WASHINGTON, USA - IDB Invest will support the modernisation of the São Borja–Santo Tomé International Bridge, a key cross-border connection between Brazil and Argentina, through a financing package of $35 million to CS Rodovias Mercosul.
The project includes the rehabilitation of the international bridge, the pavement and infrastructure improvements of 15.6 kilometers of access roads on both sides of the border, and the expansion and modernisation of the Unified customs and border facility. Planned upgrades include the expansion of the truck yard, new scanners, new highway scales, and monitoring and information systems designed to improve border processing for passenger and freight traffic.
“This project reflects IDB Invest’s commitment to strengthening connectivity and trade across the Southern Cone by supporting high-impact infrastructure that links markets and people. By improving the efficiency and reliability of this key corridor between Brazil and Argentina, we are helping unlock greater economic opportunity, enhance regional coordination, and reinforce the role of the private sector in advancing sustainable growth in Mercosur,” said Gian Franco Carassale, managing director of the Southern Cone for IDB Invest.
“The IDB Invest’s participation demonstrates the project’s relevance to strengthening integration and cooperation between Brazil and Argentina. This is a unique undertaking that brings Brazilian and Argentine authorities together in a joint effort, with the potential to mark the beginning of a new cycle of growth based on regional integration and greater efficiency in foreign trade. This initiative is fully aligned with CS Infra’s strategy to improve service delivery and increase the productivity of already-structured concessions in real-economy sectors,” said Fernando Quintas, CEO of CS Infra.
The project is expected to contribute to phytosanitary and customs controls, increase effective capacity, and improve the reliability of the corridor. These improvements will support trade facilitation and logistics efficiency along one of the most important transport corridors connecting Brazil and Argentina, contributing to stronger regional integration within the Mercosur.
The operation is aligned with the Brazil Country Strategy 2024–2027 and the Argentina Country Strategy 2025–2028, particularly the priorities of strengthening transport infrastructure, facilitating international trade, and promoting regional integration through private -sector participation. The project also advances the IDB Group’s “South Connection” program, which aims to promote connectivity, facilitate trade, and support sustainable growth in South America.
IDB Invest’s participation includes a $17.5 million loan and the mobilisation of an additional $17.5 million from the IDB-managed JICA Trust Fund for Achieving Development of Latin America and the Caribbean (TADAC Fund). The financing structure supports long-term investment in a binational asset where access to comparable market financing is limited.
Beyond financing, IDB Invest will support the project by applying international risk management standards. These measures aim to strengthen operational management, stakeholder engagement, and safety practices throughout construction and operation, contributing to the corridor’s long-term resilience.
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