• The project aims to position Uruguay as a logistics hub in the Southern Cone.
• The financing package will expand cargo capacity and reduce costs in the regional trade chain.

WASHINGTON – IDB Invest will finance Grupo RAS to acquire state-of-the-art locomotives and wagons, in an operation that seeks to modernize freight rail transport in Uruguay and strengthen the country’s role as a logistics hub in the Southern Cone.

The investment will renew the rail fleet and improve freight transport efficiency, offering a more competitive alternative to road transport. The locomotives will connect the Ruta 5 Industrial Park (PIR5) with the Port of Montevideo and with towns and industrial zones in the country’s interior, strengthening Uruguay’s multimodal logistics capabilities, improving operational efficiency, reducing logistics costs, and contributing to sustainability. The project is also expected to generate direct and indirect employment, boosting economic activity beyond the metropolitan area.

Uruguay is consolidating its position as a strategic point for regional trade, with growing flows to Paraguay, Bolivia, southern Brazil, and northern Argentina. Railway modernization will facilitate integration between rail, road, and ports, improving the resilience of the logistics system against crises or congestion and strengthening the country’s competitiveness in a scenario of greater commercial dynamism.

The financing package includes $10 million provided by IDB Invest and is complemented by $10 million from Itaú Uruguay, completing the project’s financial structure.

IDB Invest will also support Grupo RAS in implementing a plan to strengthen its environmental and social management, incorporating enhanced occupational health and safety standards and improvements in corporate governance to ensure the project’s long-term sustainability and resilience.

This project is aligned with the IDB Group’s regional program “South Connection,” which seeks to boost competitiveness and sustainable growth in South America by strengthening connectivity, trade facilitation, and logistics, with environmental and social sustainability as a cross-cutting principle.

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 US$22 billion in assets under management and more than 400 clients in 25 countries, IDB Invest offers innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the needs of clients across diverse sectors. Visit our website: www.idbinvest.org/en.

About Grupo RAS

Grupo RAS is a multinational logistics company of Uruguayan origin with more than 30 years of experience, subsidiaries in 12 countries across Latin America, North America, and Europe, and a network of more than 45 offices. The Group develops and operates comprehensive solutions in transportation, infrastructure, and services for regional and international trade.