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Press Release                                                  

June 3, 2001
 

IACD AND EMPRESAS PUBLICAS DE MEDELLIN E.S.P
SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT AT OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

  

            San Jose, Costa Rica–The Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD), an agency of the Organization of American States (OAS), today signed a framework agreement with Empresas Públicas de Medellín E.S.P. (EE.PP.M) of Colombia to design municipal development programs for Latin America and the Caribbean.   

"This agreement is a major advance to decentralize municipal services and thus make governments more efficient, transparent and responsive,” stated Ron Scheman, Director General of the IACD. “The decentralization of governmental responsibilities is essential to the vitality of any democracy.” 

Through this relationship, EE.PP.M will be able to share its expertise in the delivery of municipal services—telecommunications, energy, water and sewage and strategic planning—with other countries addressing similar challenges. Scheman added that Empresas Públicas de Medellín has established a strong record as a leader in the field. “We applaud their willingness to share their knowledge and experience with other countries in the hemisphere,” he said.  

The leaders of EE.PP.M expressed their pleasure about the new partnership with the OAS and its Agency. They explained that the new agreement would enable them to differentiate themselves from the other Colombian public sector companies, access external markets directly, explore investment alternatives and diversify their traditional sources of technical assistance. 

            The IACD was established in November 1999 to promote technical cooperation and training programs necessary to accelerate economic development in the countries of the hemisphere.  The Agency is committed to opening new avenues to tap the experience, technology and resources of the private sector to help the governments of the Americas to win the battle against poverty.  

Empresas Públicas de Medellin is a decentralized entity created in 1955 to provide public services (water, energy and telecommunications) to the municipality of Medellin . It currently serves  approximately 2.9 million people.

 

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