The Colombian national infrastructure agency (Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura, ANI) announced June 6 that thanks to Colombia’s new entrance into the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 13 major international funding organizations now aim to invest in “fourth generation” (4G) highway projects here.

Ten of those organizations are private-equity funds while the other three are pension funds, according to ANI.

Colombia’s entry into the 37-member-nations OECD “is an affirmation of the quality of our institutions, of the transparency and the favorable environment that has been developed for national and international private investment,” according to ANI.

“This seal of quality is a key factor to attract more foreign investment to the country, since being in the OECD guarantees a country to have the best practices,” added ANI president Dimitri Zaninovich.

Most of the large institutional investors active in the infrastructure sector “have limitations to invest in countries outside the OECD. Now Colombian projects can access this new source of capital,” according to ANI.

To date, ANI has approved 30 “4G” highway projects, of which 21 are under construction and nine are in preconstruction, according to the agency.

“Of the total of these projects, 26 have demonstrated their ability to finance infrastructure works before ANI, and 15 have signed credit agreements,” according to the agency.

Among Antioquia’s key “4G” highway projects are “Pacifico 1,” Pacifico 2,” “Ruta al Mar 1,” Ruta al Mar 2,” and “Vias del Nus,” all of which would drastically improve freight transport between Medellin and major ports on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.