Panama City, September 19, 2025 – As part of the 44th Latin American Congress of Financial Law (COLADE), organized by the Latin American Federation of Banks (FELABAN), a forum that for over four decades has brought together leading experts in financial and regulatory law, Jose H. Salaverría, Legal Director of CIFI, delivered a presentation highlighting the challenges and opportunities in financing infrastructure and energy projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.
His technical and strategic remarks underscored CIFI’s key role in bridging international standards with regional market realities, offering innovative solutions to attract capital and ensure bankability in complex contexts.
Structural Gaps and Mitigation Mechanisms
Latin America faces an infrastructure investment gap of $2.2 trillion by 2030 (3% of annual regional GDP). Attracting that capital requires overcoming persistent barriers: regulatory risk, lack of contractual standardization, weak feasibility studies, and credit limitations.
According to Salaverría, “Projects don’t fail solely due to lack of financing; often, it’s the absence of robust legal and contractual frameworks that undermines investor confidence.”
He highlighted the contrast between EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contracts in developed markets —which ensure fixed price and schedule backed by financial support— and the more fragmented structures in the region. Tools like trusts, automatic adjustment clauses, direct agreements with effective intervention rights, and strong sponsorship agreements help build investor confidence for impactful projects.
The Lawyer as Strategic Architect
The role of the lawyer in project finance is evolving: beyond contract review, they now act as strategic architects shaping robust frameworks, coordinating stakeholders, and shielding projects from regulatory volatility.
Sustainability and Dual Jurisdiction
Sustainability is central to bankability. Integrating ESG metrics from the outset boosts investor confidence and ensures positive community impact. Combining local laws with reliable international jurisdictions like New York, backed by enforceable guarantees and promissory notes, is essential to attract institutional capital.
Tokenization and Future Vision
COLADE 2025 spotlighted asset tokenization as an emerging practice. Fractionalizing infrastructure assets on blockchain democratizes investment and expands liquidity. CIFI’s expertise in legal and financial structuring gives it a strategic edge in creating secure, tokenized vehicles for sustainable projects.
Media contact: CIFI | Juliette Daugan | juliette.daugan@cifi.com
