Restructuring and Modernization of Public Mail Service (COTEL) (IADB-PN-T1193)

Countries
  • Panama
Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.
Specific Location
Colón
Whenever identified, the area within countries where the impacts of the investment may be experienced. Exact locations of projects may not be identified fully or at all in project documents. Please review updated project documents and community-led assessments.
Financial Institutions
  • Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
International, regional and national development finance institutions. Many of these banks have a public interest mission, such as poverty reduction.
Project Status
Active
Stage of the project cycle. Stages vary by development bank and can include: pending, approval, implementation, and closed or completed.
Bank Risk Rating
U
Environmental and social categorization assessed by the development bank as a measure of the planned project’s environmental and social impacts. A higher risk rating may require more due diligence to limit or avoid harm to people and the environment. For example, "A" or "B" are risk categories where "A" represents the highest amount of risk. Results will include projects that specifically recorded a rating, all other projects are marked ‘U’ for "Undisclosed."
Voting Date
Sep 18, 2018
Date when project documentation and funding is reviewed by the Board for consideration and approval. Some development banks will state a "board date" or "decision date." When funding approval is obtained, the legal documents are accepted and signed, the implementation phase begins.
Borrower
Government of Panama
A public entity (government or state-owned) provided with funds or financial support to manage and/or implement a project.
Sectors
  • Infrastructure
  • Law and Government
  • Technical Cooperation
The service or industry focus of the investment. A project can have several sectors.
Investment Type(s)
Grant
The categories of the bank investment: loan, grant, guarantee, technical assistance, advisory services, equity and fund.
Investment Amount (USD)
$ 0.09 million
Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Project Cost (USD)
$ 0.09 million
Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Primary Source

Original disclosure @ IADB website

Updated in EWS Nov 27, 2018


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Project Description
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The Government of Panama has requested assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to analyze the situation of the National Postal System (COTEL) and propose a strategy for its modernization and restructuring. A feasibility study will be carried out for the modernization and restructuring of COTEL, which will include: (i) developing a comprehensive modernization strategy for the postal system, (ii) the corporate roadmap and the new business model for the (COTEL), and (iii) the start of the pilot test of modernization for the Colon Free Zone post office. The study will include: (A)Update of Initial Diagnosis (study conducted by the company Novadays contracted by the CAF (2010): Fieldwork and updating of COTEL's current situation from the point of view of: (i) target market. In what business should a COTEL be restructured and modernized to better serve the needs of end users in Panama; (ii) technological platform necessary to develop new markets; (iii) staff training; And (iv) labor liabilities. For all 4 points will be necessary to have specific estimates of investment costs. (B) Modernization of the Post Office of the Colon Free Zone. It is necessary to develop a project to modernize the Colon Post Office to enable the development of a strong, dynamic and competitive electronic commerce sector ("ecommerce") with the rest of the region's free trade zones. This component should contain the following points: (I) Potential Market Estimate (ecommerce for Colon Free Zone) (Ii) Diagnosis of the current situation of the post office of the Colon Free Zone. Required technological platform (both hardware and software) to develop this type of business. Interface with the customs offices for expedited treatment of goods (automatic postage). Estimates of investment costs. Support infrastructure for the operation (i.e., sheds, access ramps, vehicles, warehouses, lobby, parking). (Iii) Estimates of investment costs. (Iv) Training of personnel. Training needs and typology of personnel needed to manage this business for COTEL ("ecommerce") (C) COTEL Restructuring Options. The consulting firm would evaluate, estimating total investment costs and execution time for the full range of existing options for the restructuring of COTEL. The options to consider could range from the liberation of the sector allowing the entry of new bidders through the amendment of Law 69, until the corporatization of COTEL. Within the COTEL corporatization, options would be analyzed where the new corporatized company remains 100% under the control of the Government of Panama, going through options where private strategic partners are incorporated with different shareholdings. In these options the placement of shares of the new company in the stock market of Panama could even be considered in the future. One option, which for these moments would not be included in the range of options to be analyzed and funded in this study, would be the privatization of 100% of Panama's National Mail services.

Investment Description
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The Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI) is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) or Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC)-funded project. If you submit a complaint to MICI, they may assist you in addressing the problems you raised through a dispute-resolution process with those implementing the project and/or through an investigation to assess whether the IDB or IIC is following its own policies for preventing or mitigating harm to people or the environment. You can submit a complaint by sending an email to MICI@iadb.org. You can learn more about the MICI and how to file a complaint at http://www.iadb.org/en/mici/mici,1752.html (in English) or http://www.iadb.org/es/mici/mici,1752.html (Spanish).

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