MIF approves PPP, environ. grants

The Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) has approved two grants to support a new structure to finance public services and infrastructure in Brazil's Minas Gerais state and to support cleaner production efforts in Uruguay, the World Bank (WB) announced. The MIF is an arm of the WB and provides grants and investments to promote private sector development. MINAS GERAIS The state's economic development department will administer a US$675,000 grant which will support efforts to adopt a new financing structure for private-public partnerships to increase the availability and quality of public services and infrastructure. The program will serve as a reference point for similar initiatives in other states and the federal government. URUGUAY The Montevideo-based business studies institute (Instituto de Estudios Empresariales) will administer US$300,000 to help small- and medium-sized enterprises reduce the environmental impact of their production activities.