IDB Plans Two-Year Venezuela Reengagement

The Inter-American Development Bank is preparing a two-year engagement plan to reestablish cooperation with Venezuela, with initial priorities including electricity infrastructure and social protection. IDB missions are assessing conditions, Venezuela’s macroeconomic framework and sector-specific needs to inform the plan. The bank halted new lending in 2018 after Venezuela fell behind on payments, leaving about $2 billion in outstanding loans, and has not said how the arrears would be resolved or when new financing could resume. IDB President Ilan Goldfajn said the lender is focused on planning and collaboration with Venezuelans rather than conducting a separate debt-sustainability analysis at this stage.