The Executive Presidency holds the legal representation of FONPLATA — Development Bank and is responsible for the general direction and management of the Institution. An Advisory Council composed of experts from the region’s economic, financial, and business community provides support in the analysis of the strategic objectives of the Bank.

Luciana Botafogo Brito

The current Executive President of FONPLATA — Development Bank, Luciana Botafogo, has large managerial experience within the Bank, as she has served as its Executive President a.i. from September 2022 to April 21, 2023. Previously, from 2018 to 2022, she worked as Operations and Countries Manager.

Her mandate is for a five-year period, until April 2028. She succeeds the Uruguayan economist and engineer, Juan Notaro, who served in that position for 10 years, pursuing the renovation and modernization agenda.

A Brazilian citizen, she has more than 25 years of experience in Latin America and the Caribbean preparing and supervising economic and social development projects in the public and private sectors with emphasis on innovation, competitiveness, economic integration, and sustainability. From 2006 to 2018, she was a sector specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Previously, she served as International Advisor to the Presidency of SEBRAE Nacional (Support Service to Micro and Small Enterprises in Brazil – National Directorate) for more than 10 years. 

Botafogo holds a BA degree in Humanities from the University of Maryland (USA) and an MBA degree in Project Management from George Washington University (USA). Additionally, she holds a postgraduate degree in Foreign Trade from Fundação Dom Cabral (Brazil).

Beginnings

The shared perspectives of five nations of the River Plate Basin — Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay — gave birth to FONPLATA. Their efforts to promote regional integration started in 1968 and led to the signing of the Treaty of the River Plate Basin in 1969. Later, on June 12, 1974, the foreign ministers of these countries signed the Articles of Agreement of the Financial Fund for the Development of the River Plate Basin (FONPLATA), consolidating the creation of an international institution based in Bolivia, initially in Sucre and later in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

Growth and Consolidation as Development Bank

In 2010, FONPLATA began a deep institutional transformation with the approval of a new management model that included the creation of a new position: the Executive President. Two years later, a renewed governance agenda led to the development of a long-term Institutional Strategic Plan and two capital increases. These steps strengthened the Bank's capacity to finance infrastructure projects and social and productive development projects in member countries.

The year 2016 marked a milestone with the achievement of the first international credit rating with investor grade, which opened the doors to the capital markets. Thus, since 2019, FONPLATA has been issuing bonds in key markets such as Switzerland and Japan, diversifying its funding sources.

In 2018, the Institution reached a new level by consolidating as a Development Bank, which allowed it to expand its membership and strengthen strategic alliances with development institutions in Latin America and other regions. Later, in 2019, it assumed the trusteeship of the MERCOSUR Structural Convergence Fund (FOCEM). Since 2020, the Bank has expanded its scope by financing public sector operations without the need for sovereign guarantees and launching credit lines focused on economic reactivation and green financing.

Innovation has been the key to its evolution. In 2022, FONPLATA became one of the first multilateral banks in the region to implement a Sustainable Debt Framework aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. That same year, it approved a new Institutional Strategic Plan for 2022—2026, with cross-cutting strategic objectives.

In 2023, the Bank set a benchmark by appointing the first woman as Executive President and launching a Gender and Youth Funding Line. And, in 2024, it approved the new Support Line for Regional Integration and MERCOSUR, reaffirming its commitment to inclusive and sustainable development in the region.

Commitment to the Future

In 2024, the new Articles of Agreement came into full force and effect, the incorporation of new members was authorized, and an increase in authorized capital, expected to be completed by 2027, was approved.

Today, FONPLATA is positioned as a strategic partner for regional integration and sustainable development, adapting to the needs of its member countries and a changing world.

Mission

To support the integration and harmonious, inclusive, and sustainable development of its member countries through the effective and efficient use of financial and non-financial resources.

The fulfillment of the Mission implies extending the interven- tions towards the funding of pre-investment, investment, technical cooperation, and knowledge generation initiatives with the public and private sectors, responding proactively and properly to the demands of the member countries.

Vision

To be perceived as significant, agile, effective, and costefficient institution in supporting its members to reduce the gaps that impact on development, integration, and insertion in the regional and global economy.

The cornerstone of the Vision are the five pillars articulated to define the Bank as an institution specialized in funding investments aimed at contributing to the reduction of existing gaps in physical and social infrastructure, productivity, renewable energies, health coverage, educational innovation, gender equality, job creation, and more sustainable response to climate change, among the most relevantstructural challenges that hinder development.

Strategic Pillars

• Institutional efficienty
• Functional specialization
• Strategic complementarity
• Focus on the value of the member countries
• Financial strength and lending capacity grouth