The final podcast to have been recorded in Panama at the Inter American Development Bank conference – PPP Americas – sees the focus shift towards the PPP market in Colombia.

IJGlobal editorial director Angus Leslie Melville sits down with Jonathan Bernal, vice president for structuring at the National Infrastructure Agency for Colombia, to hear about its ambitions to drive the PPP agenda.

In an interview with Jonathan – translated by IJGlobal LatAm infrastructure reporter Adrian Ganic – Jonathan runs through priorities for the Colombian PPP sector which featured heavily in the IJ regional focus (published early June 2023) for having closed the Bogota-Girardot Highway PPP, the largest deal to make it to FC in the region this year.

Conversation moves on to the procurement pipeline which – at the IDB conference – centred on the $1.3 billion Villeta-Guadas road PPP that will progress this year and be awarded next (2024). He also talks about the $1.5 billion 270km Pasto-Popayan Toll Road PPP, an essential connector to Ecuador, and the largest concession in Colombia’s history.

As to the Cartagena Rafael Nunez International Airport Expansion PPP, the process will open for this in October 2024 with a plan to award it in August 2025 at the latest.

While highways remain the mainstay of the Colombian PPP market, there are plans to launch investments into the rail sector – which will be delivered in 4 stages. To date, 2 concessions have already been awarded alongside an ambition to connect the Pacific coast with the Caribbean coast.

Tune into the podcast for a fascinating review of the Colombian infrastructure market delivered by a man with his finger firmly on the pulse…