IDB and AFD Groups Co-Finance up to $324 Million to Connect 15 Million People in the Amazon Region

BELÉM, Brazil - The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) and the French Development Agency Group (AFD Group) announced a partnership to co-finance projects totaling up to $324 million to expand digital connectivity in the Brazilian Amazon. The projects - part of the IDB Group's Amazonia Forever program and the European Union's Global Gateway - will install submarine fiber-optic cables in the states of Maranhão and Pará, bringing fast and affordable internet to about 15 million people.

The initiative will expand access to online education, telemedicine, and e-commerce. In total, 350,000 students, 250 quilombola communities, 110 Indigenous villages, and 100 riverside communities will gain digital access. In addition, 2 million people will benefit from improved digital public services through a new regional data center.

The agreements were formalized during a high-level ceremony at COP30, attended by IDB Group President Ilan Goldfajn and AFD Group President Rémy Rioux, as well as European Union Ambassador to Brazil Marian Schuegraf; the Ambassador of France, Emmanuel Lenain; Brazil's Telecommunications Secretary, Hermano Tercius, and the Director-President of the agency Investe Maranhão, Cauê Aragão.

This expanded vision goes far beyond the initial technical scope; by connecting Brazil, French Guiana, and Europe, it strengthens digital connectivity, reduces regional inequalities, and deepens the strategic partnership between France and Brazil.

The total investment - up to $180 million in Maranhão and $144 million in Pará - will include 350-500 kilometers of submarine cables and a data center in Maranhão, as well as 425 kilometers of cables in Pará, connecting Salinópolis to the EllaLink system. The IDB will finance about 47% of the investment, AFD 33%, and the state governments 20%.

"In the context of our Amazonia Forever program, these new connections will allow Maranhão and Pará to offer fast and affordable internet to millions of people in the Amazon - reducing the digital divide and expanding access to education, healthcare, and new economic opportunities. The IDB Group is once again acting as a bridge between Latin America and the Caribbean and Europe through its Global Gateway initiative," said Goldfajn.

"Under European leadership, this Global Gateway initiative is a concrete example of how cooperation between Brazil and France, through French Guiana, can deliver innovative solutions for people and territories. AFD is delighted to partner with the IDB to show how connectivity can be a powerful driver of social inclusion. By bringing high-speed internet to remote and vulnerable communities in the Amazon region, this project is not only bridging the digital divide; it is opening doors to education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and early-warning systems against climate risks. These submarine cables will enable thousands of families, schools, and small businesses to access new opportunities and strengthen their capacity to adapt to the challenges of our time," said Rioux.

The operations - currently under review by the IDB and AFD groups, and Brazilian federal authorities - are expected to be approved in 2026. They are part of a broader trilateral effort among the IDB and AFD groups and the European Union to expand high-capacity digital connectivity throughout the Amazon Basin.

The projects include 11.8 million euros ($13.7 million) in non-reimbursable resources from the European Union, provided through the EU Latin American Investment Facility (LACIF) program and channeled via AFD. This cooperation aligns with Brazil's national and state digital strategies and the EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda. During the event, the AFD Group and the EU formalized the grant by signing a delegation agreement, marking an important milestone in their collaboration.

The new submarine cables in Maranhão and Pará will connect the Amazon Basin to the global internet through the EllaLink submarine cable system. Alongside the ongoing EllaLink extension to French Guiana, led by the AFD Group, these initiatives will establish the first cross-border, resilient submarine connectivity system dedicated to the Amazon Basin.

The project reinforces the IDB Group's commitment under Amazonia Forever, an umbrella program based on a holistic vision: protecting the forest requires creating opportunities for the people who live in the Amazon region. By promoting sustainable living conditions, it is possible to strengthen harmonious coexistence between communities and the forest. In this spirit, the initiative promotes sustainable infrastructure and regional integration, in line with the European Union's Global Gateway strategy - connecting Europe and Latin America through inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.