated to the ongoing development of a modern BRT system (Bus Rapid Transit) managed by the municipality. The project's actions will directly impact approximately 1.7 million people who live in the capital, and will contribute to reduce green house gas emissions in the region. The total cost of the program reaches USD 200 million, of which USD 100 million will be financed by CAF and the rest will be financed by the local counterpart. 

At the same time, CAF approved a loan for USD 92 million to the Municipality of Porto Alegre, aimed at optimizing the city's urban infrastructure by recovering and adapting the public and functional image of the city's historic center, improving the urban space and favoring a regulation of the flow of people and different types of products. In addition, the edges of Lake Guaiba will be repaired, by implementing an architectural project of renowned architect Jaime Lerner,  and the emblematic Usina del Gas?metro (Gasholder Plant) will be recovered. A road network of over 100 kilometers will be rehabilitated in the city, and about 21 kilometers of bike lanes will be constructed. 

The Institution's financing is aimed at the "Programa de articulaci?n y recalificaci?n del espacio urbano, esparcimiento, acceso y movilidad de Porto Alegre" (Coordination and Rezoning of the urban and recreational space, access, and mobility of Porto Alegre), with a total cost of USD 184 million of which 50% will be financed by CAF, and 50% by the Municipality of Porto Alegre. 

Enrique Garcia, CAF's Executive President, stated, "The interventions that will be carried out in Manaus and Porto Alegre are framed within our comprehensive vision for the development of cities, incorporating the concept of walking cities by promoting investments in mobility, recreation, and use of public spaces in cities to improve the quality of life of their inhabitants, as well as boosting their competitiveness".