Frontera Podcast Frontera

The Geothermal Development Facility for Latin America (“GDF” or the “Fund”) is privately managed, Mauritius-based foundation with an initial capitalization of €50 million from the German government (KfW) and the European Union (EU). Other investment in a similar collective amount from multilateral development financial institutions (CAF, IDB, World Bank, CABEI, Norfund, AFB, DFID etc.) is under consideration. GDF's purpose is to provide early stage grant funding for geothermal development in 10 countries in Latin America in order to overcome the significant exploration cost hurdles which curtail the economic development of geothermal project. The funding will support surface studies and early stage drilling (first 3 wells) with a goal to create 350MW of geothermal power in the region at an estimated capital requirement of between €1.5 and 2.0 billion when fully deployed. By addressing exploration the fund will facilitate subsequent sources of Development Finance Institution (DFI) funding to support the commercialization of the proven geothermal resource, and GDF is a catalyst to reaching a stage where those funds can be mobilized. The foundation is managed by U.S.-based IDA Fund Management, LLC (“IDA”), which is a consortium consisting of Interlink Capital Strategies, the Dewhurst Group and Chris McCormick from Ambata Capital. These are well-known professional service companies actively involved in structured finance in emerging markets and geothermal development, which won an international tender conducted by KfW in the 2nd quarter of 2016. The formal launch of GDF will be in the fourth quarter of 2016, with the first solicitation for proposals to occur before or within the first quarter of 2017.

In collaboration with the London School of Economics' LSE Africa Summit, Frontera News brings the first in a series of interviews with African business leaders, beginning with a woman at the forefront of developing the first mobile money platform for M-Pesa.

The following is a summary of the main talking points:

1:53 What are the major issues blocking Argentina from reaching a solution with creditors?

5:07 How large is the total payment that the country will have to make to settle with the so-called ‘vulture funds’.

7:01 At what rates do you believe the market will absorb the initial issuance of the expected $12 billion debt issuance?

10:10 What are currently the biggest worries for potential investors? Is it the fiscal deficit (currently 7.6% of GDP), or the government’s ability to make payments due on April 14?

14:01 Which subsidies have the government recently removed? How has the population responded to the 300-400% price increases? Are the rumors about pending reductions in VAT and income tax true?

19:14 Argentina has been internationally criticized for publishing false economic statistics in previous years. Do institutional investors believe that reporting integrity has been restored?

25:25 Argentina has the lowest investment to GDP ratio in the LatAm region (16%). How much policy emphasis will the government be placing on investment versus consumption-driven growth?

28:41 What is the best way for foreign investors to gain exposure to Argentina right now? What asset classes require a local account?

33:45 On the equity side, which listed companies are Puente currently recommending? What are currently the most liquid stocks in Argentina?

36:07 What is your front-running pick for a local equity that is not listed abroad?

38:35 Which Argentinian companies have ADRs that merit a closer look?

40:22 Why do you believe the equities market might contract in 2016? When do you expect the recovery to take root?

43:40 How might a potential Dilma Rousseff impeachment in Brazil impact Argentina?