The European Union confirms its commitment at the XXII National Infrastructure Congress and supports the announcement of Colombia's first green bond for Bogotá

This Thursday, 27 November, the Ambassador of the European Union to Colombia, François Roudié, visits Cartagena to participate in the XXII National Infrastructure Congress, an event that brings together the main actors in the sector to debate and promote key solutions in sustainable development and climate adaptability.

Within the framework of the Congress, the announcement will be made of a green bond for the city of Bogotá, aimed at financing investments in sustainable mobility. The capital is the first city in Latin America to issue this innovative financing instrument. The event will be attended by the Mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán, Ambassador François Roudié, and the Regional Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Elizabeth Martínez Marcano. The European Union provided technical support for this issuance as part of its Global Gateway strategy, through the Global Green Growth Institute.

On this matter, Ambassador François Roudié highlights: "Through the Global Gateway sustainable investment agenda, the European Union consolidates itself as a global reference in green finance, from the design of sustainable taxonomy frameworks to advances in transparency standards. We celebrate this milestone in our partnership with Bogotá. This issuance is a significant example of how climate action and financial innovation can come together to transform territories. Bogotá and the European Union demonstrate that green bonds are not just financial instruments, but also tools for action."

The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) promoted the issuance as anchor investors, while BNP Paribas and Goldman Sachs acted as main structurers and placers. Of the total placed, 93.4% was allocated to international investors and 6.6% to local investors, demonstrating market confidence in the operation.

Green bonds represent a great opportunity for national and local authorities to finance important sustainable infrastructure projects. For example, Bogotá's green bond will fund four strategic clean transport projects: the Second Metro Line, the San Cristóbal cable car, the Potosí cable car, and the new trunk line on Calle 13. These investments will be key to promoting more inclusive and sustainable mobility, and reducing CO₂ emissions.

Ambassador Roudié will also meet with the Mayor of Cartagena, Dumek Turbay, and the Mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez, as well as with European companies active in sustainable infrastructure in Colombia, the Cartagena Chamber of Commerce, and development banks, thereby strengthening ties between Europe and Colombia on sustainable development. He will also visit the University of Cartagena, where the European Union has supported education projects through the Erasmus+ programme, and research and innovation through the Horizon Europe programme.