The Japanese rating agency Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) confirmed the long-term international credit risk rating of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) at "AA", improving the outlook from "Stable" to "Positive".

According to the official statement by JCR, the improvement in the outlook is due to the new Five-Year Framework 2025-2029, which includes an Institutional Strategy and a Financial Strategy, complemented by other initiatives that will enhance CABEI's financial position and credit capacity. In addition, the rating agency highlights the Institution's ample liquidity, based on prudent financial policies, along with the diversification of its funding sources that allow CABEI to have the necessary financial strength to meet its strategic objectives. Likewise, it is important to highlight what the rating agency stated regarding the expectation of the approval of a new capital increase, which, once formalized, would lead to an improvement in the Bank's credit risk rating, by reflecting greater support from its members.

Furthermore, the rating agency positively valued the preferred creditor treatment granted to CABEI by its member countries, which allows it to have a high-quality loan portfolio, which reached its highest levels of diversification in its history during 2024. JCR also highlighted the diversification of CABEI's shareholder base, which has expanded from the five founding member countries to a total of 15 countries including the Republic of China (Taiwan), Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Spain and recently the Republic of Korea, among others.

In turn, CABEI's Executive President Gisela Sánchez expressed that "this improvement in the outlook by JCR, the first since 2019, is a clear signal consistent with the direction taken by the new administration, based on a renewed focus on technical rigor and operational efficiency, supported by an updated financial strategy that optimizes the use of the Bank's balance sheet and strengthens its equity. This recognition reinforces our efforts to consolidate an even stronger credit profile as part of CABEI's financial strengthening roadmap."

Finally, the rating agency's publication also highlights the Bank's pivotal role as a multilateral financial institution of immeasurable value to the Central American region, recognizing CABEI as the leading financier among Multilateral Development Banks and underscoring its significant contribution to the region's economic and social development.