WASHINGTON - IDB Invest will support the modernization of the São Borja–Santo Tomé International Bridge, a key cross-border connection between Brazil and Argentina, through a financing package of $35 million to CS Rodovias Mercosul.

The project includes the rehabilitation of the international bridge, the pavement and infrastructure improvements of 15.6 kilometers of access roads on both sides of the border, and the expansion and modernization of the Unified customs and border facility. Planned upgrades include the expansion of the truck yard, new scanners, new highway scales, and monitoring and information systems designed to improve border processing for passenger and freight traffic. 

“This project reflects IDB Invest’s commitment to strengthening connectivity and trade across the Southern Cone by supporting high-impact infrastructure that links markets and people. By improving the efficiency and reliability of this key corridor between Brazil and Argentina, we are helping unlock greater economic opportunity, enhance regional coordination, and reinforce the role of the private sector in advancing sustainable growth in Mercosur,” said Gian Franco Carassale, Managing Director of the Southern Cone for IDB Invest. 

“The IDB Invest’s participation demonstrates the project’s relevance to strengthening integration and cooperation between Brazil and Argentina. This is a unique undertaking that brings Brazilian and Argentine authorities together in a joint effort, with the potential to mark the beginning of a new cycle of growth based on regional integration and greater efficiency in foreign trade. This initiative is fully aligned with CS Infra’s strategy to improve service delivery and increase the productivity of already-structured concessions in real economy sectors,” said Fernando Quintas, CEO of CS Infra.

The project is expected to contribute to phytosanitary and customs controls, increase effective capacity, and improve the reliability of the corridor. These improvements will support trade facilitation and logistics efficiency along one of the most important transport corridors connecting Brazil and Argentina, contributing to stronger regional integration within the Mercosur. 
 

The operation is aligned with the Brazil Country Strategy 2024–2027 and the Argentina Country Strategy 2025–2028, particularly the priorities of strengthening transport infrastructure, facilitating international trade, and promoting regional integration through private-sector participation. The project also advances IDB Group's “South Connection” program, which aims to promote connectivity, facilitate trade, and support sustainable growth in South America. 

IDB Invest’s participation includes a $17.5 million loan and the mobilization of an additional $17.5 million from the IDB-managed JICA Trust Fund for Achieving Development of Latin America and the Caribbean (TADAC Fund). The financing structure supports long-term investment in a binational asset where access to comparable market financing is limited.

Beyond financing, IDB Invest will support the project by applying international risk management standards. These measures aim to strengthen operational management, stakeholder engagement, and safety practices throughout construction and operation, contributing to the corridor's long-term resilience.

About IDB Invest  

IDB Invest, a member of the IDB Group, is a multilateral development bank committed to promoting the economic development of its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through the private sector. IDB Invest finances sustainable companies and projects to achieve financial results and maximize economic, social, and environmental development in the region. With a portfolio of $22 billion in assets under management and more than 400 clients in 25 countries, IDB Invest provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the needs of its clients in a variety of industries. Visit our website: www.idbinvest.org/en.  

About CS Rodovias Mercosul  

CS Rodovias Mercosul S.A. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CS Infra, responsible for the development, operation, and maintenance of the São Borja–Santo Tomé International Bridge, the road access on each countryside, and the Unified Border Facility (Centro Unificado de Fronteira), under a binational concession between Brazil and Argentina. The company manages the full scope of the concession, including toll collection, routine and major maintenance, and required capital investments, with the objective of ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable cross-border connectivity. The project plays a critical role in facilitating trade flows between the two countries, strengthening regional integration, and improving logistics efficiency along a key Mercosur corridor.  

About  TADAC Fund  

TADAC (Trust Fund for the Development of Latin America and the Caribbean) is a multilateral trust fund established by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) within the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group and managed by IDB Invest. The fund is designed to co-finance private sector projects across Latin America and the Caribbean, mobilizing long-term capital alongside IDB Invest to support sustainable economic growth. With an initial commitment of approximately USD 1 billion from JICA, TADAC focuses on catalyzing private investment in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and financial inclusion, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and helping bridge the region’s financing gap.